One Last Dance

After viewing most the film One Last Dance, many psychological comparisons were evident. Not only did this movie portray beautiful dancing and a deep message, there were connections that were closely related psychological processes. The correlations included the ego, characters experiencing self doubt, mid life crisis', and injury.

A specific dance sequence in this film that contained all the psychological aspects was in the beginning of the film. When the main character is dancing in the dark dance studio room and he is haunted by various images of experiences he went through. He first starts out moving gracefully to the music running through all the moves in his mind as a dead tree branch lies across the floor. This to me represents the trio's choreographer who passed away before the show was ever performed. The room s also especially dark which expresses to me the emotion being portrayed as morbid because of the death. Sheets are also shown blowing in the wind which suggests being the presence of a spirit or ghost haunting him as he recalls the strict demeanor and suffering the dancers went through under his direction. A final example I recall from the film is when he falls during this scene. To me that represented when the women I the trio fell, and also implied to difficulty and previous failure of the project.

After seeing most of this movie, it was really amazing to me the numerous psychological associations it contained. Not only was it a beautiful dance story, there was deeper underlying meaning to it. This film wasn't just a typical dance movie that was uplifting and jovial, but instead demonstrated real life struggles and perseverance.

It's a pity!

That this movie has come and gone without any fan fare.

It is a beautiful dance movie with wonderful haunting music and moves.

The acting is sometimes kind of hammy and out of place. You can tell that the leading lady is a very gentle lady and that yelling screaming are not her style. The scenes where she is overly emotional are false.

It is such a treat for the over the hill gang to see the Masters dance with such wild abandon.

Overall, it is a dance movie and it honors the mature dancers.

It is both flawed and wonderful.

I will recommend it to family and friends. Rent it and watch it!

ONE LAST DANCE appears to be a film for dancers, either active or retired, wannabees or romanticists. There is some terrific Brazilian influenced music from Stacy Widelitz that enhances much of the corps dancing and some beautiful moments of cinematography making the most of a bare ballet studio rehearsal hall - both of which add what dreaminess this low budget film has to offer.

Written and directed and produced and acted by Lisa Niemi the story involves the return to the boards by three retired dancers (Lisa Niemi, Patrick Swayze, George de la Pena - all three are dancers in real life) to pay homage to the gifts of a highly regarded yet now dead choreographer. The three left dancing seven years prior to the story for personal reasons, mostly involving lack of confidence and personal issues that affected each tangentially. They return to a company to perform a dance by the dead choreographer and the rest of the slim story is how these out of shape hoofers regain the healing magic of dancing.

The corps of ballet dancers assembled for this film is exceptionally fine for a pickup group: Rasta Thomas, Desmond Richardson, Kathryn Bradney, Tai Jiminez, Bambi Swayze, Jamie Bishton, Stephanie Slater, Heather Thompson, Dwight Rhoden and Yosuke Mino deserve special mention. The scenes of dancing vary depending on the choreography of each of four artists - Alonzo King, Dwight Rhoden, Patsy Swayze, and Doug Varone. But in the end to be less than a documentary about the rigors and rewards of dancing there must be a well-acted story based on a sensitive script and that is where the film is shaky and a bit self indulgent. Swayze, Niemi, de la Pena take the roles as far as they go, but in the end the story is much ado about very little.

Yet there is some gorgeous dance work well filmed that will satisfy even the most particular critic. The DVD added features include some insights into the difficulty and final rewards of bringing ONE LAST DANCE to the screen, and in these comments there is more story than that found in the script. Grady Harp

I'm sure a lot of dancers saw this and hated it, but this movie is not going to relate to young dancers today. It's a movie for the dancers of the "old school". 20 years ago, when we were coming up through the ranks, it was a lot different than it is now. It's about what it was to be a dancer with a dedication and discipline beyond what people think it means today. And how is can obsess and destroy and how sometimes one can overcome the "demons" for the pure love of dancing.

The story is about the reunion of 3 dancers who are asked to perform a particular work that, for varying reasons, ended their careers.

Lisa Neimi wrote and directed this movie...she is the only director yet who actually knows how to direct a dance film. You are FINALLY able to see the dancing, not just weird fast cuts to keep heads reeling and people's short attention spans. The writing is very good and captures what dancers go through. George de la Pena is still a wonderful dancer and Patrick Swayze is really incredible.

Sorry to all the nay sayers who can't appreciate this movie. I loved it. I thought it was brilliantly filmed and acted...and although some of the dialog may come across as trite, you would have had to live the life of years ago to get it. I'm talking about a time when a person was so dedicated, so disciplined that they would do anything, overcome anything to make their dreams happen and sometimes almost destroying themselves in the process.

It is a film who I love. Against confuse and pathetic story. But it is just a film deserving be loved.

First for the trio Lisa Niemi, George de la Pena and Patrick Swayze.

Second - for dance, choreographies and music.

Three - for the face of Patrick Swayze in light, like a bronze statue.

Not the last for the forced but seductive end.

It is a pure beautiful film.

Deserving, in high measure, be loved.