Nico Rosales. (2008). Money, Success, Fame, Glamour (Party Monster Montage Video) . [Online Video]. 26 May. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I59a22lPnvo. [Accessed: 17 November 2014].
Party Monster is a film detailing the life of Michael Alig- a drug addicted club kid who lived the life of money, success, fame and glamour. Based on Disco Bloodbath- the memoirs of James St. James, the film shows an uncensored lifestyle of drugs, sex, clubbing and being successful and powerful without working a day in their lives.
I can see similarities between Party Monster and Cabaret- the notion of partying and dancing through life never having a guarantee of money or stability is present in both films, with Sally making her living in the cabaret night by night, paying her rent based on the tips she makes, and Michael living through being popular, getting away with not paying his way as he was considered the original Club Kid.
Character Comparison
James St. James and Brian
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| nfectedgenetics.tumblr.com, (1812), Michael Alig and James St James [ONLINE]. Available at: http://giphy.com/gifs/cocaine-macaulay-culkin-3bL1P4EWJmNGM [Accessed 17 November 14]. |
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| Warner Home Video, (1972), Michael York as Brian Roberts [ONLINE]. Available at: http://www.bryanreesman.com/2013/02/07/michael-york-cabaret-logans-run/ [Accessed 17 November 14]. |
Brian and James St James are not the first characters one would draw similarities between- with Brian's quiet, reserved nature and James' outgoing, flamboyant party lifestyle. But I did notice a few similarities as I was watching Party Monster that I wanted to write about.
For starters, both James St James and Brian are both writers, suffering from writers block throughout the film, before writing their own experiences up to create the story of the film.
They are both the second most featured characters in the film, and have both created a story about the main character who they love in some way.
They both care for and want the best for the main characters (Sally and Michael), and try and guide them in the right direction. There is a difference here in that James was the one who introduced Michael to drugs and the club scene, whereas Sally was already in the Cabaret scene when Brian meets her.
After the party life becomes too much and Sally and Michael go too far, Brian and James both distance themselves from them, after trying to encourage them to follow them in the right direction.
There are differences between the characters: for starters, James is very much in the same scene as Michael and in fact introduced him to the Club Kids life. Brian stays out of Sally's Cabaret life to an extent, and only joins in as more of a customer so remains on the other side of the situation. Also, Brian and Sally are romantically involved whereas Michael and James are just friends. I think this difference in relationship is important as in friendships good advice is often laughed off when someone is in a bad situation, whereas in romantic relationships often people will take avice more seriously and will accept help.
Party Monster, 2003. [DVD] Bailey, F. Barbato, R, United States: Strand Releasing.
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