The Company
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Movie Reviews of The Company
Movie Review: A living memory
Summary: 5 Stars
As a former dancer and one who participated in many performances, I have to admit this movie was like a living memory for me. I think, for a person to truly enjoy and appreciate this movie, they have to have either been involved in the performing arts at one point in their life, or have a deep appreciation for what the performing arts really are.
The manner in which this movie was filmed, makes one feel as though they are a member of the Joffery Ballet, themselves, living the life a dancer lives. There is a fluid, active plot, that is true to life as it occurs. This movie will be lost on mainstream movie-goers who need high action, intricately over involved plot lines and theaterics. That is why we have Hollywood. This film, reminds us, why we have the arts. It is a painful, draining devotion both on the body and the emotions, but we continue to do it because we are in love with it, and are addicted to the incredible result we get.
It is the subtleties that makes this movie great. The arrogance of the ballet's director, and the veteran dancers. The flakiness and brilliance of the choreographers. The part where Neve Campbell's character goes home after her big performance in the beginning and bursts into tears while drawing a bath. The girls discussing their nausea while learning to perform the dance piece on the swing. The dancers crowding into small apartments to find a place to live. The subtlety in the different ways a dancer movies his or her hips or defies gravity in their jumps that makes them superior to other dancers in the corps..
The performances that are filmed are what make the Joffery Ballet superb. The mixture of modern dance and classical ballet. This is a fantastic film, and anyone who truly KNOWS the performing arts, will understand it as that.
Movie Review: "...thinking about the motion isn't being the motion..."
Summary: 5 Stars
Robert Altman's eloquent, alluring "The Company" is the kind of artsy film that leaves mainstream audiences somewhat nonplussed. Its nonexistent storyline is, in fact, one of its greatest strengths if you are simply willing to be open to a film that does not fit the constraints of traditional cinema. Altman's documentary-style direction shows us the whimsical world of ballet, a world utterly inaccessible to the majority of the population, as an emotional, meticulous art that yields breathtaking results. We never learn much about the characters (Neve Campbell, Malcolm McDowell, and dancers of the actual Joffery Ballet of Chicago), yet this works in the film's favor as we are compelled to keep watching in hopes of learning a bit more about each of these fascinating people and exactly what compels them to sacrifice so much for their art.
Filmed with the complete cooperation of the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago from a script based on a story cocreated by former dancer for the National Ballet of Canada, Neve Campbell ("Scream"), and Barbara Turner, the film's "story" is really just a backdrop to the stunning dance numbers and rehearsals, as well as snippets of the dancer's lives, shot in a documentary-esque style. Therefore, it never falls prey to dance clichés or melodramatic moments as it has the good sense not to get in the way of the astonishing look the viewer has into what it takes to be such a dancer. I cannot say the same for such films as "Center Stage", which was a painfully earnest and ultimately ridiculous attempt to show us the "real world" of dancers.
As stated by Altman upon completion of this masterpiece, "The Company" is a heartfelt Valentine to the dancers who dedicate their lives to ballet as well as to the elegant art itself.
Movie Review: Great visuals and vignettes; excellent for dance aficionados
Summary: 5 Stars
After many years, Neve Campbell has succeeded in realizing a dream to create a movie about the life of a ballet company, and her collaborative effort with Robert Altman turned out just fantastic. It's not really a documentary, and not really a performance DVD, but "The Company" incorporates features of both, tying together many vignettes involving practice, performance, and the personal lives of dancers to create a great ballet watching experience.
Ms. Campbell, a trained ballet dancer starting at the age of 6, worked very hard to get herself "ready for prime time" (in many ways) as a member of the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago corps. Yes, it's the actual Joffrey company, and you get to see many cast members from numerous personal and performance perspectives. Mr. Altman's directing features high definition film, plus viewing angles of dance routines that only a director of his caliber could imagine. Artistic Director Gerald Arpino is incarnated into Alberto Antonelli, played by Malcolm McDowell, who is in great form and incorporates some of Mr. Arpino's mannerisms and commentary into the director's persona. Aside from the credited actors, the Joffrey dancers are the true stars, and I found every aspect of the dance lifestyle to be fascinating.
The DVD extras are also excellent. The commentary feature has both Mr. Altman and Ms. Campbell, so you get to learn about all that evolved to make this movie happen. The extended dance scenes are great, and there's a feature where you can watch just the dance aspects of the film grouped together in one sequence.
Movie Review: Real artists, real Art...
Summary: 5 Stars
When you consider the shoot 'em up trash that seems to dominate the box office, it is sad to reflect on the relatively poor financial performance of this beautifully crafted movie.
This is Neve Campbell's finest hour and as Malcolm McDowell said in one of the many superb interviews, if you can get Robert Altman on board, you have to be taken seriously. Likewise, to get a master such as McDowell, you have to have a very credible idea and a great deal of talent and passion. Neve has it all.
While the film is a virtual documentary snapshot of a period in the Joffrey's life, it is very coherent and organic, and avoids the pitfalls of some of the more pretentious, non-linear Art movies. Sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't. Not everybody is a Cocteau or a Warhol.
I liked the fact that the story is relatively non-hierarchical, and that Neve wasn't up on a pedestal. This works beautifully because it captures the cameraderie that exists in all good ballet/theater companies.
I would like to have seen a little more of Malcolm McDowell's character, as he is a joy to behold in the way he fully becomes the character, as all good actors do, Neve included. The soundtrack is as exquisite as the many brilliant dance sequences, and the Special Features are wonderful.
Very highly recommended.
Movie Review: Altman takes a look at a Classical Dance Company
Summary: 5 Stars
What do you get when you put the quintessential ensemble director, Robert Altman with a former dancer and TV star, Neve Campbell? The Turning Point without the older generation.
Neve Campbell is an up and coming dancer with a Joffrey-esque dance company. She is given the lead in a new ballet. The film centers around this and the operations of the company.
This is a great movie that gives insight about a dance company and the creative process. It supports great performances by Neve Campbell and the ever chameleon like Malcolm McDowell. Add to this some great dance sequences and you have the second best film about ballet.
DVD EXTRAS:
The Making of The Company - a great featurette about the film with its creative team.
Extended Dance Sequences - In the film, dance sequences have to be intercut with other action. This shows the Dance Sequences in their entirety.
The Passion of the Dance - A featurette about dancers and their passion. Very interesting.
Audio Commentary by Altman and Campbell