I avoided Strictly Ballroom for ages, like years and years, for the simple reason that it is a Baz Luhrmann film. Other films by Baz Luhrmann that I have seen are Moulin Rouge and Romeo & Juliet, and I liked neither of them. Romeo & Juliet isn't necessarily his fault, I'm not exactly mad keen on Shakespeare, and Romeo & Juliet remains my least favourite of his works by a country mile for the simple reason that after studying the story relentlessly in school I want to kill myself every time the SAME BLOODY STORY comes up time and time again. I get it, forbidden love, I simply don't care. It wasn't original when Shakespeare wrote it, and it's not original now. Even so, with everyone raving about how it was a fresh modern take on the work, I gave it a go and got fed up. Then we have Moulin Rouge, the film that basically everyone I know seems to love. I must have seen that film about 4 times now, each time I become convinced that this time I will get it, this time the story will make sense and I will see the fresh originality that everyone claims is there. I never do. So I made a point of avoiding Baz Luhrmann films, as his visual style really pisses me off. I broke that Rule with Strictly Ballroom, and I will be breaking that rule with The Great Gatsby, as the book is one of my all time favourites, and I think Leonardo could do the text very well.
The biggest surprise when I started watching Strictly Ballroom was that it was a comedy. I think, as I only became aware of this film after the success of Moulin Rouge, that home video marketers have been trying to market this as an early prototype for Moulin Rouge, with singing, dancing and a romance for the ages, neglecting that it's actually a comedy that mocks traditional ballroom dancing and indeed any sport/activity that refuses to adapt and move along with the times. In fact, this film is closer in tone to other Australian comedies such as The Dish, The Castle or Muriel's Wedding. It has a very Australian style and that really makes the film as good as it is.
The film follows Paul Mercurio who is tipped to be the next Ballroom champion, and he is very good, until one competition, when backed into a corner he decided to break out some of his own moves, which are even better, but which are rejected by the judges as too non traditional and therefore wrong. His dance partner leaves him and he is determined to dance his own moves, despite pleas from his mother and dance instructor to do the opposite. He begins a search for a new partner, which is where he encounters Fran, who whilst technically not a very good dancer, has a fantastic spirit and a natural rhythm that you can't teach. They begin rehearsing in secret and are all set to enter the competition, whether or not they win or not. Then a surprise comes along that could ruin everything.
It's a fun story, and the cast are all great, really playing into their roles with comic timing and a believability. Once I got over the fact that I was actually watching a comedy rather than a romantic drama, I really relaxed into the film and let the story overtake me. Whilst ballroom dancing isn't what I know, it actually speaks more about individuality and following your dreams on a universal level, trying to say that you shouldn't conform if it means betraying who you are. It's a good message to preach and it comes across really well without ever being too in your face.
I really enjoyed this film, It was amusing and touching and showed a young director with a great talent. The worst thing about this film though is that it is seriously making me think about watching Moulin Rouge again, it's been a good 5 years or so after all, and if I like this maybe I will like that. Probably not, but we shall see.
No comments:
Post a Comment