Party Monster V's Cabaret

Seth Green and Macaulay Culkin in Party Monster. 2003. Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbarto. Viewed 11/11/14

Cabaret. 1972. Viewed 11/11/14

There are many similarities between the characters in Cabaret (1972) and Party Monster (2003). Although both productions are set in an era nearly 50 years apart from each other, there are some similarities between the behaviours of characters. There are also similarities between the backgrounds of the productions with both films being set on real people. The era's they come from is the one aspect that differs, Cabaret is based in the 1930's when the main objective was sex. Forward 50 years to the 1980's to Party Monster and the main objective here is drugs. Although both objectives feature heavily throughout, there is emphasis on either one in the films. The characters I have chosen to compare are Sally Bowles from Cabaret and Michael Alig from Party Monster. I have chosen to compare these two characters because they have a lot of similarities based on being the main character. 

The first thing I noticed from Party Monster is that Alig and a character called James St James are fighting for the limelight. There is a battle between the two to be centre of attention and to be the best. I thought this mirrored with Sally Bowles in Cabaret as she always has to be the centre of attention. Although she doesn't need to fight for it. 

Next, throughout Party Monster, Alig wears nail varnish. At the height of his addiction and troubles he is always seen to be wearing blue nail varnish. Sally Bowles in Cabaret always wore green. There may be a meaning for this constant colour in times of addiction. Bowles's nailvarnish was always seen when she is performing and drinking. Likewise to Alig. Perhaps the varnish is a symbol of addiction, which is why it is only seen during moments when the audience can see the characters addiction. Furthermore, there could be reasoning behind the colour choice. I think that Alig would wear blue nail polish to appear cold. At the point the nail varnish is spotted, Alig is in his downward spiral of murder, drugs and alcohol. Perhaps the colour was chosen to represent his cold, lonely view towards life. Blue is often described as the colour of immortality, perhaps Alig thought that his actions would make him immortal, the drugs he was on would definitely make him feel this way. As for Sally Bowles, green could have been picked as the colour choice because it signifies jealousy. Bowles would have been jealous of other girls that had the limelight, therefore this could be the reason behind the colour choice. 

Both characters have a way of getting what they want out of the people around them. Later on in Party Monster, James St James takes over the limelight much like Cliff Bradshaw. This means that the two main characters Alig and Bowles would have lost out on the attention that they craved. Perhaps this was done to show that everybody has their time, and that other people will come through as better than you and will take the limelight. 

Further on in the films, James St James is cut off from his wealthy parents much like Sally Bowles was. During Party Monster the two main characters Alig and James both switch to have similarities to Bowles. It is when one has the limelight that they become Bowles.