Dancers

(1987) Dancers DRAMA

Young Lisa (Julie Kent) from NYC has just arrive to Italy to play a role for the ballet version of "Giselle" by Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges and Théophile Gautier starring infamous ballet dancer, Tony (Mikhail Baryshnikov) who is making it his final on screen stage performance. He play itself somehow mirrors Tony's love life as a known womanizer or as a player Lisa soon discovers the hard way.

Had I not already know who Mikhail Baryshnikov was, it would have been unbearable but because I wanted to see what he is capable of doing in terms of his ballet dancing, his onscreen presence was good enough. It's like seeing a Charlie Chaplin or Harold Lloyd characters and then wondering what kind of scenario he is going to surprise us about. I feel that way whenever I see Baryshnikov on screen to show us what kind of ballet he is going show me.

Not sure why this film has gotten such low ratings. It's about the dancing not the acting. They used prima ballerinas and of course the incomparable Baryshnikov. The ballet company is making a film version of Giselle and the characters in their off-stage lives are mirroring the story of Giselle. Baryshnikov is the the playboy going through women with the same charm and lines. Frankly, you could fast-forward through the dialog and just skip to the dance sequences. They are incredible. The camera work on the dancing is admirable. Long shots so you can see the dancers' entire bodies, see how Baryshnikov can leap across it with ease. I loved the movie. If you don't like ballet, just skip this one, but if you do--you will love it.

Every time I watch "Dancers," I'm on a high for days. This movie is a delight to watch from beginning to end. You don't even mind watching the credits as they are being underscored by highlights of Baryshnikov's dancing. The props and scenery are superb, and it certainly is an extra bonus when the dancers and supporting characters are very attractive. While the dialog may be fluffy at times, it accents the ballet's story line nicely and is a perfect match to the overall mood of the movie. Dancers is easily in the all-time favorite top 10 movies I have ever watched, and I hope it will be released on DVD soon.

I've just seen this film yesterday, and enjoyed it a great deal. I do agree with the other fellow's review that the main characters, Lisa and Tony, hadn't made a deeper connection yet in the viewer's mind when the big climax part came. Too little effort was placed on that part, with only small sections working on their budding friendship/romance. But, as a non-professional, the dancing bits were lovely. I enjoyed watching the walk-through rehearsals, getting an idea perhaps of how these ballets are placed together much like a play or television performance. I love Baryschnikov anyway, and Allesandra Ferri is so graceful and lovely as a dancer...it really was fun to see.