The Company

Though this is a movie, it is a very realistic look into the dance world and what the dancers go through to put a performance on stage. All of the actors in this movie are dancers in real life, and they do a fantastic job acting in the movie. The storyline is really great, and you get to see several different forms of dance. You'll completely fall in love with us movie, it is truly beautifully done!

A super film with an appropriately thin plot that draws one into the dance company. I especially liked that in the bonus section we can watch the dances only - without going through the movie again. Malcom McDowell was particularly annoying. But maybe he was supposed to be. I especially liked the variety of personalities among the dancers - the prima donnas, the past primes, the jealous ones, the retired ones, the ones that need a reason for the action, the ones that just dance no matter what. Oh, and the delightful spoofy holiday party.

This one's cold and disconnected, even moreso than usual for Altman. None of the characters really have any development or do much to make us care about them. Plus, the dialogue feels 90% adlibbed - and not in a good way.Still, it gets points for the lovely dancing. Neve Campbell looks fantastic with her strong legs and shoulders - even if her character is totally empty. And I like the glimpses of the artistic process. But that's all they are: glimpses. We never get a clear sense of what's required to create a ballet from scratch, cast and rehearse it, and finally perform it.A teenybopper pic like Center Stage does more to make us care about its characters while showing beautiful dancing and backstage action than this film does. In fact, I am going to rewatch that one soon.

The opening sequence is stunning. I have never seen a better record of the effort required by dancers - some shots are so vivid, that your own body responds to the movement shown on screen. I can't however, say it's a "good" movie. Plot is nearly non-existant, and the movie feels very long and slow, and you spend most of the movie feeling disengaged. It does show the chaotic world of the professional dancer. And while the movie appears to focus on the dancers as real individuals, it does it in such a crafty way that you eventually realize that they simply interchangable and dispensible, both to the artistic director and the art itself. It's a movie that I keep thinking about. So in that regard, it is a great success.

The Company is a beautiful book of memories from one young dancer's (Neve Campbell's) year at the Joffrey Ballet. I call it a book because the movie shows highlights from her life much like a photo album shows highlights from a person's life. This includes glimpses on what life is like and the sacrifices that a dancer must make to achieve her goals. Highlights from the film include Ms Campbell's sultry, but clean, dance in the rain and the Snake Dance. The film is artsy and may not be appreciated by those who like a strong movie plot. But it is a wonderful book of memories from a year in the life of a beautiful dancer. I have only seen the movie and look forward to purchasing the DVD.

I just love it. I love watching the dancers - its also cool to see Neve in there doing some of her own dancing.

I originally borrowed this movie from the public library and loved it so much I purchased a copy. I especially enjoyed the amazing dance scenes. Most movies about dancers are set around the relationships away from the stage and studio. I liked this movie because it was full of amazing performances by incredibly talented dancers. I've never been a big fan of modern dance, but I enjoyed the combination of modern dance combined with the more classical elements of ballet.

No local library had this to borrow. Glad I found it here!

This film is a great introduction to a different form of dancing from the traditional Classical Ballet and the picture of a ballet company constantly battling lack of money, juggling casts when a dancer is injured, rehearsing and performing - notably during a thunderstorm on a covered stage but to an audience getting drenched as they sat in the open air - is compelling from start to finish. The mix of actors and dancers in the cast works perfectly.

Nice idea to go behind the scene of a ballet company. The viewer is there with the dancers when they practise and later, when the show is on.However, the pace is rather slow, there are hardly any scenes of classic ballets at all, just modern choreographies.Half way through the film I wondered whether it had a plot.Where's the excitment of "Center Stage"?I enjoyed the making of featurette more than the film.3 stars for the director and dancers.

A very enjoyable interesting film,and an inside into the ballet world.

If you're really unsure on if you want to buy this DVD i recommend watching the trailer as that is all it took for me to love this movie so being able to to watch the enitre thing from start to finish was breathtaking. It really gives a detailed look into the life of a company and some of problems they have to face. Dances are beautiful and I will admit I cried during some scenes.Really worth buying if you go for these type of films and more so if not as it keeps a sense of a movie too for all to enjoy

I saw this film at the cinema first time round and loved it instantly. I am a fan of Robert Altman anyway and appreciated this feature on a basic level first time round as a sweet and quiet love story set in the world of ballet.However, since then I have been going to the ballet frequently and have become fascinated by the dance itself, and on revisiting this film on dvd I was able to enjoy the movie on another level.The story synopsis is, a dancer played by Neve Campbell, is a member of a ballet company based in Chicago (the Joffrey ballet play the ensemble parts) has recently been rejected by a fellow dancer she was seeing and is now dating another ballerina in the company. Her confidence is knocked initially, but then she is asked to perform a 'Pas de deux' at an open air venue in the middle of a storm, which is a big success and it raises her profile in the company. She soon goes on to meet a handsome chef with whom she starts a relationship.This is the main plot line in the movie but not the main focus. The dancing and the general lives of the dancers is the overall story being told here. There isn't a lot of drama or intrigue it is just a beautifully shot and gently led piece, which just allows the viewer an insight into the world of a professional dancer without the need of any experience of ballet or former interest.The dancers who play the ensemble parts of this film were amazing it was hard to believe they hadn't been acting for years and the dance sequences were second to none. I had never heard of this company before, but after seeing this film I would pay good money to see them if I ever visit Chicago. In saying that as mentioned before this film is a really pleasant way to unwind without too much investment.