Talking with my parents last night. I called, and my dad answered and I could hear music BLARING in the background.
“Hi, Dad …. you, uh, listenin’ to some music over there?”
“We just popped in a movie. It’s some ballet movie.”
“What is it?”
“We just started it. I have no idea. There are dancers auditioning for a company …”
Could it be Center Stage? One of my greatest and guiltiest pleasures in life?? Or was it the more respectable The Company, by Robert Altman, starring the luscious Neve Campbell? For some reason, I cannot picture my parents watching Center Stage.
I said, “Is it Center Stage? Or The Company?”
“Uhm – let me check … ah … Center Stage.”
I started laughing. “I love that movie!!”
“I think we read about it on your blog.”
“Dad, there are some really really cheesy moments.”
“So this is your responsibility?”
“Yes. I take full responsibility for the fact that you are watching Center Stage right now.”
“I will blame you, then.”
“Yup. I take full blame. Some of the acting is SO BAD … but they cast dancers, instead of actors – so the best ballet dancer in the world is in it … the dancing itself is incredible – but I need to prepare you for some pretty cheesy acting.”
“We’re at the beginning now – when they’re all auditioning. There was one guy who just … leapt across the floor … so good, you know?”
“Yup. Great. But … well. I do call it a GUILTY pleasure. Like – within 5 minutes of meeting the characters you know how the entire movie will play out.”
“So does the bitch end up being the best dancer in the school?”
I started HOWLING with laughter. “Yes!! Yes!! Exactly!”
Welcome to Center Stage – one of the greatest guiltiest pleasures of all time.
Sheila…i agree..i saw it in the theater on Cape Cod with Louise and and the Rachel’s on a Hamiltonian b-day weekend…we LOVED it!!! Love the bullshit “hip” dance studio!!! Genius! I briefly(very) dated a guy who taught at the actual place…he said it was how they saw themselves but never actaully achieved. Movies are better than life!!!
Speaking of ballet films, if you haven’t seen it, I recommend The Turning Point (1977) very highly. Stars Shirley Maclaine and Anne Bancroft as old friends who were both dancers. Maclaine’s character had a daughter, however, and that killed her career. Bancroft’s character, of course, became a big-time dancer. The story centers around Maclaine’s daughter (played by Leslie Browne…real dancer), who is on the road to becoming a major ballerina herself, and the rivalry between MacLaine and Bancroft that boils over as a result. baryshnikov is the male lead/love intrest for Browne’s character, and the movie is loaded with appearances and performances by other well-known dancers of the era (including, for example, Peter Martins, current NYC ballet honcho).
Sheila, I am going to go out on a limb ans predict that you will LOVE this movie if you have not seen it. Great story, great performances. It was nominated for ELEVEN Oscars (incliding Pic, director, Best actress for MacLaine and bancroft, Supporting actor and actress for browne and baryshnikov).
It won the Golden Globe for best pic and best director.
Tom Skerritt is good as maclaine’s husband, too. terriffic movie. Go rent it. If not for my wife, I’d have never known of it.
Alex N….when i met the goddess known as Anne Bancroft..i tried my best not to gush…but while standing in the buffet line with her..i couldnt help but blurt out..”I love The Turning Point!!!” …she smiled and nudged me in the ribs and said…”that was a good one, huh..i loved it too”. No false modesty..just pure .liquid.class. great movie.
Alex – hahahaha I love that movie SO MUCH!! I can recite huge chunks of it … because I’m pathetic. But still – you are so right: great film.
I love their fight in the car garage.
Mitchell, that’s a great story. I love it.
And Sheila, yes. The scene where they fight is great. I love that the thing spirals from the fight in the bar, to outside the theater where they get really mean, and winds up being this huge cathartic moment for the characters, who walk back in arm in arm.
Yeah. Good movie!
No that Robert Altman one, The Company. That sucks.
Oh, Sheila — YOU KNOW HOW I LOVE THIS MOVIE!! I LOVE IT ALL — GIMMEE THE CHEESE!!!