Okay, so it won't bring home a little golden guy. . .it's from MTV Films for crying out loud. But who says everything has to? I will say this; this movie actually had a little more substance than what I walked in expecting. I went to the theater on opening night with 5 girlfriends expecting to hear some good music and see some good choreography and scenery of Chicago--a city I dearly love. I got all of that. But I also got a glimpse of broken homes, the dynamic between a father and daughter who don't know each other, friends who've gone by the wayside that you still don't want to let go of, I could say more. Oh, and the thing that really still pisses people off though it's 2001. . .interracial relationships. I'm not saying the plot isn't a little rehashed, but there's not a whole lot that's new out there. No, it's not a great film--I give it a B, but I'd see it again. In fact I did see it again with another set of friends on Saturday night. All in all, I saw this movie with 10 friends of varying sex, age and race and all of us liked it. I think that's a pretty good showing.
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nikita_595216 January 2001
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Skippy-6013 January 2001Let's get one thing straight. Teen movies are starting to get unbearable. So it is a relief when something like "Save the Last Dance" comes along and offers something up that's just a little off of redundancy. There seems to be a lot going on here, with the main characters dealing with everything from death of loved ones to single parenthood to racial issues. You don't see THAT often in teen movies! But what it really comes down to is DANCE! Julia Stiles plays a former ballet dancer whose dreams are self-imposingly dashed by a tragic event, and the rest of the movie is about her re-chasing her dream in totally different circumstances than what she's used to (mainly: being the only white girl in a rough Chicago all-black neighbourhood). The movie does touch upon a lot of issues, as previously mentioned, but none of them are explored enough to give the film a lot of substance. What does make the film somewhat enjoyable is the dance sequences and the performances. There seems to be a real chemistry between Stiles (who's great in everything she does!) and Sean Patrick Thomas, who is really talented! I've only seen him in supporting roles, but this film shows he can be a leading man. The scene stealer award goes to Kerry Washington, who is so much fun in every one of her scenes. I hope to see a lot more of her in the future. IN A NUTSHELL: It's good to see a teen film that deals with more issues than just prom dates, and it will make you think, but it's not deep enough to be more than just a "dance" movie in the same vain as "Centre Stage" and "Dirty Dancing", culminating in long dance routine by Stiles, and when the routine is over, everything is resolved. Are all the issues REALLY resolved? Only in Hollywood!! Skippy's Rating: 7/10
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jboothmillard10 August 2008I had no real information about the film's story, i.e. I didn't realise it was about ballet before hip hop dancing, but it was when I saw the scene spoofed in Scary Movie 2 that I really got into it more. Basically Sara Johnson (The Bourne Trilogy and 10 Things I Hate About You's Julia Stiles) was once an aspiring ballet dancer, but her dream to become a professional was cut short by the death of her mother, and since she has moved in with her father Roy (Terry Kinney). He lives in a predominantly Black neighbourhood, and she has to be transferred to a new school where she is one of the few White students. She finds a friend with small-time ghetto girl Chenille Reynolds (The Last King of Scotland's Kerry Washington), and later she gets to see Sara's ballet ability. Later after starting a friendship with Chenille's brother Derek (Cruel Intentions' Sean Patrick Thomas), he teaches her how her ballet skills can be put to use for an audition (the one she could have had if not for her mother's death). In a really cool scene he teaches some small cool moves, like the spoof in Scary Movie 2, and as time goes by, she gains more and more hip hop moves till she has a routine for the judges. There is the small quarrel between Sara and Derek before this audition happens, but she sticks it out, they make up, and she makes a very good impression with the judges mixing ballet with a bit of hip hop. Also starring Fredro Starr as Malakai, Bianca Lawson as Nikki, Vince Green as Snookie and Garland Whitt as Kenny. Stiles and Thomas are attractive leads, the dance sequences, especially the all important audition are fun to watch, and the soundtrack (including songs from Fatman Scoop, Ice Cube and Blaqout) is very good, and not too much sentimentality to sour the film, a crowd-pleasing dance/music film. Worth watching!
