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Metropolitan
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Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9786303995717
Format: Color, NTSC
ISBN: 6303995713
Label: New Line Cinema
Languages: English (Original Language), Analog
Manufacturer: New Line Cinema
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: New Line Cinema
Release Date: March 26, 1996
Running Time: 98 minutes
Studio: New Line Cinema
Theatrical Release Date: August 03, 1990
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Editorial Review:
Whit Stillman (Barcelona, Last Days of Disco) enters Woody Allen territory in his talky yet articulate debut, creating a stinging exposé of self-important upper-class socialites and the head games they play, during their Christmas vacation in Manhattan. Witty and cynical, Stillman captures this odd subculture with sly observation and occasional sympathy--sort of a fascinating anthropological study of adolescent preppies. His young subjects, spoiled by their silver spoons, still lack life experience and, thus, emotional maturity or social grace. They pass time idly discussing Jane Austen (a tip of the hat to the master of social-manner comedies), Marxism, and other philosophies, dressing up for parties and undressing during strip poker, and gossiping about the romantic pairings for the upcoming debutante ball. Stillman smartly offers up Tom (Edward Clements), a middle-class loner who's slowly adopted into the clique, as an audience identification reference, making the events seem even stranger and funnier from his point of view. But Tom's far from perfect himself. As the innocent, easily manipulated Audrey (Carolyn Farina) begins to fall in love with him, Tom's boorish, hurtful responses make him appear as juvenile as the rest. Concurrently, it also jolts the group with a much-needed taste of reality, and the film with unpredictable poignancy, suggesting that at least one may grow from the experience. In his first opportunity as director, Stillman pulls wonderful performances from his unknown cast. Especially memorable are Christopher Eigeman as the sarcastically perceptive snob, Nick, and Taylor Nichols playing the philosophical, anxiety-ridden Charlie. --Dave McCoy
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - A very natural, very enlightening climb up the social ladder...
Whit Stillman's film `Metropolitan' comes off like a wicked mix of Woody Allen and Robert Altman, making art out of general conversation and allowing us, the audience, to relate wholly to the situation by keeping everything grounded and within our grasp. Nothing happens within this film that could not or would not happen in reality, and that makes the concept and the end result all the more interesting. There are times where the film seems to be about nothing at all, which may be what makes the ... Read More
Rating:  - What's the point?
While an interesting genre exercise, plot got lost somewhere between weird concept, casting and stilted dialogue. Not sure how 'realistic' this is. It's set in the mid-70s, based on the cars, not the early '60s, as some have incorrectly posited. At least it's short.
Rating:  - A Graceful, Literate Film, Needing More (Melo)drama
I don't think I had seen "Metropolitan" all the way through since its opening in 1990. As I was about the same age then as the characters portrayed in this film (though not from the same background), and had recently lived in NYC, the poignancy of seeing scenes from what NYC once looked like - circa late '80's, early '90's - will only add to your enjoyment of this graceful, beautiful jewel of a film. The lives of young preppies, and their disappearing way of life, is portrayed with wit and skill ... Read More
Rating: - The Last Deb Season as We Knew It
Between the lost decade of F. Scott Fitzgerald and the aftermath of the sexual and social revolution of '68, before street drugs, grundge, and now broker metrosexuals, there was once a different kind of decadence, when youth of parental privilege liberally spent their parents' fortunes but somehow still talked with genuine interest about ideas, all the while facing a dimly growing fear of failure and of falling upon leaving paradise at Princeton. This subtly satirical reminiscence of preppy life is ... Read More
Rating: - Perfection!
The Last Days of Disco has been my very favorite movie ever since I saw it in the theatre years ago but Metropolitan has moved up to number one. I love this movie! I could watch Chris Eigeman all day long. His performance is wonderful. It makes me want to wear pearl earrings and read Mansfield Park!
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