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CENTER STAGE review
I was feeling down today. Don’t really know why.
Just the doldrums I suppose. I just didn’t feel very
good.
I’m not miraculously cured at the moment. I’m still
not all the way better, but ya know sometimes you get
the feeling that there is a siege going on, and when I
feel like that it’s time to leave the cave and do
something.
I called up all my friends, only to not be able to reach
anyone. Being gone for part of Memorial Day
weekend generally means that you are excluded from
any and all activities for the duration of the vacation.
I think a lot of it has to do with the debauchery and
exhaustion I have sustained from Moriarty’s 230th
Birthday Party in Los Angeles last Friday night,
sandwiched between two long flights and very little
sleep all the way around.
Then there was the realization that my dang CONAN
THE BARBARIAN special edition dvd was being
held hostage by the Postal Service on account of the
holiday. I couldn’t get my car inspected. Two stores
I tried to visit were closed on account of the holiday,
and then the temperature soared to around 103
degrees according to one bank temperature read out.
Like I said... I just wasn’t having a good day. I went
to Threadgills, had my salad and steamed broccoli
and mint hibiscus tea... and that didn’t put my spirits
any higher.
Father Geek noticed my attitude and lack of
inspiration and asked if there was a movie I wanted to
see.
So I drug out the Austin Chronicle and began
scouring about their movie listings.
I’d seen everything. There wasn’t a film playing
town that I hadn’t seen. God I hate that. I hate it
when you’ve seen everything but the ‘one star’ films.
I noticed that the Chronicle had rated CENTER
STAGE as 1 star out of five.
I started giggling as I began thinking of my live chat
Newman, FLMLVR... and how much he loved the
film. So I started to read the review, but as soon as I
saw Nicholas Hytner... and realized... hey, wait a
second, this is the bloke that might be directing the
long in development hell MIRAMAX adaptation of
CHICAGO from Broadway to film.
Other than Peter Gallagher, I didn’t recognize a soul
in the cast, but they all had that sneaky ever so Ballet
Body types. Not only that, they all could do helluva
great balletic moves. My god... you mean, the film
production didn’t hire Keanu Reeves, and dangled
him from a billion wires, then spend $12 million in
wire removal to give the illusion of fluid balletic
movement?
Hmmmm.... One star from the local paper, or some
bloke in Arizona calling himself FLMLVR...
So I went with the geek route.
Boy am I glad I did.
I didn’t like CENTER STAGE. I didn’t really like
CENTER STAGE. I absolutely fell in love with the
film.
Why?
What makes a geek like me fall head over heels for a
film about a bunch of Ballet folks struggling to get a
career?
Well, first off... I have an insane musical fetish.
Have you ever sat in the backyard, or upon a cliff or
at a park and just marveled at how birds fly? I
mean... God it looks so easy, so lovely. Can you
imagine the elegance required to gracefully float upon
the air?
To move unencumbered with cement feet? You see,
prior to my accident, I loved to dance. Now, I wasn’t
skinny, I was shaped more like Belushi in THE
BLUES BROTHERS... and I loved to dance. Just the
sheer joy, the emotion of letting your body just flow
with the music. Picturing steps in your mind that you
saw on videos, that you saw Gene Kelly or Fred
Astaire make effortless... and give them life within
your own body.
To an observer I probably sucked, but in my mind, in
my head and at least in my partners’ eyes I didn’t see
a look of pity. Instead I saw the excitement of
dancing.
As a young boy here in Austin I studied gymnastics,
swimming and dance. I adored it. To me, this is
what you studied to become a superhero. As my
body type changed, I tried to fight it, I’d win 50 lb
victories here and there... but when that dolly hit me...
I lost my sense of balance. I was scared of going
down stairs. All of a sudden I was struck with
acrophobia and vertigo. Though it’s been 4 years
since the accident, I’m only just now regaining a
more advance sense of balance, but I’m so heavy
now. I will lose it, it’ll take time, but I will lose it.
Sorry about that, I got distracted.
I went into CENTER STAGE with very little
expectations or desires other than to see the primary
purpose of a ‘dance’ film realized... and that was to
see some excellent dancing.
I was not disappointed.
Now... this isn’t THE RED SHOES by Powell and
Pressberger. It isn’t a surreal work of art like that.
