All That Jazz

Every once in a while you need a little Fosse. All That Jazz delivers in the story of his life through the character Joe Gideon. Based on Bob Fosse's life and persona, we follow his struggles and his triumphs. In his personal and professional endeavors there is plenty of drama, humor and dance. Awesome performances make this classic easy to enjoy.

Tap

I saw Tap when it came out in theaters. I love to watch tap dancing, especially when it's Gregory Hines, Sammy Davis Jr. and Savion Glover. Three of the best. Suzzanne Douglas has chops too, and Joe Morton brings it as the heavy. Really like this film.

Les Girls

 In Les Girls we see the same situation told from several points of view. The costumes and dance numbers are outstanding. Wonderful film.

Summer Stock

 On an invitation by her sister, in Summer Stock a young woman lets a group of performers use their farm to stage their performances. The line between the survival of the farm and putting on a musical becomes blurred by best of intentions. Two different goals must be met and the conflicts supply the drama and comedy. The music, dance and performances of both are great.

The Red Shoes (1948)

The drama of the world of ballet is at the center of The Red Shoes. A young ballerina rises to stardom and falls in love. The complexities of mixing her personal life with her professional ambitions is a classic tale. This is a very pretty film. The performance at the center is dreamy and elegant. I liked this film a lot.

Sweet Charity

The first time I can remember my parents going to the movies was when they went to see Sweet Charity with their friends in the theater. They talked about it for weeks after. I was 12. They bought the soundtrack album and I knew all the songs, and I have seen clips of the dance number over the years, but had never seen the film in its entirety. Today I fixed that. The story, the music, the choreography, such a fun film. I really liked the Laugh-In references, Fickle Finger of Fate and Sock it to me. The sign of the time Rythm of Life Church played well portraying the era, Big Daddy is the jam. His take on the Ten Commandments are so great. Church of the Month Club served Oscar well. The sass and determination in Charity and her friends is admirable, and lyrics like "get up get out and do it" are empowering. Smatter in a few declarations of  "up yours" and we know exactly how they feel. I'm glad I saw this on DVD because there is an alternate ending in the extras, which I preferred.This is a wonderful movie, and I did go back and watch all of the dance numbers before I returned the disc. Great rental.

Damn Yankees

I have always been aware of the title Damn Yankees, but had no idea of it's meaning. This movie is a supernatural take on baseball, dreams, home and celebrity.  The performances are great and so is the music. Gwen Verdon is a national treasure. I'm glad that I finally saw this film.

The White Crow

In the film The White Crow politics meet art in the story of Rudolf Nureyev. His rise as an artist, his struggle to live his life the way he wanted to and his political leanings and the complications involved. A very interesting story of a very interesting life. Good film.

Nureyev

A beautifully structured documentary, Nureyev takes us on the journey of Rudolf Nureyev's life and career. The clips and interviews are edited to tell a story of hard work, drive, perseverance, art and focus. Nureyev is a wonderful dancer and lived an interesting life. Excellent documentary.

Restless Creature: Wendy Whelan

The ballerina Wendy Whelan is naturally gifted, hard working and devoted to the art of ballet. In the documentary Restless Creature: Wendy Whelan we learn how she deals with an injury and aging in an art form that is so physically demanding. She is positive, tenacious and determined to continue dancing. It is inspiring to watch. I liked this documentary a lot.

Alive and Kicking

The documentary Alive and Kicking is a testimonial to the sheer joy of swing dancing. The dance, the people and the community all have a positive vibe. The longevity of the dance form and the people who thrive in it is inspiring. This is a great rental.

Guys and Dolls

So often you see the musical Guys and Dolls performed by local theaters and high school groups. Much of the music is legendary. The story is OK, but as was common in the 50s, the way women are treated is so sad. Manipulation of emotions and lack of respect are central. We've come a long way, but a 14 year engagement just isn't that funny. What impressed me most was the performance of a young Marlon Brando. Singing and dancing as well as a strong acting performance, I was mesmerized whenever he was on screen. And Frank Sinatra? His character was so obnoxious, it was hard for me to enjoy his performance. Another classic that I'm glad I rented.

Swing Time

Listening to the podcast Pop Culture Happy Hour, one of the hosts declared Swing Time the best movie of all time. Upon renting it I can see why. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing together are a marvel to watch. Now I know where the song The Way You Look Tonight comes from. In the story Astaire's character is a cad and pursues Rogers' character while engaged to another woman. His roguish ways were a bit off-putting to me, but I can see how they were considered charming when this film was made. A must-see for the dancing.

A Ballerina's Tale

Last year, A Ballerina's Tale was screened at Tribeca Film Festival with a Q & A with Misty Copeland. I missed the event but finally saw the film on DVD. This documentary speaks a bit to Copeland's rise to principal dancer at the American Ballet Theater, but speaks more to her struggles to stay there despite injuries. Her dancing is beautiful and the brutality of the ballet, both psychologically and physically is apparent. Copeland is a beautiful dancer whose career is both historic and inspiring. Hard work and perseverance pays off.

Cuban Fury

I never thought I would see Nick Frost dance on screen, much less dance well. In Cuban Fury the comedian dons dance shoes and gives a strong showing. His character's love of salsa dancing and affection for a woman culminate in a competition that triumphs over a rocky road. Funny and heartfelt, I really enjoyed this film.

Pina

The documentary Pina is a loving tribute to the German choreographer Pina Bausch. The innovation, beauty and strength made this a wonderful visual experience. This is the second film I've seen in 3D this season, and it was definitely worth it. Lovely.