Party Monster (film)

Plot

The film opens with Michael Alig as a small-town outcast who lived with his mother before moving to New York. Michael learns about the New York party scene from James St. James, who teaches him the "rules of fabulousness", which revolve around attracting as much attention to oneself as possible.

Despite James' warning, Alig hosts a party at The Limelight, a local club owned by Peter Gatien. With Alig as its main attraction, the Limelight soon becomes the hottest club in New York. Alig is named "King of the Club Kids" and goes on a cross-country journey in search of more club kids. Alig and James pick up Angel Melendez, Gitsie, and Brooke. Gitsie becomes Michael's latest sidekick, although the movie implies the relationship was little more than platonic. After Michael descends further into drug abuse, his life starts to spiral out of control, eventually culminating in his involvement in the murder of Angel. Gitsie and Michael decide to go to rehab, but ultimately return to New York with the same drug problems as before. Michael loses his job and ends up in a motel in New Jersey, where he is arrested and sent to prison after being outed by James. James then begins to write his "Great American Novel", published first as Disco Bloodbath and later as Party Monster.

Cast

• Macaulay Culkin as Michael Alig
  • Brendan O'Malley as young Michael Alig
• Seth Green as James Clark/James St. James
  • Dillon Woolley as young James Clark
• Chloë Sevigny as Gitsie
• Natasha Lyonne as Brooke
• Wilmer Valderrama as Superstar DJ Keoki
• Wilson Cruz as Andre "Angel" Melendez
• Diana Scarwid as Elke Alig
• Dylan McDermott as Peter Gatien
• Marilyn Manson as Christina Superstar
• Mia Kirshner as Natasha Gatien
• Justin Hagan as Robert "Freez" Riggs
• John Stamos as talk show host
• Daniel Franzese as stage hand/The Rat
• Amanda Lepore as herself (uncredited)
• Richie Rich as himself (uncredited)
• Armen Ra as himself (uncredited)

Soundtrack

The soundtrack peaked at number 21 on the US Billboard Dance/Electronic Albums.

Release

Party Monster made its world premiere at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival on January 18, 2003, and later played at the Cannes Film Festival in May of that year. On September 5, 2003, the film was put on limited release to different art house theaters in major US cities.

Reception

It was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival, however, and Chicago Sun-Times critic Roger Ebert gave the film three out of four stars, calling Culkin's performance "fearless", though he remarked that "the movie lacks insight and leaves us feeling sad and empty—sad for ourselves, not Alig—and maybe it had to be that way".

The film was only given a limited release. According to Box Office Mojo, the film only grossed $742,898 domestically (and $782,606 worldwide total) out of a budget of $5 million in its theatrical release.

Home media

The film was released on DVD in the United States and Canada in February 2004 through 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment; the DVD contained various cast interviews, an audio commentary, behind-the-scenes footage, the film's original theatrical trailer, and an interview with Michael Alig as bonus materials. The DVD has been out of print since 2009 and is largely unavailable for purchase at standard retail stores, however it is available for streaming on various platforms.

References

References

1. (2003-07-14). "''PARTY MONSTER'' (18)". [[British Board of Film Classification]].
2. "Party Monster - Worldwide Box Office Gross".
3. (2003). "Charts & Awards - Party Monster – Various Artists". [[AllMusic]].
4. Kellman, Andy. (2003). "Party Monster – Various Artists". [[AllMusic]].
5. Ebert, Roger. (5 September 2003). "''Party Monster'' movie review & film summary (2003)". [[Chicago Sun-Times]].
6. {{mojo title. partymonster. Party Monster