This film attempts to be anchored firmly here in the
world of gravity and reality.
My only regret with the film is that Peter Gallagher’s
character wasn’t being played by Mikhail
Baryshnikov who, I felt would’ve been the
absolute perfect person for that role. That’s not really
a fault with the film. Peter is very good as the
character he plays, but... having someone as iconic as
Mikhail in that position would’ve been grand.
Besides, I miss Baryshnikov. God, remember when
he defected? Man, that was amazing.
Now the story is a simple ‘Chorus Line’ / “We’re
throwing a show and who will be our stars?” plotline.
As a result, if you know the rules of the
dance/musical, then you instantly know who will be
picked at the end of the film to be... the elite.
But, ya know... sometimes a film isn’t about SIXTH
SENSE twists or ‘She has a penis’ moments.
Sometimes, it’s about the journey these characters
take.
One of the most beautiful moments in the film has
nothing to do with dance. It has to do with an
instructor placing her hand on the ballet bar, and
telling a student that ‘This is home’.
That moment, for that student... that was the defining
statement. That simple... ever so easy bit of
knowledge that she needed to unlock and dump her
baggage. And that character becomes magic after
that.
For another, it’s just discovering a different angle to
dance. It’s merely feeling the music, expressing your
emotions, letting go. For so long she had worked so
hard on the individual techniques that she forgot that
you can’t make poetry by concentrating on the
individual letters, it’s about phrases.
Still another brilliant technician, it’s about learning
who she is.
Scattered amongst these stories are the typical school
romances and hardships.
But NEVER FORGOTTEN is dance and the
celebration that is ballet. The grace and beauty.
Watching these engenues watching a beautiful
production and seeing the longing in their eyes... that
look of watching the beauty and expression they
wished they could live to express for themselves to
onlookers from around the world.
The cast is the magic for the film for me. I mean here
in this film are faces and talents that we have never
seen before. Fresh and new. And perhaps it was the
double feature trailers of BOYS AND GIRLS and
LOSER that pointed this out so strongly. I don’t want
to see the same people in the same things every time.
Every now and again it’s the greatest thing in the
world to look up on that screen and see a whole host
of living breathing artists that I’ve never seen.
If you love films like CHORUS LINE, DIRTY
DANCING, FOOTLIGHT PARADE, and so on...
GO RUN SEE THIS MOVIE.
After several weeks of films leaving me emotionally
empty... it’s nice to find one that lifted me up and
filled me with awe. Not from a bigger better
explosion or jump.... but with a beautiful leap and
twist. That moment where they seem almost on the
verge of escaping reality. God.... I loved this movie.
You know, it's stunning to me how closed minded so many of you 'machismo male' types are. Does someone have to be 'gay' to like a musical? Oh gosh... Hmmm, let's see... You would prefer to watch Tom Cruise scale a big rock flexing his muscles, watching his hair flow in slow motion, but watching a room filled with 60 of the finest female forms stretch their legs over their heads causing amazing camel toe would denote you as being a 'gay male'? Hmmmm.... Interesting. Oh... but wait, there's more. These women are dressed in skin tight leotards showing off pert nipples and perfectly muscled asses? Eeeeeek, to look at them must turn you gay. No no, I will be secure in my masculinity by watching men shoot guns at one another. So... you got something you wanna say?
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...Maybe now that you liked this film more folk will go out and see it...last I looked it has only made 12.3 mil...and cost 18...tis a shame...if only people would give it a chance. Like Harry said, it is really the one and only bright spot this past month or so....(I'm not a huge fan of Gladiator)...and rightfully deserves to do better...
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Perhaps all the other geek fanboys might have seen it, but alas, it's America today and the only movies worth seeing, talking about and dedicating websites to are those that feature comic books brought to life, or cartoons, or a combination thereof. Amazing that the head geek could actually discover that 35mm film is exposed for something other than the digital video to film transfer that so many of the Napster Generation believe IS film today. Congratulations Harry, and thanks to Father Geek. There is a whole world out there yet undiscovered. Put your money on the ticket window and rejoice. Why are there no talkbacks to this post? Easy, there was no comic book, SFX, EP123, Kevin Smith, Kevin Williamson, Robert Rodriguez, geek fanboy flag to alert the devoted.
