54 captures
by Jon Stubbs
Features Editor
Mark Christopher captures the
lights, sounds, sex and drugs of the
late 1970's disco scene in his feature
film debut, 54. The film is a
recollection of the actual Manhattan
disco club Studio 54 in its prime.
Ryan Phillippe stars as Shane
O'Shea, a Jersey City kid who makes
his pilgrimage across the Hudson to
the exciting world of Studio 54, where
he eventually lands a job as bartender,
serving the likes of Olivia Newton
John, Truman Capote, and Andy
Warhol.
Mike Myers makes his dramatic
debut as the tranquilizer-popping,
IRS-avoiding owner of the club, Steve
Rubell. "Steve is sort of the Wizard
of Oz of this amazing hedonistic
pleasure dome, and the catalyst for
Shane's transformation from inno-
cence to experience," says Myers.
Salma Hayek plays the role of
Anita, an aspiring singer who works
as a coat-check girl at Studio 54. She
is ceaselessly trying to push her demo
tapes on to the record executives that
frequent the club. "Anita is talented,
dedicated and frustrated," says Hayek.
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ACROSS
1 Tibetan monk
5 Pass out cards
9 Smelting
leftovers
14 Currier and _
15 Puget Sound
whale
16 Established
custom
17 Samuel Clemens
19 Mosey along
20 Swindler's mark
21 lOU defaulter
23 Went by sleigh
25 Squeal to a halt
26 Paddled
28 Evidences a
response
32 "The Stranger"
author
35 Latticework for
vines
37 Feel poorly
38 Free-for-all
39 Clean feathers
40 Machu Picchu
honcho
41 Fuss
42 Herbs with oily
seeds
43 Fidgety
44 St. Sebastian,
e.g.
46 Bruce and Laura
48 Involved with
50 Professors'
statuses
54 Gods' food
58 Mouth moisture
59 Plastic wrap
brand
60 Rescuer
62 Roman writer
63 Early garden
64 Zesty flavor
65 Water vapor
66 Fender damage
67 Ultimatum word
DOWN
1 Walks lamely
2 Effective use
3 Commingle
4 Made a date
5 Depressing
experience
excitement of disco scene
"And she's constantly changing her
look because she's frustrated." Anita
is married to a busboy at the club,
Greg, played by Breckin Meyer.
Neve Campbell has the small role
of Julie Black, a soap opera star who
is often seen at Studio 54. Shane
idolizes her because she is also from
New Jersey. Campbell describes her
character: "She's not the classiest
woman in the world, but she tries.
She's had just enough success to
become lost. She represents Shane's
fantasy of what Studio 54 is. But she
reflects Shane's reality, too, because
she's also from New Jersey, and has
changed her life, just as Shane hopes
to do."
Filming of 54 began September
1997 in Toronto and finished only
eight weeks later in New York City.
Some of the cast members such as
Sela Ward, Lauren Hutton, and
Michael York had experienced the
original Studio 54 at its peak. "It was
everything that you've read about and
heard about, quite a circus," said
Ward.
Many of the elements of the
original Studio 54 were recreated for
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6 Time stretch
7 Kind of rock or
rain
8 Bowling alleys
9 More protected
from the sun
10 Fraternity letter
11 French
clergyman
12 monster
13 Editor's directive
18 Forum garb
22 Rubber city?
24 Sweetie
27 Anticipate warily
29 Is unable
30 Muscle spasms
31 Kill
32 Prepare for
finals
33 Verdi opera Paquin
34 Othello, e.g. 45 Albanian capital
36 Plague (with) 47 Act offended
39 Harbors 49 Lubricated
40 Weatherproof 51 Other beau
42 Equivalent word 52 Finger-thrower's
43 Magnani and call
the filming of 54, such as the
diamond-shaped bar and the huge
facade of the man in the moon with
his cocaine-filled spoon. Mark
Christopher's replica of the club is
slightly smaller than the original 90
feet long by 70 feet wide Studio.
Christopher is successful at
capturing the glamour and excitement
of the high class disco scene of
yesterday; there is rarely a dull or
somber moment in the entire film. All
of the main characters display an
adequate amount of development.
However, considering that the film
was only about 85 minutes long, there
seems to be room for even deeper
character explorations.
The viewer will not feel cheated
after watching 54, but may feel a little
bit teased. The film is at full throttle
from beginning to end, giving the
viewer just enough of a taste of Studio
54. Perhaps more insight into Steve
Rubell and how he created Studio 54
is needed. ***
Solutions
Features
53
54
55
Mil. address
Nile cobras
Milkshake's
cousin
Runny cheese
Assistant
Wetland
56
57
61
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