An empty Friday night and a bit of curiousity landed this little flick in my hands a couple weeks back.
"Party Monster" is the true story of 80's club kid, Michael Alig, who apparently rose to fame in his circle of New York clubs for his outrageous behavior and wild parties, eventually getting so heavy into drugs and himself that he murdered one member of his circle. The movie is based on the book "Disco Bloodbath" by James St. James, another club kid and close friend of Michael Alig.
If the story does not sound interesting, the actors might be enough to draw you in:
Michael Alig: Macauley Culkin
James St. James: Seth Green. His performance is worth watching the movie for. I'm no fan, but he's a hoot. He nails the role.
Christina: Marilyn Manson - just another character, but curiousity might drag you in
Gitsie: Chloe Sevigny (a bit of an obsession of mine)
Other familiar names include Dylon McDermott, Wilmer Valderrama, Natasha Lyonne, and Wilson Cruz
Culkin's performance is adequate. It's a character part, and he's into the character. He's aged enough that we aren't distracted by memories of Kevin McCallister. I still prefer to be watching his brothers, Kieran (see "Igby Goes Down") or Rory (see "You Can Count on Me"). But after all the media attention Macauley's seen since his teen years, it's delightfully self-indulgent to see him playing the part of a flamboyant, bisexual drug addict.
I watched the movie the night I rented it, and it was too weird. Parts get boring and the characters are too outrageous for most of us to relate to. The flow is off. The movie feels like a series of snapshots of the events leading up to the murder and conviction.
Thanks to Blockbuster Video's one week rental, I still had the DVD a week later and decided to give it another watch. No longer shocked, I was able to sit back and enjoy. Seth Green dominates the screen. He's too much fun to watch.
You see these characters as freaks, but the directors are sympathetic to them. They're the kids who don't fit into mainstream, so they run in the opposite direction. The parties and the costumes are wonderfully creative.
The DVD has some nice bonus features, including an interview with the real Michael Alig, and interviews with the actors about the movie and each other.
Bottom line: If you've any interest, give it a go, if you're apprehensive, skip it.
I, myself, am left to wonder where I can find the 1998 documentary of the same name - get a taste of the real thing.