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May 30, 2000 3:30:47 AM CDT
Forget the 7th sign...this is the 10th sign of impending doom.
by darthshaggy
I know that people are entitled to thier opinion. I know that there is such a thing about "Freedom of speech". But what I don't understand is why are people spending their hard earned money and free time on pieces of shit like "Center Stage". The whole idea of a girl finding mr.right in a ballet school is such a fabrication that only Hollywood would think of it. I know a few girls in a ballet school and they all say that the only guys those schools are also looking for mr.right. If I ever do go see the movie(only at matinee price);I'll probably end up playing the old "80's music video's" game of "Spot the Fag."
Please Hollywood...we need more movies like "Die Hard" , "Lethal Weapon" "Predator" and movies like them. -
Obviously we could ALL stand to take in more diversity when it comes to the films we see (or the books we read or whatever), but remember...Harry's site IS largely devoted to genre material. Don't get all in a huff over the geekiness of some Talkbackers, 'cause geek films remain the mainstay of Ain't-It-Cool-News. That said, excellent review Harry. The movie doesn't sound like my bag, but I'll give it a gander when it hits cable.
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Harry, no mention of the gorgeous, unbeliebably pretty and decnet actress Amanda Schull! She was worth the price of admission- as was the slumming into the "less snooty" dance world stuff. Good for you. Hope you will keep an open mind more often... Not all movies can be X-men (or should be) isn't that what makes movies so much fun?
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Just because Hollywood is oversaturated by macho male films like Die Hard or Predator, doesn't excuse a movie that's bad, even if it IS a change from the regular sweaty guy flick. If a film is bad, it's bad. The fact that there aren't enough black audience oriented movies being made by Hollywood, doesn't make Next Friday any funnier.
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I mean...come on, Harry. Seriously, is there a problem here I should be aware of? If you're gay Harry just say so. Really...it's no big deal. I just can't...I just couldn't imagine the day when Harry...HARRY agreed with flmlvr. Were talking about flm here. This is a guy who wants to buy the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 DVD so he can watch the Vanilla Ice dance number. DANCING! I hate that fucking shit! It's so god damn boring! I saw the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall in NYC back in December and it was AWFUL! Awful I tells ya! And 40 bucks for the cheap seats too! When I'm king of the planet...I'm going to outlaw dancing! An outright ban! No need for something I suck at doing. Something I only do after 3 or 4 drinks. But even then...I suck at it. Retard OUT!
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..you have to combine exercise with diet. Diet alone won't do the trick. Start slow, but pick some activity and stick with it. And I agree that Tom Cruise and Jerry Bruckheimer movies are for closeted homosexuals. But hey whatever gets you through the night...
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You're sick, man, and it has nothing to do with machismo.
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Sometimes a film just hits something a little personal to you, and you can't stop thinking about that film. I felt like that before, you have to recommend the film to everyone, even though some might hate it. It feels like you owe it to the movie to try. This happened to me with THE AGE OF INNOCENCE, I don't care how many people tell me different I hold a special place for that film.
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It's ok to love musicals. There's no need to get so defensive about it. So some lame-brains might wonder if all the time spent on your keyboard is causing limpness of the wrists. So what? Surely you've reached a stage of your life when you are confident enough about your sexuality that you don't have to droll over pert nipples and asses in order to assert your heterosexuality. You're straight, Harry, I believe you. But, by protesting so much some people might draw the conclusion that you think there is something wrong with being gay. God forbid! I'm sure there are enough neanderthals out there who hope that is exactly what you mean. Remember Harry just because you like musicals doesn't automatically make you gay. It does, however, qualify you for associate membership!
