WHAT'SUP
It Might Maybe be Alright, round 408.04.09
This is the fourth review in a possibly endless (hopefully not) series describing my experiences with movies I have been led to believe might comfort me about the stresses of coming of age post-college. Check the bottom of the post for links to previous reviews.
Attempt 4: “The Last Days of Disco”(1998)
Basic plot: Two women who were sort of friends in college end up frenemies competing for love post-college on the cusp of the disco and yuppie-greed eras in New York.
Actual plot: I think that’s actually it, this time. The movie is about the last days of disco. And two women. And the sexual revolution. There are no particular complex sub-plots, but there are several things going on at once. Like the last days of disco. And the sexual revolution.
What I thought: Despite how simple I’ve made it sound, the movie is actually pretty complex. The characterization is really subtle and kind of beautiful, actually, though I spent the first half of the movie hating one group of people, and the second half hating just about everyone else. At the beginning, it takes itself too seriously, but I’m starting to feel like all these movies have this disaffected tone that has uneven results. “The Last Days of Disco” in particular suffers from this problem. I kind of want to punch Chloe Sevigny in the face constantly, but that might not even have to do with the character she’s playing (Although, hey, don’t bad-mouth Stan Lee, OK?)
About three quarters of the way through, there’s an argument about the social implications of “Lady and the Tramp” after which I finally felt like I was in on the joke. And then I was deliriously happy during an argument about identity politics and yuppie-dom. Aside from that, the movie is pretty cliche, and, again, the characterization was definitely the best part. Also, Chris Eigeman, who I forgot to mention was in “Kicking and Screaming,” and whom I secretly love, plays the same character he always does, so I was pleased with that. I have a lot to say about this one because it was kind of a mess. I’m eager to see if director/writer Whit Stillman‘s previous foray into post-college drama, “Metropolitan,” will be better.
“Yes, but how did it make you feel?”: Die, yuppie scum. I was disappointed because I felt like this had virtually nothing to do with becoming an adult after college, and mostly had to do with the tail end of the sexual revolution. All the male characters were basically the same person, except they all hate each other and have slight variations in virtue level, which seem to be directly correlated with their careers. Honestly, it is pretty boring. Seeing Dr. Wilson cut a rug was pretty priceless. (No, literally, this one is was free on Hulu and Fancast as well.)
Character I most relate to: Basically no one. Holly? Dan? The guy in the tin man suit?
What I learned: I super hate disco. And Chloe Sevigny.
Rating: 2/5
Next up: “Funny Ha Ha”
Previously: “Reality Bites”
Also: “Slacker”
And: “Kicking and Screaming”
