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Rated:

R

Running time:

1:29 minutes

Release date:

January 1, 1999

Capsule review:

Mark Christopher wrote and directed this film about the notorious New York disco, Studio 54, that made headlines all through the late 1970s by attracting the likes of Bianca Jagger, Andy Warhol, Calvin Klein and all the other so-called Beautiful People of the moment. Christopher's intent was to make a grand statement about the nature of dreams and the depths that some are willing to go to achieve them, but what he achieves is far less than one might hope. Mike Myers stars as Steve Rubell, the real-life self-destructive owner of Studio 54 who would stand on the street and personally pick and choose among those wanting to get inside. But the real stars are young hardbody Ryan Phillippe, Salma Hayek and, ever so briefly, Never Campbell, all of whom have the kinds of stories that were told before (and much better) in ``Boogie Nights.'' Despite Myers' brilliance, which shows that he does have the ability to play drama, the film -- even with its pulsing musical score -- feels asleep at the wheel. If it were a person, and that person wanted to get inside the real 54, Rubell wouldn't have considered it for a moment.