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Honestly guys, what's the big deal with having a love for the musical? I think that some of the best moments in film come from musicals. SINGIN' IN THE RAIN for example is one of my top ten films. And DIE HARD, PREDATOR and CON AIR don't even rank in my top 50. (CON AIR, probably being the lowest at about 247. Now, that was mindless drivel.) RAIN, however, has a wonderful story, and it's about Hollywood. It's a story, a good story, an emotional story, and it's fun. And, don't get me wrong, the good action/adventure movie can be an excellent film, but the truth is, how often do you see them. Musicals can (some don't) have substance to them. Action flicks, for the most part, are popcorn flicks. It's quick entertainment with honestly no value in the world other than to get you a quick adrenaline rush. I'm involved a lot in musical theater in my home town. It doesn't mean I'm gay, because trust me, I'm not. However, yes, there are a lot of gay men who work in theater, even on the local level. There are a lot of straight guys in it too. And trust me, theater's a good way to meet very attractive women. (Just a hint out there for Harry and all you geeks. ;-) ) But, the truth of the matter is, there are a lot of good people with a lot of different personalities in the theater, and I hate it when people stereotype musical theater, because it's a "gay" world. It's not. The truth is, I've met more straight people in the theater than homosexuals. So, screw that stereotype. People with closed minds feel that they need to attack anything they don't understand, and that is one thing I never can get used to in these talkbacks. Don't get me wrong, everyone's entitled to their opinion, but why attack something when you've never given it a chance? The majority of people I've met in theater are very open-minded, and beyond that fact, they're not a lot different than you guys. Most of them decided to do theater because of their love of movies. I have not seen CENTER STAGE. It's a movie that I, as a poor college student, have decided to wait for until it comes out on video, or goes to the cheaper theater. But, after reading Harry's review, I'm a little more excited to see it. Probably still won't spend eight bucks on it, but we'll just see on that one. BTW, Harry, I'm not that great a dancer either, but I do love doing it, even though I probably look like a fool. And, as for the person who said we need more PREDATOR, DIE HARD and LETHAL WEAPON, what the hell are you talking about? We've got too many of those. It's summertime! The popcorn movie season.
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I simply cannot believe all the discussion about being gay because one likes a ballet movie. I thought this was a site about movies, not a shrine to Anita Bryant. Harry, your review was great, and I can understand why you would need to make a preemptive strike against the homophobes out there, but why is the subject even being brought up at all. I'm a gay man, and I had no interest in seeing "Center Stage" at all until your review. I don't like ballet, I have never liked ballet, and probably never will. But I'll probably see this movie on your recommendation. Let's stay focussed people. Those who would label an individual as gay just because of movie preference or the same individuals that have a copy of Playgirl stashed away in their bathroom for those "private" moments. Way to go, Harry. The reason (well one among many) I keep coming back to your site is that you speak your mind regardless of how your "talk-backers" may over-react.
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has a film reviewer, Frank DeCaro (sp), who is openly gay and calls his reviews "out at the movies." He loved Center Stage AND Gladiator, so I guess you can't stereotype. His only beef was that there was only one gay male in the entire dance company in Center Stage. Harry, your review was wonderful, but did you really have to get all "macho" and refer to the "camel toes?" C'mon man, that's a Pauly Shore line. Oh, and finally, my wife dragged (drug?) me to this movie and I was bored to tears, but that's just me. I believe your emotional state had more to do with you liking the film Harry than its actual quality. I remember movies that I watched on video when I was real down or during finals and thought they were real "uplifting" only to see them in a better frame of mind and think "what the fuck?..."
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First off, to FlmLvr. This film isn't doing better because of a nonexistant ad campaign, it's limited release, and the poor timing of it's release (A week after Gladiator?). Otherwise, it seems to do quite well. The weekend of it's release, it was playing to full houses.
The other thing I wanted to say is, most people don't go to martial arts films for the plot. They go to see marvelous physical feats. People don't go to dance films for the plot. They go to see marvelous physical feats. This is no different and Center Stage is in that class of movie. A servicable plot, but that isn't what you are there for. You are there to see the dancing.
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Way to go Harry!
I went with three other pals to see a sceening of Road Trip. We got to the theatre and out-of-mowhere I said, "I can't see this, I'm not 15 anymore"(nothing against teenagers or even Road Trip since I have yet to see it). We used the pass to go see Center Stage. I figured what the hell, I haven't seen a FAME type film in a long time. We had a great time. WE BTW being to hetero men and one hetero female. I not saying I'd run out and see it again(I will probably see MI:2 again though, I disagree with you there Harry) but it was so refreshing to see a film with virtual "no-names" in the cast. Of course, it's a cheesy movie but whatever, this and Shanghai Noon are the two surprises in of the summer so far. I too, along with some other talkbakers was dissappointed with Gladiator. As for the homophobes... whatever. You do know that Woo himself refers to the gunplay in his films as a "dance" right? "A ballet of bullets." -
What's the big deal? It's justa movie! Albeit a dancing movie, and to film geeks, dancing amounts to a pile of dick when stood next to M:I-2. I liked the dancing, the plot was cliche, but I refer to a previous talkbacker, I wasn't there to see the plot. I went to see Amanda dance! And she kicked good damn ass.
