The Company (2003)

Dance fans everywhere will LOVE this. I certainly did!
Directed by Robert Altman, this film is about a year in the life of the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, which is the true star of the film. It also stars Neve Campbell, who wrote and produced it as well, and it was surely an act of love on her part. Even though she was originally trained as a dancer, she still had to train for three months, seven hours a day before even beginning to train with the company, which took another few months before shooting began. She is a wonderful dancer and The Company brings this all out.

This is not a film about one person though. And it is not a film with lots of interlocking stories. Basically, it is a film about the creative process itself, and how an idea gets turned into an elaborate work of art. It's hard to get the feel of this onto the screen. But Mr. Altman is a master in making sure it all come together.

It takes more than hard work to be a member of the company. It takes talent, dedication and pain and there are a few shots...

A Tour de Force Of A FIlm!
I love ballet! I love good dance in general. So watching Robert Altman's "The Company" was 112 minutes of pure bliss. Altman takes us onstage, and off-stage, for a look at the world of dance, dancers, choreographers, set and costume designers and a ballet director, Alberto Antonelli, played wonderfully well by Malcolm McDowell. Actress Neve Campbell, best known for her roles in horror flicks, was trained for years in classical ballet. She is absolutely beautiful, and an extraordinarily lithe, exciting dancer. (No more scary movies Neve!!). It is obvious that she has put a lot of herself into this film. Not only does she play a major role, but she co-wrote and co-produced the movie. She did all of her own dancing, and seems to fit right in with the professional dancers from the Joffrey Ballet Troupe of Chicago, which is featured here.

The film is loosely structured and documentary-like. The viewer gets a fly on the wall look at a dancer's life as Altman takes us behind the...

A living memory
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...

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