54 (1998)

Saturday Night Fever it's not--call it more like Sunday Morning Leftovers. This portrait of the legendary Manhattan disco and its colorful cofounder, Steve Rubell, plays like the outtakes of a much more interesting film--where's the sex, the drugs, the classic disco music? (It shouldn't surprise viewers that Miramax and writer-director Mark Christopher had a falling-out over the final cut of the film; Miramax prevailed.) Considering that the essence of Studio 54 was about the rich and beautiful, it seems a bit unwise to focus on the poor and only-somewhat-beautiful, namely Shane (Ryan Phillippe), a Jersey boy who gets taken in by the razzle-dazzle of the disco era. Crossing the river, Shane finds another, more exciting life at Studio 54 as a shirtless bartender, and soon finds himself partying with the crème de la crème--and smitten with comely soap star Julie (Neve Campbell). The permutations of the story are familiar; if you've never seen VH1's Behind the Music documentary take on Studio 54 you'll find this film enjoyable, but unlike that exhaustive portrait, too many elements are missing. Most of Phillippe's performance seems to have ended up on the cutting-room floor (although his chiseled torso gets maximum exposure), Campbell's role is basically a glorified cameo, and Breckin Meyer and Salma Hayek, as Phillippe's only true pals, are wasted. The one true gem of the film, though, is Mike Myers's take on the late Steve Rubell, an inspired high-wire performance that balances humor and tragedy without ever giving in to camp or pathos. Had this been a more well-received movie, he'd be remembered come Oscar time--his drunken proposition of Philippe is a minor treasure. The soundtrack does feature some unknown chestnuts and a few new remixes, including an inspired disco version of--believe it or not--Gordon Lightfoot's "If You Could Read My Mind." --Mark Englehart Amazon.com

Please release the original cut!!

The original cut does exist. In fact, it was shown last week in Los Angeles at "Outfest", the gay and lesbian film festival. Hopefully they are planning to release it soon, maybe for the 10 year anniversary edition?? July 20, 2008

Depressingly entertaining, and you can't look away from the screen.

This is a movie to just let wash over you. Just take in that scene and realize that this was reality. I knew peoople just like this. I could only watch as they blew their time away on nothing of real importance, and blew their brains and cash away on white powder to put up their noses... all the time thinking that they were on the fast track to something, but really going nowhere. It was only losers who were outside the scene.

It's the death of elderly Dottie out on the dance floor that lets you know the party is really over. The lights are turned on to show her dead on the dance floor, blood streaming out of her nose, lying amid the piles of litter on the floor that moments before had passed for glittering streamers. The club's owner has the lights turned back off as Dottie's body is carried out, and the music begins anew. Moments later, the IRS arrives. When Steve Rubell is asked if he is "going to get out," he replies: "Where would I go?"

If there is anything really brilliant here, it's the riveting performance by the actor who seems to have captured the essence of Steve Rubell, Mike Myers.

For me, this is a movie I have to watch every year or so to remember the bad old days and how they only seemed to glitter in the dark. Some of us got out alive. July 14, 2008

Studio 54

Great movie/documentary! How very true all of this was. Those were the days my friend! At times I'm surprised I survived it all. February 17, 2008

dancing dvd

This movie is my favorite of ryan. He is one of the hottest actors. January 24, 2008

A Great Look Back in the Days

A great movie about an even greater period in time. Unfortunately those days will never return. So sad!!! December 8, 2007

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