54 (1998)

New York’s famous Studio 54 nightclub is the center of the universe in the eyes of young, beautiful Jersey boy Shane O’Shea (Ryan Philippe) in Mark Christopher's 54 (1998). He longs to hobnob with the celebrities and beautiful people but is stuck pumping gas in New Jersey and living with his parents. Lucky for him he’s gorgeous enough to land a job as a busboy, then bartender and move into Manhattan with an aspiring singer (Salma Hayek) and her husband (Breckin Meyer). Tending bar at the hottest spot in 1970's America inevitably leads Shane to fall down the rabbit hole of casual sex, constant cocaine use, and even a bit of fleeting fame when he ends up doing some photoshoots and magazine interviews. He'll even start hooking up with a soap opera star (Neve Campbell). But as Shane's family life crumbles, his friends start to hate him, his girlfriend heads down the "Casting couch" route and the FBI starts investigating Studio 54, he starts to spiral downwards just like the club and its famous owner (Mike Myers). To reflect the hedonism and skinsanity of the time and place, our bartending buddies Philippe and Meyer are shirtless and in very little else for most of the film. Both guys look skintastic, but loading a beer cooler in just a Speedo couldn’t have been much fun. It is fun to watch them in their itty bitty shorts, though. Business idea: Nudio 54. It's just like Studio 54, but the men are naked! Philippe’s character Shane has quite a few dirty dances with club patrons, one of which results in a scene that gives us a peek at his boogie-oogie booty that has been shaped by all those hours doing the Hustle. 54 can be seen as a cautionary tale, but who learns a lesson when there is so much half-dressed man candy parading around?