GO GO TALES
US, 2007, 95 minutes, Colour.
Willem Dafoe, Bob Hoskins, Matthew Modine, Asia Argento, Roy Dotrice, Lou Doillon, Riccardo Scamarcio, Stefania Rocca, Sylvia Miles, Burt Young, Joe Cortese, Anton Rodgers, Frankie Cee, Anita Pallenberg.
Directed by Abel Ferrara.
Abel Ferrara has had a long career of blunt and direct films, many of them drawing on his life in rougher areas of New York, many of them drawing on the city’s Catholic traditions. This one, as the title indicates, is on the rough areas rather than anything religious.
It is a dark story of a strip club in the city, managed by Willem Dafoe though financed by his brother, Matthew Modine. Times are hard, customers are not coming in – and they are relying heavily on Asian businessmen visiting the US. The girls are complaining that they are not being paid. The cantankerous woman who leases the building (a screeching Sylvia Miles) also wants to close down. Meanwhile, Mafia type interests…
That description possibly makes the film sound more interesting than it really is. Despite brief running time, it is heavy going unless the audience is checking out what happens, especially with the girls, in clubs that they would never visit themselves.
1.Audience interest in the story of a cabaret, Manhattan, go-go dancers, lap dancers? The business side of the club? The impact of the film?
2.The work of Abel Ferrara, his career, background, autobiographical stories? The seedier side of New York City? Sleaze? The 21st century?
3.The production done in Rome, the Italian studios standing in for New York City? Authentic? The interiors of the club, the street scenes? The club and its environs, the dance floor, the tables, the stage, the offices, corridors? The dingier aspects? Dark? Credible?
4.The range of music, background, songs, accompanying the performances?
5.The title, the emphasis on the dancing, the strips, the lap-dancing, performance? The range of European stars in the roles of the dancers? The world of the dressing room, Ray and his involvement in the club, the management? Johnie and his owning it? The girls and their complaints, the issues of money, the girls wanting to go on strike?
6.Ray Ruby as manager, his character, his committing his life to the club, loving it, the difficulties? His penchant for gambling? His assistant, Jay, his going down the street, the issue of buying the lottery tickets, his friends? The tickets and the desperation of wanting the winning numbers, watching the television with Jay? Losing the ticket? His work with Jay, the presence of Lilian Murray, her leasing the club? His relationship with Johnie, as his brother, indebted to him for the money? The MC and his role in keeping things going, The Baron? The various customers, the Englishman, Aunt Sin, the regulars? The man who won the record? The young man who helped out – and discovered his wife as a dancer and his going berserk? The Asian clients, enticing them in, pressuring them to stay? His relationship with the girls, with Monroe? His acting, singing, compering? Growing desperation, the plea to Johnie, to Lilian? The Mafia types who were present, his helping them, welcoming them? His finally finding the ticket? The happy ending?
7.The contrast with Johnie, the hairstylist, his reputation, his money, coming with the dog, with the girls, with Monroe, his performance with the dog, manner, his relating to people, his decision to stop the money and close the club?
8.Lilian, old, loud, at the bar, complaining, the issue of the lease? Her continuing to screech throughout the film?
9.The range of clients, the English, Burt Young as the regular who won the competition, the Mafia types, the Asians, the bus tours – and their leaving?
10.Bob Hoskins as The Baron, his role in the club, supporting Ray, the problems, handling them?
11.The range of staff, the difficulties, the lights, the solarium and burning the dancer, the possible fire, having to cope?
12.The Italians and the gangster background, their continuing to help? The young man, studying to be a doctor, discovering his wife there?
13.The Asian visitors, trying to bring them back, not just having them come in for a moment?
14.The variety of dancers, their personalities, the French, Monroe and her style, dominance? Relationships?
15.The change of pace at the late night, the auditions, the people coming in for the auditions, the sudden transformation of the various personalities, the girls doing ballet, the recitations of Shakespeare, Johnie and the dog? A different atmosphere?
16.The film as a slice of New York life – a blend of sleaze with affection? For those outside this world, a slow film, not so engaging? For those interested in the New York world?