BTW, the imdb says that Jennie Garth from 90210 fame was in this movie. I don't remeber her at all! Can anyone help me out? Is the imdb totally wrong? -
but I won't see it in the theatre. One of my friends is a gay choreographer/director and even he said this film was just "okay". I am also a lover of musicals and I'm still waiting for Hollywood to make a quality musical film. I guess I'll be waiting for a long time.
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I ended up seeing this film by random chance. I was not looking foward to it at all, I mean come on--ballet? To my pleasant surprise the energy was great, the acting was fine, and yes, there were perky nipples. This movie left me with a good feeling and an appreciation for dancers that had never existed before. I believe this movie will hold up very well over time and in the future will be seen as one hellava dance film, and ya know what, there ain't to many those!
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May 30, 2000 11:52:42 AM CDT
Dancing is more physically demanding than most could possibly im
by renzella
I don't understand the stigma that all dancers or lovers of dance are gay. I have taken part in many shows that featured dancing and have seen first hand the hard work and dedication that goes into the craft. To the dumbass who was complaining about having to pay and watch a dance show, you have allowed your ignorance to speak volumes about yourself. Go lock yourself into an armchair grab a beer and watch football until your brains rot out. Harry, I am in total agreement with you about musical theatre and dance. The biggest loudest most expensive movie in the world can never compare to a well executed live production. Thats my two cents.
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how sexuality and a form of art become synonymous, so i won't try to address that. but i do want to say that i did see center stage, and enjoyed it for the dancing more than the plot -- which by the way was obvious within the first half hour. i wouldn't pay full price, but i don't want my money back.
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this movie sucked serious ass!! That last number, with the motorcycle?? What the fuck WAS that??? Cliche, cliche, cliche - ooh, the little ballerina has builimia, gee, never seen THAT before. Hytner started with "...King George" and has been on a rapid, steady decline ever since. And forget "Chicago." Ain't gonna happen. Hytner's refusing to use the people the studio wants - thinks Hawn and Madonna are far too old. He wants Charlize Theron and Nicole Kidman. So go figure.
THIS MOVIE SUCKED!! -
I really loved this review and thank you for not being afraid to write it - as I come from the late 50's, early 60's high school party group scene before dancing was cool, but hot cars and macho was in.
It seems to be beyond most peoples comprehension that dancing became cool again and not all male dancers, ballet or otherwise, are gay anymore. My hometown just happens to have a renowned ballet school and love does often blossom there. Currently one of those couples [him & her] have both been accepted by a pretigious dance company.
It would be a joy for me to see some of these macho males even attempt ballet. It is not an easy "sport". I would be rolling on the floor with laughter as they would probably resemble a cartoon character with their arms and legs all twisted together when they fall on their a__!
I look forward to seeing this movie. -
yeah, i hated that motorcycle number too. eva (i think that was her name, the cute-yet-sassy latina) was my favorite character, which i say reluctantly, because there wasn't much depth in the other characters
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i know why harry isn't feeling well! he's having a heart attack, harry, you should go see a doctor or something!
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...Harry's lost it.
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.....harry's whiny review combined with Moriarty's (whose contributions are usually the best on this site) pity party "I AM qualified, gosh darn it" column is just putting a hurt on our stomach.
CHUD PARNK declares this day DAY OF WHINE -
For CHICAGO, Madonna is not happening, and Goldie Hawn is not happening. They were originally up, but that fell through. Charlize Theron IS going to be Roxie Hart, it's just the movie is far off as of now. OK?
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Sorry, lets just say i've been spoiled, i've seen too many good musicals and dance movies to like this drivel. I predicted the whole movie before i saw it.