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When Sara's mother is killed in a car accident she comes to live in a predominately black area in Chicago. She is befriended by black Chenille and starts to fall for her brother Derek. Derek teaches her the latest hip-hop dances to help her fit in and together they begin to fall for each other. However a white girl seeing a clever black man is never going to be popular and the couple must overcome many obstacles to see their dreams and be true to themselves.
Did someone say 'a black Dirty Dancing?' Essentially that's what this is, although the story is naturally a bit more urban than that film. The story is about overcoming to reach your dreams, and it does it quite well - better than I expected. The love story is nice without being too romanticised. The obstacles are the usual things in an 'urban' film - the challenge of mixed race relationships, the temptation to back up your crew instead of getting out etc. These are quite cliched but are still well done.
My main problem came with the strength of black culture in the filmnot every black person (even in a poor area) talks like a gangstaand not everyone says 'aiiiirite' - and why did Sara only become accepted when she started to imitate black culture and speak in that way. It may be realistic, but I felt that Sara should have been allowed to be herself rather than be seen to be assimilated into the hip-hop culture (I don't mean that she shouldn't have got involved with the scene - but did she have to lose part of herself to get there?). However these are minor side issues that many people won't even think about.
The cast are good for MTV teens. Julia Stiles is cool and Thomas is cute and charming. The rest of the cast fall into so many black stereotypes - we have gangsta friend, baby mothers galore, useless baby father, jealous bitchy ex-girlfriends etc. However they are just what you expect so I wasn't too upset. Fredro Starr was cool as Malakai - even if the character was just one big hood cliché.
The soundtrack is hot and the dance scenes are sexy - I wish I could do it! They are much more enjoyable than Dirty Dancing's scenes - although some day this will feel dated too! Overall I expected another piece of MTV teen tat, but I was pleasantly surprised by a story that, despite being ridden with clichés, is actually very involving and enjoyable. -
Chris_Docker8 April 2001Unless you like cheesy MTV-style teenage movies of the ilk of Flashdance, this may not be for you. If you do, it's a well-made piece of that easily digestible junk-food genre. For me, it was interesting mostly because of the dancing (fusion of hip-hop and ballet). There's some interesting performances, even if the editing is there to show the dancefloor moves to a perfection that might not have actually been achieved by Julia Stiles. The standard boy-meets-girl, gets-her-to-realise-her-dream-as-a-dancer-stuff is the stuff large buckets of popcorn were made for . . .
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lisafordeay18 August 2013Save The Last Dance is a 2001 Paramount Pictures film and tells the tale of a inspiring ballerina named Sara(played by Julia Stiles from 10 Things I Hate About You)who gives up her life as a ballerina as her mother died in a fatal car crash leaving her to grief over her mother and move to a new town with her step dad Roy(well she doesn't call him dad so I prosume his her stepfather). Sara goes to a new school that's mixed race and meets a girl called Charlene(played by Kerry Washington)and her handsome brother Derek(played by Sean Patrick Thomas)who Sara later falls for.
Derek helps Sara accomplish her dream again to go to Julliard and become a ballerina as she told him that she was the one to blame for her mom's death and so he decides to teach her some hip hop dancing in an old building that's set to be renewed.Together with the help of Hip Hop dancing and ballet can Sara ever get the chance to do what she dreamt of doing.
Predictable yet familiar to Step Up,Save The Last Dance is a very entertaining flick and it should get more than 5.9 out of 10 on IMDb. I didn't see this film since it was on TV years ago and I got it on DVD yesterday for a bargain at PLAY and I decided to watch it 10 Min's ago.
My main issue is the way they treat white people and call them trashy and whatever and Derek's mix doesn't want him to be with Sara because she's not colored like him,now that is pure racism but still this movie was very good.
