Party Monster

The other night Kyle, Haley and I watched Party Monster. Dear God, do I ever love the living hell out of that movie. Fabulous gay men, the 90’s, great music… It’s my Mecca. Granted it is a murder story, but man was it ever fun before that point.

I had a long discussion with one of my co-workers about this same issue. I had spent the majority of my day reading up on the incident, as well as the history of the whole Club Kids scene. My co-worker walked up while I was watching a video of the group’s visit to the Joan Rivers Show. He asked what I was watching, and I explained that I had just watched the movie for the umpteenth time and was just relishing in all of the Club Kid madness as a means of filling up my day. I told him I loved the movie, and that I adored watching all of the interviews of the real Club Kids. His response? “But isn’t that movie about a murder? It was depressing. I really liked the guy they killed.”

1. Yes, it’s a movie about a murder. But it’s also a movie about a movement. If Michael Alig hadn’t been involved in the killing do you really think anyone would still care? No. He was a leader in the group; a face that America recognized.
2. The murder is only during the last few minutes of the movie. Up until that point it’s pretty amazing and fun. Yeah, there are downer parts, but for me, it’s mostly just fun.
3. Really? You liked Angel? He had like no personality in the movie. He was barely even in it. You only like him because you feel sorry for him in the end. In real life, I’m sure Angel was a great guy (fun, sweet, personality to boot), and in no way did he deserve to die, especially in the savage manner he did. But come on, his part was really poorly written in the movie. You don’t have time to get emotionally attached to him as a character before he’s killed.

Anyway, I still like Michael Alig; not as much as James St. James or Richie Rich, but still. I know, I know… He’s a murderer, and a brutal one at that. But hey, someone has to like the murderers and rapists of the world, and John Waters can only do so much to cover that duty on his own. So I’ll take one off old John’s hands I guess. You know, for posterity’s sake, or something like that…