Search - The Last Days of Disco on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Mild Violence, Adult Language, Sexual Situations, Drug Content Movie Release: 1998 DVD Release: 03/30/1999 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV,Pan and Scan Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: French SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 54 mins Studio: Polygram Video Members Wishing: 30 Genres: Comedy Drama, Sophisticated Comedy, Comedy of Manners, Coming-of-Age, Ensemble Film See Also: The Last Days of Disco [Criterion Collection]

As another installment of Whit Stillman's trilogy, The Last Days of Disco fits chronologically between Metropolitan (1990) and Barcelona (1994), with several cameos overlapping and linking the films. During "the very early 1980s," friends gather at a popular Manhattan disco club reminiscent of Studio 54, where getting past the velvet ropes and inside was the first step. Edgy ad-exec Jimmy (Mackenzie Astin) can sometimes get his clients in with the help of the club's womanizing assistant manager, his pal Des (Chris Eigeman), who lets them enter via the rear door. Beautiful brunette Charlotte (Kate Beckinsale) and her former college classmate Alice (Chloe Sevigny) move about the club during the 24-minute opening club sequence. Attorney Tom (Robert Sean Leonard) takes an interest in calm, reserved Alice. Both Alice and the opinionated, assertive Charlotte hold day jobs as entry-level editorial associates at a small book publisher. With Holly (Tara Subkoff) as a third roommate, the trio rents a railroad flat in the Manhattan's Yorkville neighborhood. Charlotte throws dinner parties in an effort to solidify a social circle as an alternative to "the ferocious pairing off" around her. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide

Chloë Sevigny - Alice
Kate Beckinsale - Charlotte
Christopher Eigeman - Des
Matt Keeslar - Josh
MacKenzie Astin - Jimmy

This DVD release of The Last Days of Disco may not feature any meaningful extras, but it is still technically impressive and a marked improvement over the video release. A witty, suave movie that captures the early '80s in Manhattan while steadfastly avoiding the kitschy clichés of the disco era, the look of John Thomas' expert after-hours cinematography is preserved on this beautiful anamorphic widescreen transfer. Not only does this Whit Stillman film look as good as it did in theatres, but the better-than-average disco and soul soundtrack really comes alive when played through your stereo system (thankfully, the Dolby Digital 5.0 audio track is equally well-balanced when fed through your TV). Not really about the late-'70s dance scene at all, The Last Days of Disco is loosely based on Whit Stillman's own experiences and he creates his own Manhattan instead of attempting a slavish copy of the famously tacky era. Perhaps a future DVD edition will feature an audio commentary from the writer/director. ~ Nick Dedina, All Movie Guide