Delayed Reaction: Studio 54: A Documentary

The Pitch: Because we never get tired about mythologizing the place.

A documentary about the rise and fall of Studio 54.

History is written by the victors. That is very true about Studio 54: A Documentary. It's a documentary made by people like co-founder Ian Schrager, who have a vested interest in maintaining the myth of Studio 54. So, the good times were great and the bad times weren't their fault. The decadence was a celebration and the over-indulgence was exaggerated.

When you think about it, it's amazing how well the Studio 54 brand has been maintained over the years. After all, it was a popular Disco club that was open for less than a decade, with a heyday of only 3-4 years. It's been gone for over 3 decades and people still know what it is. Why should we remember it? Famous people go to a lot of clubs. Was it really so special? This documentary would have you believe it was.

Personally, the more I learn about the place, the less great it sounds. It was poorly run. A couple savvy businessmen made an exclusive club and it was an instant hit. They managed it irresponsibly, bragged about all the rules they were breaking, then fell hard. One owner died of AIDS. The other got out of jail and almost immediately became a real estate mogul. Where's the plucky underdog story? Why should I like these people?

I guess I'm the wrong audience for this documentary. For what it is, it's OK. There's a lot of ego-stroking. It's more of a one-sided oral history than a deep multi-perspective dive into it. And it's short. If I don't care much for something, I appreciate when it's short.

Verdict: Weakly Don't Recommend