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Party Monster
by 20th Century Fox
| List Price: |
$9.98 |
Unavailable for
purchase at this time |
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DVD
Publisher: 20th Century Fox
Format: Anamorphic, Full Screen, NTSC
Actors: Seth Green, Macaulay Culkin, Diana Scarwid, Chloë Sevigny, Marilyn Manson
Party Monster is a curiosity: a fictional version of events already covered in documentary form (see Party Monster: The Shockumentary) by this film's co-directors, Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, best known for The Eyes of Tammy Faye. Party Monster, theatrically released in 2003, also signals the return of Macaulay Culkin to films after a long absence. Culkin plays 1980s club kid-turned-killer Michael Alig, a small-town boy who arrives in New York in search of reinvention on the Ecstasy-fueled party scene. Alig ascends from rube to ringmaster, organizing Fabulous happenings and anointing, in Warhol-like fashion, various transvestites and studly naifs the era's new superstars. Seth Green plays Alig's arch but more reticent co-conspirator and roommate, James St. James. Green is more grounded in character than Culkin, though neither actor is convincing as a deluded drag queen. Despite interesting material, the directors never reveal what makes Alig a compelling figure in Manhattan's social history. --Tom Keogh
| Customer Reviews: |
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| A good entry into the drug-fueled club scene films |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
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Add this one to your movie marathon with Less Than Zero and Bright Lights, Big City. It has that same feel as the earlier films except for the grisly real-life murder that ends the tale. Performances are solid - particularly Green's - and the sets and costume design are great. Chloe Sevigny, of course, is here - I mean she would have to be, wouldn't she? Anyway, it is very entertaining in that falsely glamorous, trashy way. Very good soundtrack.
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| The true story of the most famous Club Kid |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
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'Party Monster' is the true story of Michael Alig, a notorious Club Kid, who in 1996 murdered a nobody drug dealer known as Angel. Birthed in the 80's, the Club Kids were the legendary sparkle of the wild club scene populated by Andy Worhol types and flamboyant gays and drag queens.
Michael (played by Macauley Culkin) bursts into the scene, weaseling his way in through celebrated contributor James St. James (played by Seth Green). He makes a name for himself by organizing club parties, usually starring cleaver wielding singer Christina (played by Marilyn Manson, who shows up surprisingly thicker than I thought he'd be). As his reputation builds, so does his popularity, until he's sitting pretty right on top of the scene. James remains Michael's best friend, though it's a love/hate relationship. James has always been a drug user, but as Michael falls into the abyss of drug use, his personal and society lifestyles change for the worse.
The movie is peppered with a soundtrack of 80's tunes, perfect for the setting. The costumes are wild and realistic to the fashions of the Club Kids. The movie could have used more club scenes, since the clubbing is all the "kids" lived for. Both Seth Green and Macauley Culkin give great performances. It must be a drag for Culkin to always be associated with his child films, it would be nice if he could overcome the stigma like Ron Howard did.
Be sure to read the book 'Party Monster' written by James St. James about the murder, and if you can, watch for the real life story of Michael Alig (with the real Michael) aired on American Justice.
While good, the movie fails to live up to great. I feel the association Michael and James had was too light for what I know of the real life murder, and too much of the club incidents were left out (like Michael's birthday Bloodfest party). Still, if you're interested in the case you should watch the film. Rent first. Enjoy!
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| When Sex is Boring |
| Customer Rating: 3 out of 5 |
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A ninety four minute Australian-made DVD version probably missed the most explicit moments of generally boring movie of drugs, sex and simply young entrepreneur's meaningless, a film, of which New York City itself is the best acting member.
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| A fine 99 minutes. |
| Customer Rating: 3 out of 5 |
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There are many worse ways you could spend 99 minutes. It's a fine movie and by that I mean good....ish, Macaulay Culkin and Seth Green are really excellent and it shows that Seth Green has huge variety in his acting capabilities. The movie however really focuses on Culkin's and Green's characters rather that the disposed or disposal of the drug dealer. (And to emphasise that point, I can't even remember his name!) But that's probably because those character are more entertaining - which is fine but I felt as a result the murder of a young man was trivialised or made light of in some way.
Far from a cautionary tale because of the way it glorifies the drug world, (even though it does show the `downs' - just not as much as the `ups') this movie is for entertaining and it somewhat achieves that goal.
Not a must for ones collection but worth a look. Get a friend to buy it!
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| Like it or hate it... it's realistic |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
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I'm no expert on Micheal Alig, James St. James, DJ Keoki, etc. so I can't really comment on how accurate of a portrayal this is of their lives.
But I will say this...
Having written electronic music since the age of 12, and working as a club and event promoter in Denver for the past year, I can say with certainty that there are thousands, even MILLIONS of people that frequent the "underground" worldwide whom live extremely comparable lives to the ones depicted in this movie. There are people just as eccentric and flamboyant, if not way more so. There is definitely just as much substance abuse. And if the only things that turn you off from this movie are seeing an ex-child star experiment with a controversial role, or flashing lights accompanied by pounding techno and extreme wardrobes, I hate to break it to you, but it's happening right under your nose, everywhere you go.
The party scene and the club scene are something you have to just click with. I've loved electronic music since before I even knew there was anything "illicit" associated with it, and that shouldn't say I have bad taste... it should say that people will take anything and turn it into a self-destructive moral debauchery. Though the music, the substances, the clothes and the performances between rap, dance and rock are different, the people, their willingness to habituate, and their conformity have remained the same.
This movie shouldn't have to hit close to home to be respected, or at least acknowledged as an accurate portrayal of youthful spontaneity, promiscuity and overall experimentation... and the sheer consequences that often result.
Just a thought.
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