A 7 out of 10. -
I find many user comments about this movie absolutely ridiculous. Comparing it to real life Julliard? Real ballet? Real anything?! It is a movie, for goodness sakes! It is not supposed to be realistic, or true to life in any way - that is what movies are for, an escape from reality. I think "dance" type people are just trying to prove how much they know about dancing by slamming this film and comparing it to their real-life "experiences". It is a big of entertainment, with a good soundtrack and a predictable yet entertaining plot. Sure, we know what is going to happen. That is why we watch movies like this. Also, I disagree about the bad acting, I think Julia Stiles is a fantastic actress. It is particularly noticeable in this film if you look in the right places. Her awkward dancing at Steps, her embarrassed facial expressions - she does very well conveying real emotion, I think. Sure this film is loaded with stereotypes and predictable as hell, but it is entertaining and with Sean Patrick Thomas shaking his booty, I sure as hell ain't complaining. Relax, people, and appreciate the film for what it is. A fictional movie, not a real-life documentary of dancing and the ghetto.
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AKS-628 April 2001[This comment contains SPOILERS!]
The main problem with Save the Last Dance is that it is too clichéd. We've been there, done that several times before. Also, some scenes were very embarrassing because they were so silly. E.g. when Sara is auditioning and Derek runs up on stage. Oh please... The same point could have been made in a more subtle way. Having said that, though, I must say that the film was also very entertaining, the music was great and the acting was more than just okay, especially Julia Stiles was impressive. (5/10) -
stefaffi20 February 2001I really wanted to see this movie, I like Julia Stiles in her other movies (Down to You, 10 Things I Hate About You) and think that she is a very talented actress. I was not disappointed.
As for this movie... I am very impressed. I feel that Julia portrayed very real emotion and reactions to losing her mother, and placing the blame for losing her mother firmly on herself is the reaction that most people would have in that circumstance. The train scene in the beginning sets a very good foundation for the rest of the movie, and it goes from there. To those who would say that her acting is overdone, I say put yourself in those shoes: you've lost your Mom, best friend, confidante, and the foundation your entire world rests on, and think how it would affect you.
There are some parts of the movie that are slightly cliched.. dancing as she walks under the L - we saw Jennifer Grey dance her way up a flight of stairs in "Dirty Dancing" - but then again, not much in life hasn't been done before, so I don't count that against it. Even Nikki is a believable character - I know there were quite a few like her when I was in high school! While it seems improbable that Sara would instantly fit in with her new crowd, it is made believable by Stile's portrayal of Sara as a slightly self-conscious, but not shy person, who will take a person at face value while still believing in the inherent good of people in general. The match with Derek is natural, since they share these traits.
There are a few unbelievable parts - the empty studio (complete with barre) that she practices in with Derek, Steps, Sarah offering to walk the 5 blocks home alone, Sara dancing ballet (not that she didn't dance well, just that Stiles body is not standard for classical ballet) but all in all, I feel that this is a very touching movie, and would recommend it to everyone female, even my Grandmother (the language may be shocking, but she was in the Army, I know she's heard worse :) -
kevin_robbins1 December 2022Save the Last Dance (2001) is a movie my daughter and I recently watched together on Amazon Prime. The storyline follows a young lady whose mom passes away the night of her dance audition and misses it. The daughter is sent to live with her dad and quits dancing. As she makes new friends she is inspired to dance and be happy again.
This movie is directed by Thomas Carter (Coach Carter) and stars Julia Stiles (10 Things I Hate about You), Sean Patrick Thomas (Till), Kerry Washington (Scandal), Fredro Starr (Torque) and Artel Great (Dahmer).
The best part of this movie is far and away the soundtrack. The characters are fun for the most part. Julia Stiles was solid, Kerry Washington was outstanding but Sean Patrick Thomas was a bit stiff and didn't feel authentic. The movie is well paced and I enjoyed the various circumstances and ending even if it was a bit predictable.
Overall, this is an entertaining coming of age picture that isn't perfect but worth a watch. I would score this a 7/10 and recommend seeing it once. -
raypdaley18217 June 2006girl moves to big city. rough neighborhood. with the emphasis on the Hood part. moves to a school where being white is being a minority. hooks up with the local fly girls who take her to the street clubs. then one girls brother wants her to dance. basically then the plot of break-dance takes over.
black boy wants to make good and be a doctor. she wants to regain her dream of being a ballet dancer.
the lead girl isn't much on acting.
basically i don't like this film, nothing worse than seeing a film where it's pretty much already been done before and they just fiddled with the plot a tad to bring it into a modern day context.
