Review of Party Monster (2003) by Chriss M — 06 Mar 2010

Wow, the critics really panned this movie, I don't understand why, but I gotta say that that old guy from the Chicago-Sun Times and me sure have similar tastes. I loved this movie. The acting is fearless.

Culkin and Green are outstanding; exceptional. They displayed some genuine talent in this movie. The script is brilliant and a lot truer to life than some of these reviewers are accepting. Dealing with the narcissism and amorality attributed to a particular generation of party goers, which seems to be reemerging today, it takes a deeper than given credit for look at their lifestyle.

The casual nihilism and cool nonchalance associated with it oozes from these characters' pours. Maybe a film for young people, but with a script so witty and darkly humorous, it feels criminal that it should be rated so poorly.

My only complaint would be that perhaps it does unintentionally glamourise the ruthless murderer, Michael Alig. The movie, although I felt I related to greatly, left me with a bitter aftertaste when considering how much I not only empathised with Alig but rooted for him even after his cold blooded murder of his dealer.

That shouldn't have been the evoked feelings about this particular character. I feel it glamourised it all a bit too much. So although a great movie, it lacks the condemnation of such a superficial lifestyle that, say, less than Zero (the book) does so well merely by displaying the lifestyle.