I saw the film "Party Monster" the other night at the Kensington, San Diego's answer to the crappy Act I and Act II. It was Mr. Macaulay Culkin's first film in nine years. "Why", you ask, "did he go away for nine years and choose to return in a film that I haven't even heard of?" Well, I think Macaulay had a plan. Y'know, something like:
1. Star in "Richie Rich" and pound the last nail into the coffin of my career as a child actor.
2. Get married.
3. Get divorced.
4. Kickstart career as serious adult actor by starring as a murderous gay drug-addicted club kid in a small cult film that few will see.
But I digress. The film was basically good, albeit a bit depressing. It was based on a true story, about two kids in New York City in the eighties who apparently revolutionized clubbing and had a small hand in creating what we know today as the rave scene. It was kind of a dual narrative, by both Macaulay and Seth Green, who was by far the best part of the film. Actually, the best part of the film was Seth Green's costuming, specifically when he dresses up as a treasure troll. (Hmm...don't I know someone who did that?)
Chloe Sevigny and Natasha Lyonne also star, but the film disables either actress from developing any depth, and they both come off as mundane and cliche characters. Dylan McDermott plays a sinister club owner rather well, however.
I wanted to like this film so much, but I just left the theatre in a slump. It was well made, and pretty well acted, but I guess the subject matter was just troubling to me.
Posted by robyn at octobre 17, 2003 02:03 AMsee, i knew you could review something. but seth green, robyn! seth green! i love him so much. i haven't seen this movie yet though because...well, because i'm lazy. and apparently don't love seth green enough. but i want to see it. because seth green. my argument to myself is going nowhere. i'm sorry you couldn't like it like you wanted.
Posted by: michele at octobre 17, 2003 12:12 PMYou *have* to see it if you love Seth Green so much, because it is definitely one of his finest roles. And take Cody with you.
Posted by: robyn at octobre 17, 2003 12:33 PMOnce a major distributor allows you to, you should see "Ken Park". Very strange childlike pornographic hardcore-masturbation-while-strangling-self murder grandparents with butcher knife gay incest movie.
Posted by: djsmall at octobre 17, 2003 02:53 PMA British film (I'm assuming) about autoerotic asphyxiation? I'm there!
Posted by: robyn at octobre 17, 2003 04:08 PMTwisted movies?? Bring 'em on! Party Monster was playing at the Castro Theater, but now it's left and gone away. How are we going to see this movie, michele? (p.s. i want that shirt!)
Posted by: cody at octobre 18, 2003 08:16 AMi've got the shirt! it's on my coffee table! crap though if party monster has left the castro it's probably not playing anywhere in the bay area any more. dammit!
Posted by: michele at octobre 18, 2003 12:29 PMThat does sound intriguing... although you weren't able to like it, Robyn, I'm still oddly compelled to see it. Cody, Michele, let me know when/if you find a place to see it!
Posted by: Kristina at octobre 18, 2003 01:58 PMI'm still gonna see it, even though it might be harder to sneak from theatre to theatre at the little indie place where it's showing. I'm still gonna try though...
Posted by: kati at octobre 18, 2003 03:28 PMUm, there's only one theatre, Kati. You could sneak from theatre to snack bar!
Posted by: robyn at octobre 19, 2003 01:11 AMA British film? No! It was directed by Larry Clark. If "Kids" was about kids talking about sex, then "Ken Park" is about kids having sex. Since you haven't heard about it, I can only guess that America's puritanical ways, apart from keeping you from seeing the film, have kept you from even knowing about its existence. Sad. Europe calls, my friends. It calls.
Posted by: djsmall at octobre 19, 2003 11:17 AMThere are plenty of crappy mainstream movies that I haven't heard of either. I'm not defending American censorship by any means, but I think the topics are unrelated. If they can show "Irreversible" down the street from me, they can show just about anything.
Posted by: robyn at octobre 19, 2003 03:43 PMisn't it the UK that banned the life of brian on account of it being sacreligious? so it's okay to have kids masturbating but you can't make fun of jesus? if europe is calling i'm not answering.
also, i've said it before and i'll say it again, where were all you women who like pasty, sarcastic redheads when i was in high school? jeez louise.
Posted by: holohan at octobre 20, 2003 08:13 AMThis film has got to be good because Macaulay has really re-invent...ah, let me just toss on some of this aftershave...AHHH!!!
Posted by: dr v at octobre 20, 2003 04:37 PM