The Last Days of Disco

Rating:
Summary: When they talk of Herpes we're all thinking AIDS
Review: "The Last Days of Disco" recalls a specific time - the very early 1980's. The video opens with a shot of two young women walking down the street. The shot is framed in such a way that you only see the bottom half of their legs. It's a shot that immediately recalls the disco-era classic, "Saturday Night Fever" with it's similar opening - clearly Whit Stillman (who wrote and directed) knows what he's doing.

The film is a sort of coming-of-age story of two book publishing assistants - Alice (well played by Chloe Sevigny who can be seen in the current "Boys Don't Cry") and Charlotte (Kate Beckinsale). Looking to expand their social circle, they frequent a hard-to-get-into nightclub (not mentioned but obviously patterned after New York's famed Studio 54). The more experienced Charlotte ("Maybe in physical terms I'm cuter than you - but you should be much more popular than I am") gives Alice lots of advice - like how she should always try and throw the word "sexy" into her conversation or how Harvard guys can be amazing creeps. She talks of the "tremendous importance of group social life" and claims to oppose "all this ferocious pairing off". She's a bit of a phony, however, which we (like Alice) come to find out. But Stillman rises above making crass judgements about her, he doesn't make fun of her - he essentially likes her, as he does all the characters. This includes Des, whose act is to pretend he's recently discovered he's gay in order to gain sympathy from women, before cruelly dumping them.

Deftly observed, "The Last Days of Disco" is one of the best videos I saw in 1998. It's an extremely talky, almost plotless, CHARACTER-driven story. The talk, however, is often very witty. Take, for example, the debate that films like "Lady and the Tramp" program women to adore jerks. Or the idea that the environmental movement started in the 50's after we all saw "Bambi". This is a terrific film that shines a light on a confusing time - a time many were scarcely prepared for.

Rating:
Summary: I don't think that DISCO is the main story here........
Review: This is NOT a Saturday night Fever nor a dance movie by any stretch of the imagination. Its a story about 70's disco culture as it is endured by about 7 individuals.

DISCO is actually not the main story, in my opinion.....the main stories are the lives of those few characters who happened to have disco be a huge part of their life

I find that Whit Stillman's movie require close attention to the dialog..there is no action, there is no highs, there is no lows. His movies travel along at an even pace.

Not as good as Whit Stillmans "Metropolitan", but I will always watch his work. He is the first director I actually took the time to turn over the VHS cassette box, and see who directed this movie.

With the exception of a gratuitous 2 second sex scene, this should have been PG-13. I find it witty and enticing all the way through.... Just a normal guy speaking true opinions!!

Rating:
Summary: Burn Yuppie Burn
Review: Stillman's obvious artistic kinsmen are Woody Allen and Eric Rohmer. Yet, Stillman doesn't wallow in self-pity like the former and doesn't constrict his stories within 'moral' discourse of the latter. Stillman, at his best, manages the right balance between lively chatter and somber reflection. His writing, rather like Allen's, sometimes has the annoying characteristic of rehearsed monologues interrupted by token protestation by others merely for the sake of furthering the monologue. Sometimes, no matter how clever or engaging, the exchanges are about trivial matters though contextualized within the general theme. Stillman also isn't quite a director of actors; the performances are adequate, even charming, but never tour-de-force. This restraint may seem somewhat odd in a movie about wild and crazy disco, but it isn't really about disco. Disco is simply used as a backdrop, as a phase in musical culture as well as in life, which defines these lives. This movie could just as well have been set in the hippie 60s or charleston 20s. Stillman is, foremost, concerned with certain timeless lessons revolving around friendship and love. There's something about chivalry and honor in all of his movies, values that are old-fashioned but refreshing in today's movie values of cynicism and violence. Also, interesting is Stillman's nostalgia for disco which is paradoxically colored by his conservative instincts. We usually associate disco--as with most other forms of pop cultural movements--with novelty, faddishness, and disposability, yet Stillman conjures up a vision of a city on a hill, of camelot, with its knights, princesses, and jesters. Stillman understands new become old. What was revolutionary becomes conservative; in a way, it's a statement about youth; how youth is identified with new ideas and values yet as we grow older it becomes a time and place to cherish and mythify, to remember and behold. In this harking back to a special period to which we can't return but has defined the mood and mode of our lives, Stillman has found the core of conservative instincts--if not ideology--in all of us. Ultimately, Stillman's films are not about passion but about dignity, not about Truth but honor. Stillman's instincts, being conservative, do not lean toward utopian visions, all-encompassing truths, or mad passions. He believes most people can, at their best, find some kind of moral compass in life and direct their actions with a modicum of moral consideration. Stillman believes people can think and can change. Hardly original but rare in movies today with their stock characterizations and simplistic, determinist dynamics. Perhaps, Stillman doesn't have the gusto of PT Anderson, the bravura inventiveness of Tarantino, or the morbid gravedigging obsessiveness of Solondz, but his grasping for sanity in an ever-changing, deceptive world is much needed and welcome. Thank god not every director is a Stillman but we need him just as any other, just as the New Wave needed Truffaut as much as it needed Godard, Rohmer as much as Chabrol.

Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Films of the 90's
Review: I didn't like The Last Days of Disco I loved it.The quik dialoge and intelligent conversations between the characters were great and remeniscent of Barcelona and Metropolitan.The dialoge ranges from serious such as a conversation talking about pregnancy,to a funny and cute conversation dealing with The Lady and the Tramp,the Disney film.

Everyone does a fantastic job in acting but the people who stand out are Chloe Sevigny, Kate Beckinsale and Chris Eigeman.To me Chloe Sevingy is us,observing the situation and just watching like us,shes a tender loving person and by the end of the film we love her.Kate Beckinsale is a sassy and bitchy early eightys girl and has mood swings constantly.Chris Eigeman is great as the guy who when he wants to end a realationship tells the girls "I'm Gay",he has the best dialoge in the film.

Whit Stillman did a great job on the film with good direction and great writing I can't wait for him to come out with a new film.The cinematography is great capturing the early eightys and the music is nice too.

If you loved this movie check out Metropolitain and Barcelona.

Rating:
Summary: WONDERFUL PICTURE
Review: This is the BEST film i've seen about the disco era and an all round great motion picture, hands down, its not even an issue, BUT why on earth is the dvd sooo expensive? Were there limited copies to beginwith or something? All i know is i'm not going to shell out a $100 bucks for any single dvd title, i don't care what movie/film is on it, and its a shame because this is really a fantastic film.

Rating:
Summary: Stillman has still got it baby
Review: I loved this movie with a flame. Im a huge Whit Stillman fan, man, Barcelona and Metropolitan, god those where so awesome, and if you havent seen his other works then check them out or this one out. Chole Sevingy and Kate Beckinsale are simply amazing. Robert Sean Leonard has never been more cooler and grand. Matt Kesslar is good as well. doesnt let go for a minute and then movie rocks.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Dialogue
Review: If you enjoy well-written, intelligent wit, then you'll love The Last Days of Disco. Full of sharp, enjoyable dialogue, The Last Days of Disco tells the story of three roommates and their relationships in and around the club scene of New York in the waning days of the disco era. As others have stated, Chloe Sevigny is stunning in the lead role. This definitely isn't for the Dumb and Dumber crowd, but if you enjoy having your mind tickled as well as your funnybone, then you'll enjoy the Last Days of Disco.

Rating:
Summary: CHLOELIOUS!
Review: 'The Last Days Of Disco' is a fun film. But what makes me want to own this film is the always mesmerisng/interesting,striking/fun and the delightful Chloe Sevigny. She always has a presence and life that I havn't really seen before. She is one of the best actors around. She just seals the deal-getting to watch Chloe for one hour and fifty five minutes.

Rating:
Summary: A Very Good Adaptation Of The NYC Yuppie Scene
Review: Don't let the title fool you. The Last Days of Disco is at least not primarilly about the Disco movement. Its main purpose is to show how many recent college graduates struggle to find their identities as well as love in New York City.

The story mainly flow around the relationship between Charlotte and Alice. Sometimes it is good. Other times a bit stormy. Charlotte envies ability to succede professionally and attract more desireable guys. However Alice has deep rooted insecurities about confronting those who offend and or control her.

Other parts of this story focus around insecurities of the male actors: Des, Jimmy, Josh, Van, and even the prima donna nightclub owner, Bernie. Des seems to have a running line how he confesses to women that he is gay to get their sympathy and a hopeful sexual escapade. Jimmy is oh so worreid about making impressions upon his boss and potential clients at his advertising agency job by trying to get them into the trendy night club where Van is all to happy to keep out such elements.

All these characters are intertwined in various scenes where one can certainly reminisce about those first few years after college and all the good times and heartaches that one endured. The varying insecurities can be a bit trying sometimes. However, the general adaptation with the disco music as a backdrop certainly paints a scene which many people certainly have faced. It succedes in many dramatic ways.

Rating:
Summary: Fabulous film - if only I were allowed to see the DVD
Review: The atmosphere and sheer style were great. The sense of one age coming to an end and another, somehow harder, one beginning was so clear.

If only we lesser, Region 2, mortals were allowed to watch. Where were the anti-trust lawyers when region coding was invented by the industry?