(2.5/5)
This is a disco social comedy revolving around “The Club”, a New York disco space frequented by yuppies. The film is a late rework of John Hughes’ 1980′s teenager films, set in a Jay Macinerney’ s novel, with a female protagonist (Chloë Sevigny). Two college friends, Alice and Charlotte are working together in a book publishing house. Most of the people in the group come from universities: they behave and talk like empty puppets and they work in an array of occupations ranging from advertising (Jimmy) and clubs (Des), to the district attorney’s office (Joshua). The film turns around like a carousel without producing any density.
If the underlying message of the film is that the Disco era was empty and superficial, well, it doesn’t play well on screen, especially compared with other films from the era. The idea is interesting, even if it already has been used in Francis Ford Coppola’s Cotton Club or in Ettore Scola’s Le Bal . Scenes and characters do not add depth to the story; the films avoids any major critical interpretation of the period. At the end, the message ‘the Disco is dead; long live to Disco’ is cheap nostalgia guided by a remarkable soundtrack. It is a bit surprising that Criterion has chosen to revive this film. It is only memorable for Chloë Sevigny’s performance,which, fortunately, has more dimensions than the average cardboard cut out.
THE LAST DAYS OF DISCO
(USA, 1998, 113, Color, 1.78.1)
Cast
Alice Chloë Sevigny
Charlotte Kate Beckinsale
Des Chris Eigeman
Jimmy Mackenzie Astin
Josh Matt Keeslar
Tom Robert Sean Leonard
Nina Jennifer Beals
Dan Matthew Ross
Holly Tara Subkoff
Van Burr Steers
Bernie David Thornton
Tiger Lady Jaid Barrymore
Hap Michael Weatherly
Credits
Director Whit Stillman
Screenplay Whit Stillman
Producer Whit Stillman
Cinematography John Thomas
Editing Andrew Hafitz and Jay Pires
Executive Producer John Sloss
Co-producers Cecilia Kate Roque and Edmon Roch
Composer Mark Suozzo
Production Design Ginger Tougas
Costumes Sarah Edwards
Choreography John Carrafa
Music supervisor Peter Afterman
Disc Features
DIRECTOR-APPROVED SPECIAL EDITION
* New, restored high-definition digital transfer, supervised and approved by director Whit Stillman
* Audio commentary featuring Stillman and actors Chloë Sevigny and Chris Eigeman
* Four deleted scenes with commentary by Stillman, Eigeman, and Sevigny
* Audio recording of Stillman reading a chapter from his book The Last Days of Disco, with Cocktails at Petrossian Afterwards
* Behind-the-scenes featurette
* Stills gallery with captions by Stillman
* Original theatrical trailer
* PLUS: An essay by novelist David Schickler
Popularity: 2% [?]