Oh, and the scenes of the black guy watching her practice ballet, not likely. her teacher would either never let him in the room or kick him out in seconds and it'd probably have earned her a pass to the street. most dance classes hate having people watch who aren't taking part. also it'd be unlikely for Sarah to be out doing club dancing before an audition for fear of getting hurt or pulling something.
ballet dancers become obsessed with things like that, not getting hurt.
the "oil and milk don't mix" comment was a bit unneeded. plus you know when she invites him in the house and puts on true colors they are going to have a really unnecessary sex scene. and a rubbish soft focus badly cut one at that
the basketball game? no way. Sarah is due to have an audition, firstly she wouldn't even want to be doing sports. let alone fighting with someone. in the hospital the black kids look at Sarah as though they've never seen a white person.
also far too many of the black characters are given very bad attitudes about themselves and their relationships to white people. I'd be interested to know what the ethnic origin of the films writer and producer were on this film.
and Derek doing a "your mother" comment during his argument with Sarah? How biased was that?
and why the hell is Sarah training for ballet audition with Derek anyway? How the hell can he help her in any way, shape or form?
When Derek is asked if he'll help his friend to take revenge it's obvious someone is going to get hurt when that happens and it's more likely to be Derek, the smart black guy who wants to be a Doctor.
Sarah's dad is poorly written with little to do and say but there to make her seem more vulnerable.
An annoying line that gets used to often is "Why you tripping on that". What the hell does it even mean. Oh, and bull-crap way Mordecai's car blew up when it got shot? NOT going to happen, it's really hard to shoot a petrol tank.
even the grooving judges was stolen wholesale from the end of break-dance, and it would have been unlikely that the audition judges would have given Sarah a second chance to do her contemporary dance for a place like Juliard. -
MissCzarChasm14 January 2001Promos for Save the last Dance have been running for quite a while now and everytime i would see one i would go. "i have to see this movie", but naother part of me was going "but what if this is just another teen film". I went with my initial instinct and saw the movie and i'm glad i did. This film is so much more than just a teen film. in fact i saw a lot of adults in the audience when i saw it. Save the Last Dance really makes you think about some of the issues that are addressed in the film.
The plot revolves around Sara Johnson(Julia Stiles) who moves to a very bad part of Chicago with her dad after her mom is killed in a car accident. her mom is killed during this accident while trying to rush to see sara try out for Julliard. Sara is so heart borken by this event that she holds off on dance. When she arrives to chicago she attends a mostly black highschool and has to learn to fit in. She meets Chenille(Kerry Washington) who shows her the ropes and how to get around in school. She also meets her brother Derek(Sean Patrick Thomas)who had a shaddy past but now has dreams of going to georgetown and becoming a doctor. Soon they all begin to hang out and go to this hip hop club called steps. Soon derek is showing sara how to dance like them and she picks up on it pretty quickly. soon they meet afterschool and practice and he learns that she once did ballet and that passion for dance soon turns into a romance for the both of them. problems arise when this interacial pairing is put to the test on many occasions.
The acting by everyone is pretty good but it's the chemistry of the 2 leads that carry the film. Julia Stiles is a very talented actress who is really breaking out in the industry and i hope more adult work comes her way that will trully test her talent. Sean Patrick Thomas is also good as Derek. he has a very low key charisma and fascinating screen prescence. when these 2 are together however the film becomes so much better because their chemistry is so strong that you honestly want them to be together. The Acting by the supporting cast, especially fredro starr and Kerry Washington is also good.
The music and Dancing are a real highlight. the hip hop scenes are very fun and energetic and one of the best aspects of the film. also the scenes where derek is tryng to teach sara how to dance is when the film is at its best..
