Strictly Ballroom (1993)

Nice effects though.

Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

First, a word to those reviewers who gave this film less than a "10." That word is "Whaa?" This is a perfect film, possibly the best film ever to leave Australia, a film that can literally be used as a template for other films (we can only hope) in years and decades to come.It is three films in one, actually.A "ballroom dance" film that effectively predates the ballroom craze in N.A. and the many TV series which followed.A "feel good" film. That actually makes you feel good.and .. wait for it .. a love story.And excellent in all three classes.There are no wasted frames, no wasted dialog, there is no part of this film that does not work as a cohesive whole to bring the viewer to the final climax.Entertainment at its best.

A maverick dancer (Paul Mercurio) risks his career by performing an unusual routine and sets out to succeed with a new partner.Although not the international sensation that "Moulin Rouge" or "Romeo and Juliet" are, there is definitely the fingerprints of Baz Luhrmann all over this. The music, of course, is very much Baz. But more so the colors. He apparently had to go the extra mile to get the Coca-Cola sign into the film, and it makes sense why he wanted it so badly: it is the very definition of what makes a Baz film: those bright, bold primary colors.This will probably never be considered a classic, and it has probably become more obscure over the last decade rather than more well-known, despite Baz's success. But still.

Absolutely brilliant; by the writer and the director and the actors. Shirley Hastings is one of the most important and true characters in any Art form. She is to be studied by students in psychology, psychiatry, and social work. As is her husband. Unfortunately the theme is all too common. The future is the youth. To stifle them is so wrong on so many levels. Narcissism abounds. It is epidemic and crippling to happiness and creativity. The hen-pecked husband is all too common in marriages. His realization of this is awaited by the audience throughout the movie...Does he ever break-away from the narcissistic dominating wife? How does one do this and keep a marriage together? How does a son break away from a mother? From a father? From both?

An entertaining low-budget Australian dancing and romance movie by Baz Luhrman. It is the first movie of his trilogy The Red Curtain.Strictly Ballroom is, in few words, the story of a ugly dancing duckling who finds her break-the-rules swan dancer. It is the story of Scott, a brilliant ballroom dancer trained in a prestigious dancing school since his childhood, who is to become the next Pan-Pacific champion if he follows traditional ballroom style and moves. However, he has a spirit of his own, a dancing creativity that he's trying to channel and express in front of the public. In his way to become himself as a dancer, he pairs -not previous begging and hard work- with beginner dancer Fran, a shy Spanish girl from a family of flamenco dancers.The movie has a predictable unoriginal story and stereotypical characters, but the script is light and funny, engaging and fresh, and a little bit Kitch but in a charming way. The musical numbers are danced with talent and great heart, and they are very enjoyable. I especially liked the funny retro images telling the story of Scott's dancing parents through dance, which are truly creative, theatrical, and delightful.To me, this is Baz Luhrman's most Australian movie, despite not pretending to be so. Definitely more Australian than his movie Australia, but much less pretentious and with much more heart. The movie presents a mix of true Australian characters, Anglosaxons and immigrants (in this case Spaniards), passionate people about competition and sports, always giving their best to win anything - hard working dreamers. Moreover, the characters and the story have a very Australian sense of humor, and the characters speak with a marked Australian strong accent, especially clear in Cariades' character. In fact, the characters and atmosphere somewhat reminded me of those unforgettable ones in the Australian film The Castle.Overall, the performances are very good. Paul Mercurio and Tana Merice are convincing and good in their acting and dancing. Paul Mercurio is really great in his dancing. All the supporting actors are terrific and nail their characters: Pat Thomson (who died before the movie was premiered) as Scott's mother Shirley, Barry Otto as Scott's father Doug, Gia Carides as Scott's first dancing partner Liz, Bill Hunter as the President of the Ballroom Australian Federation, and Peter Whitford as the owner and director of Les Kendall's Dance Academy. Antonio Vargas and Armonia Benedito are also very charming as Fran's father and grandma.An unpretentious light heart-warming entertaining movie, with lots of Spanish moments!