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The musical is coming back. I think we're about to get hit hard in this next decade and I am thrilled. This year alone will have Love's Labours Lost and Dancing In The Dark. Plus production plans for Phantom of the Opera, Hedwig and The Angry Inch (rockin' Off-Broadway musical here in NYC), Chicago, and several others. Word is Travolta, Spielberg, and PT Anderson are dying to do one. It's funny how the musical never survived the cultural revolution of the sixties, on stage or on film. The problem isn't really that nobody likes musicals (what is MTV if not traditional musical cinema?). The problem is the musical styles stayed planted in the Pop of early twentieth century culture. I've never understood why the movies never used Rock N' Roll and Pop music beyond mere use as soundtrack (with a few exceptions such as Tommy, The Wall, Grease, and a misguided Hair). The musical form went straight from "Oliver!" to "Beat It!", skipping whole generations of musical opportunity. Now's the time to move forward. I'm excited as hell to see Lars Von Trier use cutting-edge cinematic techniques to play catch-up with the musical form. And I'd like to see other more modern cinephiles steal the form back from MTV. Spike Jonze seems a natural. Spielberg would do a brilliant, if more traditional job (see the jitterbug in 1941 and opening of Temple Of Doom). And believe it or not, why not Britney Spears? Or Jennifer Lopez? I'm not a big fan of their music, but with a good story, it could be a kinetic thrill. Get Santana to compose. Or what about Sheryl Crow? Randy Newman? I'd like to see Scorsese and Lou Reed do a musical. Let's use our imagination. The action filmmakers sure aren't. And let's face it, we're crawling to see Mission Impossible 2, not for plot, not even for a real movie, but to see ...SOMETHING! Something with movement, something with kinetic grace, the spectacle of things other human beings can do. That's what Gene Kelly, Buster Keaton, Esther Williams, Fred Astaire, and Jackie Chan are about. And we've been robbed all these years of having more of that.
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May 30, 2000 4:57:24 PM CDT
I saw this "director's cut" at the film festival in Berlin
by gaston lagaffe
... and if I'm not mistaken, the only new thing about it is a hilarious intro, which I won't give away. Go see this film. The Coens have never surpassed it.
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It's about god damned time!!! I tell people I loved this movie, and people just stand there looking at me with blank looks on their faces. It's pathetic! Center Stage is a fan-fucking-tastic little film! It's my new Flashdance! Anyone disagree? Get at me!
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thats it, I am so there, thanks Harry I have been wanting to see this movie but could not find anyone to go see it with! Looks like I am going to skip out on seeing Human Traffic for the 2nd time and putting on my ballet shoes and one and two and three and four and TITS AND ASS HERE I COME!!!
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My wife and I went to see it, and we had a great time. I'll freely acknowledge that the acting wasn't great and the story was formulaic, but most of the lead dancers in the film are actual principals (read: stars) in major city and national ballet companies, and it shows. Also, a guy on my old paintball team was a pro ballet dancer (with a very attractive girlfriend) and he said that there really isn't this preponderance of gay men in ballet. I thought the movie was pretty fair about it...had what, three male "leads", one of which was gay? I'll buy it...
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May 30, 2000 11:02:12 PM CDT
This film was awful....this review misfires almost as bad as Har
by niiiice
Harry wrote that there were typical high school stories scattered into the plot. The red flag word is "typical" and that is exactly what this film is. The film pulls heavily on oversentimentality, something that I'm surprised Harry bought in to so easily. The characters do have depth and development to them, but we've seen it all before... the bitchy overachiever who's secretly tortured on the inside, the naive newcomer through whose eyes we experience this fascinating new world, the rebel, and the minority/gay character who is treated in this film like 90% of minority/gay characters in Hollywood are. I counted his lines and more than half of the things he said was gay-related comic-releif (i.e., "What's she got that I don't have?!"). The ballet sequences are choreographed well, but this is not a ballet broadcast on PBS, this is supposed to be a film. In a film, or musical theater for that matter, the dance sequences should serve to move the storyline forward, not stagnate, as it does several times in this movie. Even the audience I saw the film with, which was mostly teenagers, balked incredulously at one particular ending portion of the final dance sequence. This is a total fairy-tale movie. The film's tag line, "Life doesn't hold tryouts" seems to suggest the film takes a hard, nitty gritty look at the reality of making it in ballet, however the only signs of rejection we see are fleeting shots of girls crying. This is basically the same old tired sentimental teen film in a new setting.