I really recommend this film because it was very enjoyable and shouldn't be written off as just naother teen flick. check it out. B+ -
Nothing in this film is original, you've seen it a dozen times, but this is more than an oddball in the new-school romcom with dance thrown in. This one is more adult, it deals with real issues and it deals with them in a not very glamorous manner ie it doesn't mince it's words. This I like. The music is good, the dancing is good and so is the script. For the life of me I struggle to see Sean Patrick Thomas (SPT) without a feather 'duster' in his hand wearing silky boxers (Cruel Intentions - le Chevalier Raphael Danceny character), which to be fair isn't a crying shame on the mind's eye, but in this he is good; convincing as the ghetto boy who wants out and gets out, and who can dance! Then comes the problem. I don't particularly admire Julia Stiles as an actress, she doesn't have enough range of facial expressions and always looks sort grumpy, blank, and reading off a cheat-sheet, so I just didn't "get" her in this - although I did like her in Ten Things I Hate About You, and she wasn't bad per se it was just that whilst impressed that she clearly did her own dancing, I didn't see passion or feeling and that took the shine off for me. Kerry Washington was notably good as Derek's (SPT) teen-mum sister, and I really liked the quiet understated performance of Terry Kinney, Sara's estranged father. Save the Last Dance balances the emotions in the film well, and in parts it does get a bit emotional as it deals with despair, bereavement, confusion, fear, jealously, anger and loyalty, joy, exuberance, acceptance and a sort of redemption.
People with interest in hip-hop should like the tunes and dancing in this, and there's enough of it, with a ballet fusion, and it's the mix of drama, romance, dance, music and realism that makes this film more than the sum of it's parts, for target-audience-teens or adults. It's not just another teen movie, this has attitude! -
RobTheWatcher30 September 2022Save the last dance is overall a decent drama that is nostalgic to anyone my age. It does a good job capturing pop culture and relevant things during this time period. The dancing and music is also really solid.
The acting was definitely sub par and the overall story line was very flimsy and honestly just all over the place. Also the writing and some of the lines were just cringey and hard to listen/watch.
It's worth watching and is overall a decent movie for all demographics.
IMDb needs to take away this awful character requirement and just let us leave short reviews and watch more movies!!!! -
robyn_mallia20 February 2001This movie does what few movies over the past year or so have been able to do. It takes you to a place which actually exists and it takes real issues head on. Julia Stiles and Sean Patrick Thomas give real performances they do not come off as "cardboard" characters but as real human beings. The plot was simple enough to be good, it didn't require you having a past knowledge of the world of dance but yet didn't rule you out if you weren't black with a bunch of "black talk". This movie talks to teens. We are able to understand the pressures that surround us, the music we listen to, and just our world. Sure, you have your typical characters but what movie doesn't. Go see the film and then make up your mind. It is one of my favourite new films for the past few years.
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TaylorYee9410 May 2019What do people expect in high teen movie? The theme throughout is clear; the storyline and development is convincing; the acting is natural. This movie captures the reality and reflects on the problems we face everyday in clever way. Even though the dance performance and choreography is disappointing, the movie overall is a great quality.
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DogePelis201514 February 2021The plot is generic and not very creative; but it is good and entertaining.
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MihaiSorinToma5 September 2017After the death of her mother and some failed auditions to Julliard, a talented young girl is forced to move to her father's. There, she find a new dance style (besides the ballet) in the name of Hip-Hop, which she doesn't know anything about. With the help of some new friends, she begins to learn the new art, but not everyone is as friendly as they appear so new problems begin to find their way into her life. Together with her new boyfriend, she'll have to find a way to overcome her fears and trauma from the past, thus being able to follow her dream.
It's an interesting movie which features a big change in a girl's life and what she must do to cope with every-day problems. It's enjoyable and entertaining through its hip-hop beats and dancing but let's you down when it comes to story. The characters, although pretty well described, have the tendency to take radical decisions out of a sudden, without any logic or meaning, just to affect the course of events and generate a bit more drama. The plot is simplistic and predictable, doing nothing to impress or at least raise the bar a bit.
