Strictly Ballroom is an interesting film. It takes the timeless tale of The Ugly Duckling and sets it in a ballroom dancing atmosphere. Conceived by Australian writer/director, Baz Luhrmann, Strictly Ballroom is the first installment in The Red Curtain Trilogy, a trio of films that feature theater-related romance. The other films in the trilogy include Romeo + Juliet, and Moulin Rouge!.
Originally a stage musical, Strictly Ballroom tells the story of a ballroom dancer named Scott Hastings played with very little affect by Paul Mercurio. He has his own style of dancing which puts him in a little bit of trouble with his family and friends. His dance partner ditches him during tryouts for a ballroom dancing competition and it is then up to Scott to find another partner to practice with. He eventually finds help in Fran (Tara Morice), an “ugly duckling” who frequents the dance studio. Together they rehearse and form a strong bond despite the disapproval of the people in their lives as well as the judges of the competition.
This is a very glittery film from Baz Luhrmann, the creative mind behind Moulin Rouge!. It is a movie that smacks you in the face with large amounts of razzle-dazzle. It has many over the top elements such as lovely professional dancing, colorful characters, and bright sets. The writing is also equally flamboyant. It is quite obvious that this story was originally performed on stage since the production is such a spectacle.
Released in 1992, Strictly Ballroom is a vivid, dreamlike experience that will either enthrall or repel you. Its story is simple enough for anyone to understand and enjoy however the way in which it is presented can be a bit difficult to swallow. The direction like everything else in the film is gaudy at best. The sights and sounds leap off the screen like the dancers in the film. If you want to see Australian filmmaking at it’s flashiest, Strictly Ballroom is the movie for you. Each scene is a smorgasbord of visual and audible delight drawing the viewer in with every shot however I think less energy and attention should have been focused on the film’s appearance and more on the pictures substance.
A winner of numerous awards for costume design, editing, production design, acting, direction, writing, cinematography, sound, and music, Strictly Ballroom has its pros and cons. The pros are that it is a brilliant treat for the eyes. The dance moves are fantastic, full of life and precision and the cons are that it is less of a movie and more of a filmed play. Many aspects of it seem overdone and showy.
Strictly Ballroom is considered to be the inspiration behind Dancing with the Stars and rightfully so. Both this film and that television series each highlight the beauty of dance while at the same time showcasing human drama. Dancing isn’t simply about choreography and timing. It’s about personality and the relationship between your body and the music. Strictly Ballroom isn’t a great movie but it definitely shows you that no matter how pretty or talented you are, your personality is what always triumphs.
DVD Bonus Features
The bonus features for Strictly Ballroom: Special Edition are relatively decent. There is an intriguing documentary called Strictly Ballroom: From Stage to Screen which tells the story behind the film, how it came to be and the process of how it was brought to the screen. There is another documentary called Samba to Slow Fox which gives us a rather detailed look at ballroom dancing and competing.
There is a deleted scene, and a design gallery which features behind the scenes snapshots including the production design, promotional images, the director’s family, and the film’s main characters Scott, and Fran. There is also a feature length commentary by writer/director Baz Luhrmann, production and co-costume designer Catherine Martin, and choreographer John (Cha Cha) O’Connell, plus trailers.
"Strictly Ballroom: Special Edition" is on sale November 23, 2010 and is rated PG. Comedy, Musical, Romance. Directed by Baz Luhrmann. Written by Baz Luhrmann, Craig Pearce, Andrew Bovell. Starring Barry Otto, Bill Hunter, Gia Carides, Pat Thomson, Paul Mercurio, Peter Whitford, Tara Morice.