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Come on, Harry! This film is shit. You're review is the equivalent of giving "Convoy" an A+! Clearly, your "sadness" has altered your abilities as a critic. Scores of musicals are better than this piece of crap, and surely you know better. As for the weight concern, try walking. Do it for about 30 minutes a day (you've got 30 minutes a day to spare, right?), at least five to six days a week. It's not too intensive, but you would be surprised at the results. Just keep at it, for weeks and weeks. No, this is not some fucking Subway ploy. You need to do something. My God! Watching you on the Kilborn show: I thought you were going to collapse under your own weight -- or Craig's arrogance. Sheesh!
Good luck. -
short, simple, tells us everything we need to know about the movie without going off on some quasi-poetic tangents. too bad he doesn't come here nearly as often as he used to.
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Personally, I think musicals could use a good comeback. Action movies are becoming kinda stale of late, so something different but similarly adrenaline-inducing would be a welcome change. As you note, MTV is living proof that massive numbers of people go for music combined with storytelling (or at least visuals...). Likewise, it's worthy of note that many of the finest moments of the much-beloved "Simpsons" and "South Park" cartoons have been takes on musical numbers. And while Disney may be abusing their musical privileges in recent years, ya can't deny that they've cooked up some damn catchy moments (Little Mermaid, Beauty & the Beast, and Aladdin, for instance). What I think would kick ass would be a big-budget sci-fi musical. Seriously. To bring musicals back to the mainstream, they need some kind of mega-spectacle that'll have something for everyone. In other words, let's see someone put the "opera" into "space opera". I'd watch it.
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...I don't know that I'd call Harry's review a misfire, even if he IS off-base. Remember, he prefaced the review with an acknowledgement that he'd been feeling down lately, so it makes sense that an upbeat film like this would appeal to him at this particular moment in time. It may not be the most objective review, but by giving us a glimpse at his state of mind prior to seeing it (one of the things that still make his reviews so unique), I can understand why he bought into the sentimentality, cliched or not. A film like this ain't for me, but I appreciate that Harry's not afraid to champion it. Actually, I think it's pretty cool.
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Good luck to you Harry on losing weight. My Hutt body is pre-programmed to weight as much as a house and I have tried everything to lose weight. Recently I went on Phenteromene (warning: can raise b.p.), and for the first time my weight is going down instead of up.
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As I watched this movie, it occurred to me that Center Stage is a gift for my mother. The dancing is amazing. And I kept thinking to myself that the lead girl was the hottest female ever captured on film. Go see this movie.
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A film I really enjoyed was All That Jazz that came out in 1979 (although I only saw it about 10 years later).
To see the struggle of creation of a musical was a revalation to me after only seeing things like those MGM musicals. Then came along Fame, White Nights and the others.
But All That Jazz had a wonderful surreal desperate quality that I enjoyed. Great film. -
A guy who would rather see a bunch of faries waltz around then see a great John Woo film.... I wonder...
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It's a french movie with dancing (ballet) and music and a long winding story, that I saw many years ago. I remember liking it.
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... and i'm dead serious about that... I'm not saying all musicals are stupid or gay or whatever.. but this movie sucked so hard. definitely the worst movie of the year, the plot is boring, there is absolutely NO climactic scene in the film .. wooo, they're dancing in front of an audience. whoopdie fucking shit. the ballerina has bulimia. wow, I didn't see that one coming. laff. gag me with a spoon.. i pray that somewhere there are people in a galaxy far far away that somehow some way one day they will prevent massively boring pointless and just plain stupid films like this from being released.. but we can all dream can't we.
apokk -
You know, I get the impression from half the folks bitching and moaning about this movie that they haven't even SEEN it (particularly the ones who don't seem to have any criticism except that they can't believe Harry liked it). Well y'know what? Screw ALL you guys. This was a good movie. A movie doesn't HAVE to be the most original, offbeat, blow-your mind twisted thing in the world to be enjoyable. Sure, the end of "The Sixth Sense" kicked my ass right out of the seat. But that doesn't mean that a non-twist ending CAN'T be fun to watch. I'm not saying this is a great film, I'm not saying this is the best of all time. It was a good movie that I enjoyed watching, and damnit, that's why go to the movies in the first place. If you don't like a movie, fine. That's your business. You even have the right to say WHY you didn't like it. But I'm sick of all these personal attacks just because the reviewer happens to have a different point of view than you did. Grow the hell up, fellas. Harry -- I know where you're coming from. I'm there.
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