It's a good movie overall, especially if you enjoy music and dancing, like I do, otherwise it would be a mediocre movie which can be easily skipped. -
segacs12 August 2006This movie is a sort of updated Romeo and Juliet- meets- Dirty Dancing, and attempts to take on the complex issues surrounding racism and stereotypes while showcasing some fun dancing. Unfortunately, it fails on every level, thanks to a poor script that allows this movie to lapse into the many stereotypes it was hoping to dispel.
The two leads - Julia Stiles and Sean Patrick Thomas - do what they can, but nobody could sell this drivel. The writing is cringe-worthy in many, many spots. At times, even the actors seem to be unable to believe that they're actually require to say some of the things that they say. Everyone in the film besides the leads speaks in the sort of "gansta" talk that seems like a Hollywood/MTV notion of how kids really speak. Then there are the clichés: the teenage mothers, the drive-by shootings, the drug dealers and pretty much everything else you could think of.
Even the dancing - the film's supposed highlight - is poorly shot, so you don't get to see the sequences properly. Stiles insisted on doing all her own ballet, rather than using a body double - an admirable sentiment, perhaps, but someone should've noticed that it made the whole subplot of her being good enough to audition for Julliard rather unbelievable when she's shown stumbling over even simple steps. The dance scenes at the club were so chopped up that the audience is denied even the simple pleasure of some great dance scenes to break up this saccharine, eye-rolling plot.
Save The Last Dance could never have been a truly excellent movie, but it could have at least been fun and entertaining. But the writing was so terrible, it doesn't even achieve this goal. -
g-bodyl3 April 2015Normally, I try to stay away from movies that are just about dancing. The one exception for this moment is this film, Save the Last Dance. The movie is more than just dancing, it is a human story that explores themes such as passion, family tragedy, and interracial love. I found the latter part interesting because it is relatively uncommon to see in movies and I thought that part in the movie worked very well. As for the dancing, it's not too bad and the choreography is halfway decent.
Thomas Carter's film is about a girl named Sara who dreams to be a ballerina are shattered when an unfortunate family tragedy occurs and she is forced to move to the other side of town, where the town is predominantly black. Sara is able to befriend Chenille, whom in turn introduces her to her brother, Derek. Together, Sara and Derek work together to help Sara train for a dance audition for Jubilee.
The acting was not too bad. Julia Stiles handled the dramatic part effectively, although I'm not sure if she makes for a talented dancer, especially in hip-hop dance. Sean Patrick Thomas does a solid job as Derek and I really liked Kerry Washington in her role as Chenille.
Overall, Save the Last Dance is nowhere close to a great movie, but it does have some entertaining moments. In particular, the dance moments are quite effective, although not perfect. The drama was handled well and I quite liked the beginning of the film the best, although the narrative seems to stumble midway. This is not a bad film though.
My Grade: B- -
aebrown-3572631 May 2019Save the last Dance is one of many dance movies, released in 2001, directed by Thomas Charter. The movie is about a ballerina who is forced to move to the streets of Chicago with her dad when her mom unexpectedly dies. She as though she doesnt fit because shes the schools only "white girl." Along the way she meets friends who teach her the art of hip hop dance, which eventually helps her accomplish her dream of going to Juilliard to study dance.
First, Sara (Julia Stiles) is introduced on a train on her way to Chicago, while shes riding she has flashbacks about the day she found out that her mother was killed in a car accident. She soon arrives at her dad's apartment in the "hood" of, she doesn't know that well since her mother and father divorced when she was a child. Sara has to sleep in the living room because the second bedroom was under construction. The next day Sara arrives at her new school and has a bit of a culture shock when she realizes that she is the only person at the school who was not of color. Sara starts off to a rocky start when shes get into a debate with her new love interest Derek (Sean Patrick).
Next, Sara gets invited to a club night by her new friend, Chenille (Kerry Washington), also Derek's little sister. When they arrive at the party Sara sees Derek and they both try to start off on another foot. At the party the dance and have fun but are rudely interrupted when Derek gets into a fight while helping his best friend, Malakai (Fredro Starr). This leads to Derek walking Sara home and them ending the night off with a kiss. Sara continues to get used to her new home while Derek gives her lessons on hip hop dancing.
