It's My Party

Director(s): Randal Kleiser
Writer(s): Randal Kleiser
Producer(s): Robert Fitzpatrick, Gregory Hinton, Randal Kleiser, Joel Thurm
Starring: Eric Roberts, Gregory Harrison, Margaret Cho, Bruce Davison, Marlee Matlin, Olivia Newton-John, Bronson Pinchot

Nick and Brandon were the perfect couple. With a wonderful house, a loveable dog and great friends, they thought they were on top of the world. When Nick finds out he is HIV+, things in their relationship deteriorate. The two went their separate ways content to never see each other again. One day, Nick contracts Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy and is diagnosed with only a few days of proper brain function left. Instead of feeling down and out, Nick decides to throw a party. A party to celebrate his friends, family and loved ones. A party where he will spend his last few hours with those he loves and eventually overdose on pills and leave the pain and illness behind. As the party begins and people flood in to say their goodbyes, Eric's brain function and vision starts to spiral downhill. When Brandon's brief visit to the party turns into a stay until the end, old feelings begin to stir and love rekindles for the brief moments they have left together.

All I have to say after watching this movie is that if any of my friends throw a party to celebrate their impending death, I will kill them before the guests arrive. This movie, though full of witty dialogue and comedic moments, is tragically sad in plot and story. I could never imagine going to my friend's party knowing that in a few hours he will commit suicide. For the few moments I stopped crying in the film, I thought about those i've loved. Ideally I would love to see everyone before I go. But I also know that the party would be me crying my eyes out the entire time. I cry when they play "We Are Family" in a club, how the hell am I supposed to throw a party celebrating my suicide!?

Once again the 1990s have given us yet another great film! The star-studded cast is impressive and definitely a unique blend of thespians. The story is a genuine celebration of life and once again pays tribute to those who've past on from AIDS and AIDS related illnesses. Looking at the history of queer cinema, you can see a trend of excellent queer films in the 1990s dealing with the topic of AIDS. Directly following this era is what I like to call the era of commitment. Stemming from the severity of the previous generation, today's gay films focus more on finding love in a time when love is sparse. Whether it be self-love, love amongst friends, or the special love between two (or sometimes three) people, films nowadays lack the serious issues. Issues that generations of gay men before us not only witnessed but survived through. It makes you think what the future of gay cinema is.