I've Heard This Story Before

I don't want to get my hopes up again. 

Last year at something called Outfest they screened the original directors cut of the movie 54. It's about 45 minutes longer and has lots more sex, sex, and sex. Especially gay sex. Being that Ryan Phillippe's character was supposed to basically fuck his way through the club and right to the top. I mean it was Studio 54 for christ sakes. The theatrical cut of the movie really seemed too tame. Too wholesome and not gritty enough. Part of that was the cinematography and they can't really fix that. But they can add the footage that they cut out. 

So anywho, they screened this directors cut and it went over like gang busters. Then last summer they were going to screen the directors cut in New York. A midnight show kinda thing with the director there in person. Sorta on the down low. So on a Saturday night I hauled my ass all the way down to the East Village, paid my money, waited patiently only to have the director come out to introduce the movie and tell us that they were showing the theatrical cut. W. T. F.? Miramax had gotten wind that they were doing this and put the kibosh on it. I was annoyed because they didn't bother to tell me that when I bought my ticket or when I was waiting around for the show to start. And I really don't know what Miramax was all up in arms about, there was maybe all of 15 of us there. Two assorted mo's with the director and then maybe 3 or 4 people left to go get their money back. I was annoyed but stayed for the movie. What the hell, I hadn't seen it in forever. So watched I did. And I was immediately transported back to 1998. Going to Crack-of-my-ass for school. All the insecurities of being gay. The fabulous international movie poster on my wall. And the memories of just how crazy hot Ryan Phillippe is. Wowzer. And Mike Myers has never been better. And I have a feeling he never will be better. 

So word is now that the directors cut will see the light of day on DVD in September. I'll believe it when I see it. I hope it does because the Studio 54 is a pretty crazy, interesting story and it deserves some justice. Even though I feel the director's cut won't do that. They need to do a gritty, 70's feeling and looking movie that actually has the balls to show the real celebrities that were there and not just make ones up or use one's that are dead. 54 isn't a great movie. Probably not even a good one. But it's a movie of my youth. It's one of those milage signs you see on the side of a highway. My highway of life. I hope I can see it how it was originally meant to be seen.