One Last Dance
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Movie Reviews of One Last Dance
Movie Review: A labor of love
Summary: 4 Stars
This movie is not without flaws--the dialogue and acting occasionally seem flat, recycled storylines, melodrama, etc., yet I am a sucker for dance movies and loved it nonetheless. It's pretty obvious from the get-go that Travis and Chrissa are soul mates destined to reconnect after seven years of separation and misunderstandings. When Alex, the emotionally abusive director of a New York Dance Company, goes too far with his criticisms (this is the point where I'd like to introduce people of Alex's bent to the wonders of Dale Carnegie in helpfully motivating people), three dancers' lives are redirected. Chrissa has a nervous breakdown (we later learn that she was newly pregnant during this scene, so horomones and stress contributed to her break) while Travis (injured from overexertion) can do little to comfort her besides telling off Alex. Max, the other member of the pas de trois, carries off a sobbing and temporarily deranged Chrissa to the nearest mental health hospital. (The three dancers were days away from premiering a pas de trois dance before this misfortune interrupts them.) Travis wrongfully assumes that Chrissa hasn't contacted him because she wants her space and wants him out of her life (he doesn't realize she had been hospitalized). Chrissa, meanwhile, is hurt that Travis hasn't inquired after her and therefore, keeps her pregnancy a secret from him. Max is the middle man, and seven years later, he is instrumental in reconnecting the estranged lovers when the struggling company decides to resurrect the Pas de Trois.
Yes, the plot is the stuff of soap operas, but it has heart, and the real-life love between Patrick Swayze (Travis) and his wife, Lisa Niemi (Chrissa), is palpable on-screen. Also, I can always empathize with someone who is experiencing a breakdown of sorts (read my Fred Luskin's "Forgive for Good" and Sylvia Plath's "The Bell Jar" reviews for an insider's perspective on what an awful experience this is). In addition, I appreciate this movie's undercurrent theme: move beyond the negative voices we've picked up through the years.
Swayze and Niemi are no longer twentysomethings, yet they hold their own in this physically demanding art form. They dance beautifully.
In the behind-the-scenes special feature, Swayze said that this production hired four choreographers to represent the latest happenings in the dance world. I loved the choreography and the dancing--it was breathtaking and innovative. I was thrilled to see some of the very same dancers in this movie who have graced the covers of Dance and Pointe magazines. The dancers said that they felt like they really were members of the movie's dance company and that there was a spirit of collaboration and non-competitiveness as well as a suspension of ego during filming. One dancer said that he and the other dancers could easily and happily tour the movie's original dances to (he confidentally believed) great acclaim.
Movie Review: 'Dance 5, Story 3'
Summary: 4 Stars
ONE LAST DANCE appears to be a film for dancers, either active or retired, wannabees or romanticists. There is some terrific Brazilian influenced music from Stacy Widelitz that enhances much of the corps dancing and some beautiful moments of cinematography making the most of a bare ballet studio rehearsal hall - both of which add what dreaminess this low budget film has to offer.
Written and directed and produced and acted by Lisa Niemi the story involves the return to the boards by three retired dancers (Lisa Niemi, Patrick Swayze, George de la Pena - all three are dancers in real life) to pay homage to the gifts of a highly regarded yet now dead choreographer. The three left dancing seven years prior to the story for personal reasons, mostly involving lack of confidence and personal issues that affected each tangentially. They return to a company to perform a dance by the dead choreographer and the rest of the slim story is how these out of shape hoofers regain the healing magic of dancing.
The corps of ballet dancers assembled for this film is exceptionally fine for a pickup group: Rasta Thomas, Desmond Richardson, Kathryn Bradney, Tai Jiminez, Bambi Swayze, Jamie Bishton, Stephanie Slater, Heather Thompson, Dwight Rhoden and Yosuke Mino deserve special mention. The scenes of dancing vary depending on the choreography of each of four artists - Alonzo King, Dwight Rhoden, Patsy Swayze, and Doug Varone. But in the end to be less than a documentary about the rigors and rewards of dancing there must be a well-acted story based on a sensitive script and that is where the film is shaky and a bit self indulgent. Swayze, Niemi, de la Pena take the roles as far as they go, but in the end the story is much ado about very little.
Yet there is some gorgeous dance work well filmed that will satisfy even the most particular critic. The DVD added features include some insights into the difficulty and final rewards of bringing ONE LAST DANCE to the screen, and in these comments there is more story than that found in the script. Grady Harp, September 05
Movie Review: "If You Love Dance..."
Summary: 4 Stars
If you love dance (balletic, rather than ballroom), you'll surely enjoy this offering starring husband and wife team Patrick Swayze and Lisa Nieme. Directed, as well, by the latter, the film also stars dancer/actor George Dr La Pena. Assisting the stars are young dancers of breathtaking ability. The entire company deserves high marks! The slight story of former lovers (Swayze and Nieme) brought back together for "one last dance" is merely a device to allow the cast to show their balletic ability. The most haunting image of the film is provided by the shots of a solo Swayze dancing in a darkened studio amid wnd-tossed gauzy curtains. The Swayzes had tried for years to interest Hollywood studios in the film, finally producing and releasing it on their own. An insightful audio "making of" track provides interesting details. I recommend this film for its fine dance work, in spite of its slight story line.Movie Review: Just for the dancing
Summary: 4 Stars
Patrick Swayze and his real-life wife, Lisa Niemi, are stunning to watch as they dance, either together or in individual practice or in groups. This is lovely, breathtaking dancing coming from "older" folks. As usual, Swayze is poetry in motion and proves once again how very versatile an actor he is. (Who else can play a believable drag queen, a classical ballet/jazz dancer, dramatic roles and villains?) Lisa Niemi has remarkable grace and flexibility for her age and her acting is passable.
But the plot is lame and a little more attention could have been paid to making it less ordinary; that is the only complaint. As an aside, the cover photo on the DVD case never happens in the film.
George de la Pena, the co-star dancer, is just fabulous. In fact, all the dancers are a joy to watch. If you love the Dance, you will enjoy this film. If you want a good plot, look elsewhere.
Movie Review: Nice Choreagraphy, Effective Atmosphere
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a beautiful film that will touch anyone who knows a lot or at least some things about professional dance. It has a very effective atmosphere and nice dance scenes. The story is also interesting, with nice acting and inspirational quotes. The choreographies are very good without any doubt, and I really liked the costumes! There are some very good dancers in this film. I would prefer a professional dancer in the place of Patrick Swayze. Patrick is a great actor but unfortunately only an amateur when it comes to dance. No matter how the director films it, it is not possible to entirely hide the fact that he is no pro and the difference with the rest of the dancers is obvious. Still, I enjoed the film and this proves that it is generally composed in a great way.