Basic Plot: The story of two ballet dancers, one who quit the stage to have a family and the other who decided to forgo family for the life of a prima ballerina.

Outburst: It’s a very realistic look at the conflicts between the personal and professional lives of women. The film has held up well over the years and remains relevant to the choices modern women face between career and family. However, as with many older movies, expect it to progress slowly. Though only minimally present, there are some positive role models for young male dancers as well.

— This is a dance drama. You won’t like this movie unless you like both kinds of movies, and it helps to like ballet as well. So while I think it is a wonderful film, it also has a small target audience.

Wikipedia Entry: The Turning Point

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Basic Plot: Biography covering a portion of the life of Jerry Lee Lewis, one of the wildest musicians of the 1950s.

Outburst: I chose to watch the movie because I enjoy rockabilly and Jerry Lewis, while knowing nothing about the scandal surrounding his life. Considering this musical biography centers around the marriage that nearly ended his career (to his underage first cousin, once removed) it’s one of those details that’s nice to know beforehand. Dennis Quaid feels overacted to me, but the young Winona Ryder is stunning.

— A great movie for dancing and rockabilly music, but not for the incestuously squeamish. This is a sensationalized, Hairspray-style version of the actual events, and not tied solidly to facts.

Wikipedia Entry: Great Balls of Fire! (film)
Wikipedia Entry: Jerry Lee Lewis
Cousin Relationships — explanation of ‘first cousin, once removed’

BUY IT NOW! Great Balls of Fire! (DVD)

But don’t take my word for it! You can compare Dennis Quaid’s acting with an original Jerry Lee Lewis performance on our Facebook fan page. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Movie-Outburst

Basic Plot: A dancer who defected from the Soviet Union finds himself trapped back in his home country when his plane has to make an emergency landing.

Outburst: This is less a dance movie than a political drama featuring lots of ballet and tap interludes. I especially enjoyed the introduction scenes for the dancers, from Le jeune homme et la mort and Porgy & Bess.

— It’s Gregory Hines and Mikhail Baryshnikov, who do you think is going to like it? (Here’s a tip, if you know who both of those folks are, you’ll probably like this movie, and be pleasantly surprised at their acting ability.)

BUY IT NOW! White Nights (DVD)

Basic Plot: A struggling jazz dancer tries to make it in L.A. with the help of two street dancers. Honestly, there’s about as much plot in this movie as your average porno flick.

Outburst: The costumes were every bit as bad as I remember from the 1980′s. The acting is hysterically awful, but the dance moves were not only better than I remembered, they were better than I’ve seen in more recent breakdancing movies.

0 stars /CULT — As a movie this is pure garbage, but it is filled with great breaking and popping moves for any wannabe street dancer.

Wikipedia Entry: Breakin’

Basic Plot: As a silent film production company transitions to ‘talkies’, the leading male falls for the girl who provides his co-star’s voice.

Outburst: This is a classic movie everyone should see at least once. In general, I can’t stand old movies, but I’m still gently humming the tunes.

/CULT — By today’s standards, it drags a little in parts, but it is still a must see. If you are classically trained in music or dance and have not elevated this film to its proper cult-icon status, you are in the wrong line of work.

Wikipedia Entry: Singin’ in the Rain
BUY IT NOW! Singin’ in the Rain (2-Disc Special)

Basic Plot:  Based on a hit Broadway musical, the story of Sweeney Todd, a murderous barber, and his devious accomplice Ms. Lovett, a seller of suspicious meat-pies.

Outburst:  Everything we love about Tim Burton wrapped into a wickedly sinister horror film. It’s always fun to see a film for the first time and know it to be an instant cult classic.

/CULT DVD — Unless you are adamantely opposed to horror films or musicals (in which case you win a pass) you must see this film. Go ask your cult-film-loving friends to borrow a copy of their DVD.

Official Website: Sweeney Todd, The Movie

Wikipedia: Sweeney Todd, original musical
Wikipedia: the character of Sweeney Todd, who originally appeared as the main protagonist in a penny dreadful serial titled The String of Pearls.

Basic Plot: Bride-to-be tries to discover her father’s identity by inviting the three potential candidates to her wedding.  It’s a musical featuring hit songs by ABBA, does it really need a plot?

Outburst: For the standard moviegoer, it will be cute and tolerable, but really — what significant other dragged you to see this?  Now if you love musicals or are a groupie for ABBA – this might be the greatest experience since your first orgasm.  See this in as large a venue as possible; the energy and laughter of the crowd will keep you soaring (and singing) along.

 /CULT (2 of 3 stars) — Exquisite fun for musical and ABBA fans, pretty good otherwise.

Official Website for film Mamma Mia!
Official Website for Stage Production