THE LAST DAYS OF DISCO (Criterion, 1998) D: Whit Stillman, w/ Chloë Sevigny, Kate Beckinsale. Rating: NNNNN DVD package: NNNN Rating: NNNNN
Writer/director Whit Stillman’s light-hearted, witty examination of the romantic and professional troubles of a group of young people in very early 80s New York catches his unabashed but clear-eyed love for disco and his nascent yuppies. But forget John Travolta in the white suit – this is about socializing and dancing.
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Alice (Chloë Sevigny), the quiet one, and Charlotte (Kate Beckinsale), the put-down queen, are co-workers and roommates. Disco manager Des (Chris Eigeman) and assistant district attorney Josh (Matt Keeslar) are old friends, which provides a modest plot mover when the disco is investigated for dope dealing and money laundering.
Stillman writes highly stylized dialogue that occasionally floats off into wonky rants. The naturalistic acting and air of seriousness make it work and bring depth and poignancy to some of the lightest, funniest moments.
The disco is beautifully decorated and lit. It’s nothing like reality, but Stillman makes it believable and fascinating with a lively collection of bit parts and extras.
Stillman, Sevigny and Eigeman deliver a pleasant mix of interesting insight and production story on their shared commentary.
EXTRAS Commentary, deleted scenes with commentary, making-of doc, audio epilogue. Widescreen. English audio and subtitles. Print essay.
