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Party Monster | Year: 2002 Classification: selected Directed: - Fenton Bailey - Randy Barbato Actors/Actresses: - Seth Green - Macaulay Culkin - Wilson Cruz Fabulous on the Surface "Party Monster" the movie draws from James St. James' book "Disco Bloodbath" and from film shot for the "Party Monster" shockumentary. The "Party Monster" movie purports to tell the tale of the rise and fall of Michael Alig, using trained actors and screenwriters. There would be adjustments to the story to suit the film market. The results of this are mixed. Some pieces worked well. Strengthening the James St. James part (played by Seth Green) brought a hazy character from the shockumentary close to the center of the film. James becomes the drug-addled conscience of the movie. (There is an offsetting loss of Angel Melendez's brother, Johnny, the hero of the shockumentary.) Using real Club Kids and their actual costumes helped bring enthusiasm and energy to the film. The Peter Gatien character (Dylan McDermott) was more of a presence in the film than in the shocumentary, giving more background on the economics of hosting the Club Kids. The role of drugs in Alig's downfall was made clearer in the movie. There was a downside too. I just can't believe this Michael Alig (played by Macaulay Culkin) would be able to convice Peter Gatien to give him a chance. The real Michael Alig of the shockumentary (charismatic even behind bars) had the charm and drive to pull it off. While frequently showing Michael Alig, James St. James and others camping it up, the film takes too much care not to show Michael Alig acting on his homosexual drives. On his way to giving a first date kiss to DJ Keoki (Wilmer Valderrama) inside a garbage dumpster (don't ask), the camera cuts to skyrockets. Michael and James dance once and touch carefully, but that's all. In the shockumentary, Michael is arrested at his new boyfriend's place in New Jersey. In the movie he and girlfriend gitsie (Chloe Sevigny) take a bubble bath together, deep kiss, and are spooning as the police arrive. Mustn't frighten the audience. The death, disposal, and investigation of Angel Melendez (Wilson Cruz) were more complete and understandable in the shockumentary, although the film showed enough for me. Freez was scarier in the shockumentary. Cruz did a convincing job. Michael Alig has skin shots; there are discrete skin flashes from some Club Kids. There is an ok directors' commentary and brief actor interviews. If you really want to know what happened, read the book or see the shockumentary. If you want to see a focused story, this movie is all right. Also, if you like Seth Green here, take a look at "The Attic Expeditions." Seth Green makes a great queen I read "Disco Bloodbath" recently (upon which the movie is based) and am duly impressed with how Seth Green captured the author James St. James's voice as a 1980s club kid who often dresses in drag when donning his over-the-top outfits. Especially impressive is the scene where he dances to Stacey Q's 1987 hit "I Need You." He rocks! Green's acting notwithstanding, the film captures the club kid movement very well, particularly the rise and fall of the overly ambitious Michael Alig (Macauley Culkin), a fresh-faced kid new to New York who begs James to teach him how to be faaaabulous!!! Alig soon believes his power a little too well, ending in tragedy for one of the other club kids towards whom he has a love-hate agression. The fact that this is a true story (in fact the full title is 'Party Monster - the Shockumentary') makes it all the more compelling and, well, scary. Rent it and see for yourself. A peek at club kids and the N.Y.C. club called Limelight I had a hard time liking this movie, mainly because Michael Alig is such a likable guy and Macaulay Culkin is just so creepy to watch though he does play a gay man remarkably well. Seth Green acts his role but never comes off as comfortable in it and who could blame him. Alig lived life over the top and the movie plays everything over the top. The peek inside the infamous Limelight club is interesting and you'll laugh so hard you'll wet yourself at Marilyn Manson who has a minor role but in the end the documentary that chronicles Alig and the murder of "Club Kid" Angel is much much better. Buy Party Monster at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on Party Monster Search with the Priority Search Engine on Party Monster This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
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