Truly horrendous dramatization of the true story of Michael Alig. A gay man, he became the king of the club kid scene in the late 1980s. Eventually he became hooked on drugs which led to his downfall and involved murder.
There is only one good thing in this film--Seth Green's performance as James St. James, Michael's best friend. He's flamboyent, hysterically funny and plays his role with just the right amount of camp. That aside, virtually everything else sucks.
The casting of Macaulay Culkin in the lead is easily the worst mistake. He can't act and says everything in a dull monotone with a blank look on his face. He's worse now than when he was a child actor! Wilmer Valderrama briefly perks up the movie as Michael's lover DJ Keoki. He's incredibly handsome, full of charisma and gives a much better performance than the material deserves. Unfortunately he disappears after the first half hour. Also the movie doesn't play fair here--when Alig and Keoki are about to kiss, the camera goes black! I think in the year 2003 audiences can deal with 2 guys kissing--especially in an R-rated film. Dylan McDermott gives in a dull one-note performance as club owner Pater Gatien. Chloe Sevigny pops up late in the film...and is given nothing to do. Wilson Cruz (looking just great) also helps the movie playing Angel...but is also given nothing to do.
The script is scattershoot--it rambles all over the place and, by the end, you don't know where you are or what's happening. Where is Alig living at the end? Where is he getting all the drugs when he has no money? Why does Keoki even bother showing up at the end? Why does Angel demand money when he knows Alig is broke? etc etc. Also the direction is WAY off. Half the time the camera isn't even pointing at the actors who are speaking...other times it seems to wander around aimlessly.
Boring, pointless, unpleasant and seems much much longer than it's 98 minutes. A total waste of time. Avoid at ALL costs!!!!!!
There is only one good thing in this film--Seth Green's performance as James St. James, Michael's best friend. He's flamboyent, hysterically funny and plays his role with just the right amount of camp. That aside, virtually everything else sucks.
The casting of Macaulay Culkin in the lead is easily the worst mistake. He can't act and says everything in a dull monotone with a blank look on his face. He's worse now than when he was a child actor! Wilmer Valderrama briefly perks up the movie as Michael's lover DJ Keoki. He's incredibly handsome, full of charisma and gives a much better performance than the material deserves. Unfortunately he disappears after the first half hour. Also the movie doesn't play fair here--when Alig and Keoki are about to kiss, the camera goes black! I think in the year 2003 audiences can deal with 2 guys kissing--especially in an R-rated film. Dylan McDermott gives in a dull one-note performance as club owner Pater Gatien. Chloe Sevigny pops up late in the film...and is given nothing to do. Wilson Cruz (looking just great) also helps the movie playing Angel...but is also given nothing to do.
The script is scattershoot--it rambles all over the place and, by the end, you don't know where you are or what's happening. Where is Alig living at the end? Where is he getting all the drugs when he has no money? Why does Keoki even bother showing up at the end? Why does Angel demand money when he knows Alig is broke? etc etc. Also the direction is WAY off. Half the time the camera isn't even pointing at the actors who are speaking...other times it seems to wander around aimlessly.
Boring, pointless, unpleasant and seems much much longer than it's 98 minutes. A total waste of time. Avoid at ALL costs!!!!!!