Finally, Sara and Derek start their new relationship while Sara and her father try to rekindle theirs. Derek helps Sara prepare for her audition for Juilliard, and Sara begins to feel at home in Chicago. In the final scene of the movie Sara kills her audition at Juilliard by incorporating her newly learned hip hop moves with her ballae. The movies ends with Sara, Chenelle, Derek and a couple of other friends celebrating at the club where they first started.
This was one of the first major films for Julia Stiles, in fact this is the first film that i've ever seen her play in. All of the acting throughout the film seems very genuine, I think that the whole audience could forget that these actors are acting! Sean Patrick, who plays Derek seems very at home in the films set in Chicago. In fact this is not the only film that he has been in that takes place in Chicago. He plays in each of Ice Cubes Barber Shop which set in Chicago. Kerry Washington who plays Chenille in the film seems just a little bit off. Only because i've never seen her play the role of anyone who isn't sophisticated and proper. So its different to see her play the role of a teen mom from the South side of Chicago.
I think the main message that the film is trying to get across is that sometimes when bad things happen, better things are to come. Sara's mom died, and because of that she had to move to Chicago to live her dad. In the beginning she thought it was worse idea ever, and that her experince was going to be hell. But because of that she met new friends, or as she would say the love of her life. She got to rekindle her relationship with her dad, and she got to make her deceased mother proud by accomplishing her dream of going to Juilliard. -
cockroach6611 January 2005What is the point of this movie? Or should I say, is there a point made in this movie that actually has any intelligence to it? Here's the plot...and you're apparently supposed to gain some sort of "insight" from this, but here it is...if you're a white girl from the midwest you better not date black men from the projects or you'll get treated with unkind gestures(ouch!) from black ladies who'll claim you "steal the one decent black man"(oh no she didn't!) in the neighborhood. This movie is stupid. It plays on all the lame stereotypes this society has put on us, and plays on the whole "forbidden" race issue. This movie makes me sick in my stomach.
Don't get your life lessons from Hollywood. If you think this movie makes any sort of positive point you need to get a life. -
boston2lalaland1 January 2019The first time I'd seen this film was at a theatre in Los Angeles. Went with friends who were looking to see dance or Sean Patrick Thomas or Julia Stiles or both. The audience was mix of fans of the main actors & others who were fans of of hip hop or ballet or the joy of dance or romance or curious folks like me. The whole audience fell in love with the wonderful dancing, the relationships, the visceral fight of friends to be friends. We humans too often don't bother to fight to treasure & preserve the gift of true friends. The dance, the mix of classic ballet & hiphop was joyous. The bigotry against certain economic & interracial friendships are still inherent in our all too often class & bigoted based culture. True then & now. There is a lot of truth in this film. Of hardship due to personal loss, of economic & racial divide, of the lack of acceptance & freedom to live your gifted talent for all to see. Young people who aren't the desired shade or grade, that aren't given a free ride or those that do have that free ride but don't conform to the separatism our divided culture seems to demand, have a more difficult struggle. I adore this film. You may not. I do know that it should be seen.
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les69691 October 2009I have seen this film in DVD shops for ages but figured it was just a chick flick so never bothered to buy it even when it went to under £3.00 Then it came on one of the movie channels so I decided to give it a try. Now I am going to buy it next time I see it. This is a very good film, well acted by everyone and with a story that covers some difficult subjects very well indeed. I thought that Julia Styles was perfect and looked very awkward when she first started dancing hip hop but became believable just as she would have done learning from scratch a new dance form. I thought her ballet was less convincing and it even looked like there was a double in there at times. But over all an excellent film and well worth a watch.
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famousgir16 May 2001I didn't enjoy this film at all. Maybe, because I expected it to be completely different to what it was. Julia Stiles puts in an ok performance (If anything the only good thing about the film.) and the music goes well with the film. That's about it though. I'll be nice and give it a 2/10