Review of Glory Daze: The Life and Times of Michael Alig (2015) by Matthew F. J — 02 May 2017

Ramon Fernandez is undoubtedly fascinated by his subject but delivers a documentary that isn't quite as concise and tight as it could have been. My major critic would be about the editing. The various characters interviewed throughout the film are alternated so rapidly that one does't have the time to know / understand who are these people talking about Alig.

The party monster himself only arrives late in the documentary and then takes over the limelight with John Saint James. I thought it wasn't necessary to have them explain the reasons why they were going around town and having a laugh.

Man it's been 17 years since Michael killed angel, of course he had time to reflect upon his sins and has turned the page. So in a way its good because Michael doesn't really play the sorry card and seems to really be looking forward to his liberation and moving on with his life, but in a way it makes him a bit cold and some might perceive his turn in this film as something distasteful.

Some of the people interviewed have strong one sided opinion about aligning and his glory Days a a club kid in NYC pre Giulianni era . I'm not convinced by the choices of what was edited out and what was left in.

I would have enjoyed a little more pragmatism here but it seems Fernandez was more into capturing a certain atmosphere and set up the release of Michael rather than straight forward documenting the events then & now.

It's a choice and Fernandez seems to assume it all the way. Definitely interesting in many ways but also lacking focus and concision in its form and content.