54

Rating:
Summary: Those Rockin' 70s, Where Are They Now?
Review: It was the crazy 70s. Disco was king, the Bee Gees were holding center court, and Donna Summer was queen. Then there was club 54 where only the prettiest and best were allowed to enter. Liquor, sex, and drugs were always on the playlist and it became a staple of all the deviant behaviors of the era. The real star of this movie IS the music. It pulsates throughout the picture, giving it life in some of the dead spots. One amazing performance by Mike Meyers (Groovy Baby) as Steve was suprisingly overlooked. Meyers studied this character and had him down. He didn't even look like himself. If you miss the 70s/80s, put this on and go to the way-back machine.

Rating:
Summary: Music, dancing and decadence all lit up by stobe lighting
Review: Remember Studio 54? And doesn't it seem a long time ago?

This was a dance club like no other in the late 1970s. The patrons were either celebrities or those chosen at the front door because they had the "look" of the beautiful people. Inside was a fantasy of dancing and drugs, all lit by strobe lighting. And, as it had formerly been a theater, there was a even balcony for those almost private moments of brief romantic encounters. The waiters and bartenders were all gorgeous young men and wore nothing but shorts and a bow tie. This is a story of one of these guys.

Ryan Phillips is cast in the role of Shane O'Shea, a 19 year old from New Jersey who yearns for a star-studded life. He's chosen at the door and is big eyed with wonder and desire. Eventually, he becomes a waiter and later is promoted to bartender. There are a lot of women. And there is a lot of money. He even gets his picture in a magazine. Everything comes easy for him but he really is interested in a New Jersey girl who's a rising soap opera star.

The best role in the film goes to Mike Myers, who plays the legendary Steve Rubell who made it all happen. He's a strange bird with an eccentric personality and he does a lot of drugs. The money rolls in and he is in trouble with the IRS. But he's so puffed up with his own importance that he even brags about it on TV. Eventually, he's arrested and the party ends. But before it does, the filmgoers are treated to a small view of what it was back then.

I found the story silly, but I loved the nostalgia. Here was the music and the lights and the feeling of decadence that characterized a time that no longer exists. I lived through that time period. I remember. And so for those who are curious and those who want to step into the past for an hour and a half, I recommended this 1998 film.

Rating:
Summary: The Party Starts Again At Studio 54
Review: "54" stars Ryan Phillippe, Selma Hayak, Neve Campbell, and Mike Myers. The movie describes the high doses of everything in Studio 54. Though much information from real-life was eliminated, especially the second club owner, it still has many enjoyable scenes. Had they included those extra details, "54" likely would have been given a five stars. The high extremes of glitz, glamour, flamboyance, sex, music, and drugs are desplicted brilliantly. The stage set-up of Studio 54 gives the movie further joy, especially in the lights, the glitter, and the elaborate construction. Such scenery shines light to disco music. Mike Myers role as the club owner, Steve Rubell, is his best in his career. Sadly, he was highly underrated. The other actors are average, though most have performed better. "54" is a great movie for those looking to revisit the 1970's and/or the disco era. Many will be entertained. Those looking for a further disco experience should also watch "Saturday Night Fever".

Rating:
Summary: Great film, great soundtrack
Review: Fantastic film set around the 70's night club "54". Surprisingly well acted especially Mike Meyers as the night club's owner and Ryan Phillippe as the new kid on the block.

The music is just as good and so the soundtrack is a must have.

It seems that the director was not able to release his cut of the film and so the US DVD version (the best I've seen so far) is the closest we are going to get. However what remains is still great and definitely worth seeing.

Rating:
Summary: Disco isn't dire
Review: Following up 'Boogie Nights' and edited for theatre release perhaps '54' was doomed from the beginning. It was always going to be hard enough garnering teenage interest in a movie about the 70's disco scene even if it did have some of the hottest young talent out there. However, despite bad reviews this is actually a good movie.

The plot follows Jersey kid Shane (Phillipe) desperate to make it big and ending up as a topless waiter in Studio 54, the hottest nightclub in New York. There he hooks up with Meyer and Hayek and begins his road to corruption along drugs and meaningless sex in an effort to make something of his life. Basically that seems to be the main message of the film, collecting together a group of seemingly perfect beautiful people that aren't happy with their lives and seek direction. Phillipe's wants fame, Hayek wants a singing career, Meyer wants a promotion and more money whilst club owner Steve Rubell (Myers) is the most self-deprecating figure in the movie.

Myers gives the performance of his career as the ultimately pathetic Steve Rubell, and the cast of hot young hopefuls surrounding him almost echo their characters in a way, each on the brink of the big time. Looking at this it's a shame Phillip can't pick better material than 'Antitrust' because he does manage to uphold his role whilst real life friend Meyer and sultry Hayek are both equally good. Also watch out for a performance from Sherry Stringfield (aka Susan from 'ER'). The only problem is that one of the big-listed stars, Neve Campbell, has all of three scenes in the movie but still manages to sparkle.

This is be no ways a bad film, but it's also no classic. Still it's rare that a cast of teenage hopefuls can uphold such an ultimately bleak movie. And Myers should have received some kind of accolade for his work here.