The Last Days of Disco
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Movie Reviews of The Last Days of Disco
Movie Review: Excellent, Witty Film about the Disco Era
Summary: 5 Stars
Directed by the amazing Whit Stillman ("Barcelona"; "Metropolitan"), "The Last Days of Disco" examines the life of several young, upward, professionals (or "yuppies" for short) during the early 1980's, when the disco craze was dying and the Decade of Decadence was beginning.Alice (Chloë Sevigny of "Boys Don't Cry") and Charlotte (Kate Beckisndale of "Brokedown Palace") are two young publishing assistants who live as roommates in the city. Living on a love/hate relationship with one another, both girls decide to socialize with New York's club elite at the most popular club in the city.
There, they meet up with the likes of advertising execs and employees, odd club characters such as the Tiger Lady (played by Drew Barrymore's real-life mother, Jaid Barrymore) and others who give the film a unique flavor when it comes to recreating the disco era of the late 1970's/early 1980's.
While I really can't give away the details that moves the film to its' conclusion, all I can say that this film blows away the only other disco-era film that was released around the same time, "Studio 54." While the latter tried to recreate the final days of New York City's most infamous nightspot, it failed to capture the energy that disco era was well-known for. Unlike "Studio 54," instead of revolving around the life of one character, "Last Days" focuses on the lives of several young professionals, which gives it more flavor and attraction.
Personally, Whit Stillman simply is one of the best American directors out there. His films all involve wit, energy, love, and the elements that plague young adults now and then. In one I consider to be one of the best-written scripts in recent years, Stillman pours plenty of wit and insight on what it is to be young and successful in a large city.
Another great thing about this film is its' excellent disco-era soundtrack. Covering such classics such as "I'm Coming Out" by Diana Ross and "Everybody Dance" by Chic, I almost felt that I was transported to the club in the film. If you loved this film, I highly recommend picking up a copy of the soundtrack.
If you love Disco and/or films about life in New York City, I highly recommend this film. It is one of the best films of 1998, and after watching it I can't wait for Whit Stillman's next project.
Movie Review: "So I'm running away like a rat because 'to thine own self be true."
Summary: 5 Stars
Whit Stillman's third talky indie movie rounds out the loosely-connected "yuppie trilogy" with the same casual aplomb that distinguished "Barcelona" and "Metropolitan" from the lockstep legions of romantic comedies springing up around them in the nineties. By turns acerbic and heartwarming, Stillman exhibits an obvious affection for his characters even (if not especially) in their dumbest moments.
The story of two recently-graduated young women in New York during "the very early 1980's" revolves around the nightlife of a certain Manhattan nightclub and its patrons. Chloe Sevigny and Kate Beckinsale rise to Stillman's mannered dialogue and awkward humor, but the showstopper is stillman vet Chris Eigeman as the unscrupulous Des, a manager at the nightclub for whom ignorance of his boss's shady dealings is bliss (Des: "To me, shipping cash to Switzerland in canvas bags suggests possible illegality." Jimmy: "What are you going to do?" Des: "Well, I'm not going into that room anymore").
It's a shame that the DVD has been so long out of print - perhaps Criterion will pick it up and produce a similarly excellent edition to their recent release of Stillman's first film, "Metropolitan."
Movie Review: One of the Best Films of the 90's
Summary: 5 Stars
I didn't like The Last Days of Disco I loved it.The quik dialoge and intelligent conversations between the characters were great and remeniscent of Barcelona and Metropolitan.The dialoge ranges from serious such as a conversation talking about pregnancy,to a funny and cute conversation dealing with The Lady and the Tramp,the Disney film.Everyone does a fantastic job in acting but the people who stand out are Chloe Sevigny, Kate Beckinsale and Chris Eigeman.To me Chloe Sevingy is us,observing the situation and just watching like us,shes a tender loving person and by the end of the film we love her.Kate Beckinsale is a sassy and bitchy early eightys girl and has mood swings constantly.Chris Eigeman is great as the guy who when he wants to end a realationship tells the girls "I'm Gay",he has the best dialoge in the film.
Whit Stillman did a great job on the film with good direction and great writing I can't wait for him to come out with a new film.The cinematography is great capturing the early eightys and the music is nice too.
If you loved this movie check out Metropolitain and Barcelona.
Movie Review: An masterful work in a series
Summary: 5 Stars
Last days of Disco is the third installment in Stillman's triology of movies (the otehr two being barcelona and Metropolitan). The formula for these movies has been to track the lives of thoughful indiviudals in very specific histortical/sociological context; discos final days, the fleeting days of high society in NY, Barcelona in the midst of violent cultural change. This movie is not for fans of Staurday Night Fever or Studio 54. It is constructed in a dramatic tradition and offers windows into the charactors lives and how they function within a context. This movie may be the less engaging of the three but it is, most likely, the most approachable of the three. All three of these "period pieces" are worth owning on DVD but the odds are that most poeple will find this to be the most outwardly engaging of the three. The dialog is less loaded than Stillmans other two movies (mostly because the Charactors are less intertwined than those in the other two films.) Those unfmailar with Stillman would most likely like this movie if they are fans of dirrectors such as Hal Hartley or David Mamet,.Movie Review: In a way, it's a beautiful thing to not be on DVD. . .
Summary: 5 Stars
I (like you) am saddened that I cannot purchase this on DVD unless I drop the 29.99 which is just tought, but nevertheless worth it. But in a way, the timelessness of Stillman's movies, the quality of his dialogue are all the better being not understood by the mass populace. So what, it can't be on DVD, that's a feat not too hard (they're probably pressing thousands of copies of "Freddie Got Fingered" instead right now) what we have is a bonified classic, we know about it, we can tell others about it, and that's the way Stillman would want it. His relavatory story of the emptiness of the "sexual revolution" portrayed so maticulously through the talents of some of our finest young actors today is so seemless it seems natural. But the ugliness underneath the sheen of Club 54 & the 80's drug parade are seen so vividly in Ms. Sevigny's eyes...what a show. There are so many choice lines in this movie it's incredible. I'd like to read the screenplay.