The Last Party (1993)

Just what I expected

Great Film overall

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

Watching it is like watching the spectacle of a class clown at their best: you laugh at their jokes, instigate their defiance, and "ooooh" when they get in trouble.

This movie is not really a documentary it's more of an interview movie which is a non fiction movie with an on screen interviewer. The movie's on screen interviewer is Robert Downey jr who interviews people at the 1992 democratic convention and the 1992 republican convention and is good at staying neutral. He interviews celebrities and politicians and regular people. Robert Downey jr is Charming funny and articulate in this movie. It's cool how he treats the people he interviews like buddies. His charm made me want to vote. All young Americans should see this movie and they would like it even if they aren't Robert Downey jr fans. If this movie was on DVD more people would like it compared to Michael Moore stuff.

Maybe it just hits me more than it hits most others, but I had to add my $.02 after seeing a shockingly low 5.5 rating. I have to assume it's a political response, which is not what I would expect here. The tone of The Last Party is rather democratic in nature, but strays far and away from politics and captures the passion behind so many other issues as well.Maybe I'm wrong; maybe the negative rating is from those who think this film is too ambitious or too unfocused. However I've never seen so many details of real life captured so artfully, and the best moments of the film are in between the two political conventions. We see glimpses of many walks of life, and Robert Downey Jr. in the thick of everything, interacting in every possible way with them, from feigning insanity to asking intelligent questions. We see black militant loudmouths, ultra greedy Wall Street types, famous actors turned once a year political activists, and stodgy political aides blanketing the convention's inner corridors. And everything gets skewered by the camera and Downey's charming yet not so subtle responses.But there are quieter moments, like Downey's relationships with his wife and parents, a minute in the life of a talented graffiti artist, a young friend and maybe politician's somewhat eery ascension from flesh to media. And all the artists, musicians, and filmmakers have rational and intelligent commentary on society, told in a conversation to Downey, not to an audience or to the camera.It all hits you over the head like a frying pan with it's combination of emotion, humor, chaos, and behind the scenes voyeurism. You realize just how much social upheaval was going on during the '92 election year, and how unique a situation it was to have Perot drop in and drop out as a third candidate. Or maybe all the craziness in this film goes on all the time, and the cameras just happened to be there to capture it all at that particular time in American culture. A touching, inspiring, humorously biting film.

A neat little documentary from Robert Downey that manages to capture a Kodak moment in US history revolving around 1992 presidential campaigns and the issues circulating in the orbit of election politics...Obviously, Downey was inspired by the tone of Michael Moore's 1989 "Roger And Me" and decided to jump on the bandwagon early. The difference in approach stems from the fact that Downey's cachet as an actor guaranteed him access to the places and people on the inside whereas Moore was more comfortable on the streets. Ergo, the entertainment portion of Moore's film comes when he tries to get to see the top brass, whereas the fun with Downey begins when he has to downsize himself to street level. Both Moore and Downey fearlessly make assholes of themselves in the pursuit of a solid, entertaining documentary. While there's no mistaking Downey's political sympathies, he does a fairly decent job of sticking it to both major parties with equal fervor. And after all the screaming, yelling, rap and rhetoric, his final shots are of himself and his family at home...and if Downey has a message, it's contained in whatever you want to read into those last few minutes of the film.

Quite simply, I felt that this was a solid & entertaining documentary & a worthy time capsule of a compelling historical moment. I gave this as a present to a friend of mine that is an almost rabid political animal & he loved it.It is also deeply personal, and offers insight into the life of a Hollywood star that has since been a tabloid fixture. Downey Jr. is quite candid in fact about the history of his drug abuse.I wouldn't go out of my way, but if you have the opportunity, check this one out.