Une dernière danse

It's an ode for good teachers! It's a film that asks you to slow down and inhale the best scents of life's memories quoting Cicero's line about actors leaving the stage quietly after achieving their best! It's a film that brings to mind Mazursky's "Harry and Tonto" and Bruce Beresford's "Tender Mercies".

The story is great and performances real. Maureen O'Hara in her eighties is really wonderful to look at (compare her withered hands to her great face) and to hear. Her enunciation of spoken English is a treat for the ears.

The film is more of a play on film but the editing is so smooth that you feel one scene weaves in to the next. The film does not stun you but endears you psychologically. The film involved the work of three writers at three stages. Probably Beth Polson had much to do with making the story good for cinema, may be it was Dalene Young. The film is great because of the contribution of three good writers, a charming Maureen O'Hara and fine editing. The direction of Kevin Dowling and the cinematography of Larry Reibman, though not outstanding, was above average.

This 2000 TV movie has many things going for it. First off the legendary Maureen O'Hara, in her 80s, and looking as spectacular as she did in her 20s and 30s and 40s. Who can forget HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY, FOXES OF HARROW, LONG GRAY LINE, THE QUIET MAN, THE BLACK SWAN and those endearing John Ford films with her and her co-star John Wayne?

She sometimes was so incredibly beautiful you forgot that she could also act. Not to be outdone by The Duke, she held her own. In this sweet story she shows another side of her beauty; the simplicity of just being a woman. With elegance and without effort she radiates even the small TV screen. Those eyes! Her perfect diction and faded beauty enhance the performance. You can't stop watching her.

Not to be pushed away, there is also the quiet and thoughtful performance of Eric Stolz, who I have grown to respect over the years his body of work. I won't belabor the story as other critics have mentioned that, but I did want to pay respect to the actors and to the writers, namely, Todd F. Cope, Beth Polson and Dalene Young, who wrote the perfect vehicle for their star. And thanks Kevin Dowling for all those O'Hara closeups. Wow!

Todd is a harried hospital nurse struggling to balance his hectic work and family lives, when he has a chance contact with an elderly patient: his high school Latin teacher.

Despite the untimely departure of her husband in her twenties, she developed a love for life and appreciation of friendship that she finds she must teach him. Drawing his wife and children into her life, she helps him achieve a better understanding of the essence of his existence, as she must resolve the final details of her own. A poignant, compelling tale, sad yet upbeat.

The style of Maureen O'Hara is unmatched,even today among the best in the business. and there are so many very talented people in the industry. Her classic beauty & comedic humor always has set her apart from others. The Irish temperament,at times,thick accent,especially when angered, her natural beauty, are what set her apart from other women of her generation. She is of a timeless beauty that is so rare these days. I'll never forget her in "MaClintock". I loved that movie so much in my childhood, I couldn't wait for it to come out so I could purchase it,myself.Then, it came out on DVD. That did it. I bought it as a collector's edition. We watch it often. This world has been a much better, enjoyable world with her in it. I am of Irish descent myself,& my family is from Dublin,Ireland, where Ms. O'Hara is from. Though, I've never been, I will always call Ireland the Home of My family. Thank You Maureen O'Hara for all the lovely memories.

In this day of fake movies, films dripping with 'Hollywood sauce', violence, etc., I found this film to be quite refreshing. Creators of heart-felt films tend to make them extra-sappy, which also seems to defeat the purpose (at least for me). This movie avoided all these 'traditional' pitfalls. "The Last Dance" felt real to me...not far-fetched. It was simple and to the point. It reflected on things that really mean something on this planet; there was no wasting time on silliness. To top it off, the ending had a nice metaphysical touch (always scoring big points with me). Yes, you really can see good films without having to pay for cable TV. They may not come around all that often, yet the occasional meaningful movie will stick with you. Sometimes less is more.