The Company
Directed by Robert Altman
There’s been plenty of backstage musicals in Hollywood history, but very few about a ballet troupe — the subject of Robert Altman’s latest film. This isn’t really a musical as such, more chronicle of a year in the life of these hard-working dancers, shot in an almost documentary style.
Neve Campbell, who stars as a rank-and-file dancer trying to become a lead, was the instigator of the project, having been trained as a dancer when she was younger. She can certainly hold her own against the members of the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago — the other star of the film. The film, co-scripted by Campbell, follows the company through a development of a new project, from the amusing conceptual beginnings, through rehearsal, and, finally, the performance. There are a number of characters who are all skirted over in brief detail, including a love interest, but only the director of the company, played by Malcolm McDowell, and Campbell’s character receive any significant screen time.
The plot is virtually non-existent; it’s the atmosphere and the visuals that are important. The dances — and there are many — vary from the classical to the modern, the performance in the thunderstorm being a stand-out sequence. The music that accompanies them, though, is a bizarre modern construction that is instantly forgettable.
Altman’s characteristic overlapping dialogue recordings work well here to enhance the realistic documentary feeling, and the dances are shot with great care. However, aside from the visuals and the dancing, the film feels strangely subdued and un-involving due to the lack characterisations and minimalist story. As such, if you appreciate the aesthetics of modern ballet, then this film is worth seeing. Otherwise, it’s destined to be somewhat of a disappointment, despite McDowell’s insistence on calling his dancers “babies” and Neve Campbell’s revelatory turn as a ballet star.
**½ (out of four)
Joshua Blackman
