Resident Alien
Quentin Crisp And The Last Days Of Bohemian New York
The widely acclaimed Resident Alien chronicles the hilarious adventures of cult figure Quentin Crisp, a flamboyantly eccentric Englishman who once pursued fame across the razor sharp edges of Manhattan.
Both actor and chronicler of Manhattan’s Downtown, Crisp and his band of stars, demi-stars and wannabee Warhol superstars, including Holly Woodlawn, improbable sex prodigy Felicity Mason, Sting, and John Hurt (who played Crisp in the autobiographical The Naked Civil Servant) weave a vision of New York that constantly disturbs the boundary between fantasy and reality.
Award-winning director Jonathan Nossiter (Mondovino, Sundance Grand Prize winner Sunday and Signs & Wonders), mirrors Crisp’s delight for the orthodox with an energetic and wildly original blend of documentary and fiction. Together they lay bare the last days of New York's fabulous Downtown scene and its art world follies.
Member Reviews
Interesting on so many levels - SuHu
as an insight into historical queer culture, the difference between being famous and being famous for a reason, the squalor of life for the poor and semi-famous in The Big Apple - this documentary could have gone deeper but allows the viewer (forces the viewer) to draw their own conclusions on the Cultural Microcosm of Quentin Crisp. Famous friends do not a successful life make. The take-away question is "does professional victim hood serve quality of life of the notorious/semi-famous?"excellent doc - 2commit
Resident Alien is a smart and clever documentary that neither idealizes nor idolizes its subject matter. Quentin Crisp is held up as a media darling who has done little in life other than live by his own fabulous rules. Once an outcast but now an icon, Crisp is exposed, both warts and charm, as one very eccentric and likable man.Alien...no more! - Cricri7
Quentin Crisp is an interesting person. He left England to move to New York when he was well past 70 years old. New York is fascinating to people around the world and Quentin Crisp became part of the local scene. He was an homosexual and talks to people through out the documentary about his life. This is what a documentary should be...you discover something, or someone in this case, you don't know and discover them. This documentary hits the spot!
Member Reviews
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Interesting on so many levels - SuHu
as an insight into historical queer culture, the difference between being famous and being famous for a reason, the squalor of life for the poor and semi-famous in The Big Apple - this documentary could have gone deeper but allows the viewer (forces the viewer) ...excellent doc - 2commit
Resident Alien is a smart and clever documentary that neither idealizes nor idolizes its subject matter. Quentin Crisp is held up as a media darling who has done little in life other than live by his own fabulous rules. Once an outcast but now an icon, Crisp ...Alien...no more! - Cricri7
Quentin Crisp is an interesting person. He left England to move to New York when he was well past 70 years old. New York is fascinating to people around the world and Quentin Crisp became part of the local scene. He was an homosexual and talks to people through ...