'Studio 54' A Review

Studio 54 is a documentary about the famous NYC night club. Through archival footage, talking head interviews, and archival stills the tale of the influential club and the watershed moment which created it are told.

The primary narrator is co-founder Ian Schrager and all the recountings circle to various degrees around his vision of events. It is interesting, most especially the cultural significance and the diversity both sexual and racial the Studio 54 mentality promoted, however there is little mention of drug use or little to no reference or even discussion of exploitation. Because the individuals interviewed for the film are all regulars and former employees it is all painted with a particularly rosy shade which is not bad however it is relatively thin.

There is much talk of Studio 54 being historic but the time is not really taken explore the why, we are seemingly just supposed to take it on the word of our talking heads. So the documentary, although informative and filled with some intriguing characters, either doesn't attempt or isn't able to go much below the surface.

Maybe more appropriate for an hour long streaming special rather than a feature release.

Stream It.