Film Excess - Free Ukraine - Stop Putin - End the war NOW!!: The Company (2003) - Campbell, Turner and Altman's fine ballet picture

1/08/2015

The Company (2003) - Campbell, Turner and Altman's fine ballet picture

♥♥♥♥

+ Best Dance Movie of the Year + Best Mega-flop of the Year

Ballet dancers in motion on the poster for Robert Altman's The Company

QUICK REVIEW:

We follow life in the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago for a season, in which ambitious ballets are produced, and the dancer Ryan develops within the company.

The Company is in no way an epoch-making movie: Despite several plot summaries' attempts to drive out a conflict from the film, it really isn't there. - Nothing 'happens.' And perhaps for this reason, the film seems very realistic. The script is by Barbara Turner (Pollock (2000)), with story contribution by star Neve Campbell (Scream (1996)).
The particular dedication of ballet dancers and their seeming shallowness are caught spot-on in the film. Campbell and a pretty sheepish James Franco (This Is the End (2013)) compete in over-shining each other, and Malcolm McDowell (If.... (1968)) is outstanding as the eminent ballet's artistic director Mr. A.
The Company is directed by great American director Robert Altman (Gosford Park (2001)). It contains several wonderful dance pieces and is a lovely film, which may infuriate the excessively plot-focused audience member.

Robert Altman: 2003 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II]

2003 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]

Young James Franco and Neve Campbell in Robert Altman's The Company

Neve Campbell, who actually used to be a ballet dancer, practiced 8 hours a day for 4 months to get in shape for Robert Altman's The Company

Watch the trailer here

Cost: 15 mil. $
Box office: 6.4 mil. $
= Mega-flop
[The Company only made 2.2 mil. $ (35 % of the total gross) in the US. Abroad, the film was a relatively big hit in Italy (1.1 mil. EUR), but didn't fare well in many other countries. The movie was a labor of love for Campbell.]

What do you think of The Company?
Other wonderful ballet movies? (Besides already reviewed Black Swan)

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Film Excess - Free Ukraine - Stop Putin - End the war NOW!!

Eagerly anticipating this week ... (14-24)

1/08/2015

The Company (2003) - Campbell, Turner and Altman's fine ballet picture

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