Life is no rehearsal
 Apr 30th, 2004
Advantages:
Good dance sequences .
Disadvantages:
Not much going on in the plot .
Recommendable:
Yes
Detailed rating:
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Story
Characters / Performances
Special Effects
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About me:
Hello all....I'm back! After a long absence from the Ciao community I have come back to bring more ...
Member since:18.04.2003
Reviews:106
Members who trust:169
Review rated by 44 Ciao members on average: very helpful 
Hello Ciaoers! I'm back with another film review (hehe), on a genre I wouldn't normally watch....Centre Stage. As always, I've got a couple of quotes for you to get the idea of what others think of this film! Look below.......
"An unexpected pleasure" -
MARY MURFIN BAYLEY - Seattle Times "Centre Stage has moments of joy and moments of insight" -
ROGER EDBERT - Chicago Sun Times
This film has a 12 certificate with mild languages and mild sex/nudity scenes, so parents might want to watch this first before letting their kids lose with it!
Running Time - 110 minutes
Can be bought for about £7.99 on VHS although these days it's possible it's on DVD! I got my VHS copy from HMV for about £5, but I'm sure other places like Amazon, WHSmiths will have different prices! Fun bit now...yippee!!
If you loved films like "Bring It On" and "Save The Last Dance", then I think you'll be interested in this film. Columbia Pictures presents Peter Gallagher, Susan May Pratt, Amanda Schull, Donna Murphy, Zoe Saldana, Sascha Radetsky, Shakiem Evans and Ethan Stiefel in CENTRE STAGE!!
***CHARACTERS*** Quick note.....I can't remember the characters last names very well, because they are not used that often!
Jodie Sawyer: Played by actress Amanda Schull. A bright, cheerful and very pretty girl, you get the feeling that young Jodie is a little naive when it comes to the real world. Jodie has an ambition as strong as the rest of them to become a ballet dancer and will do whatever it takes. A little lacking in her technique as a dancer, Jodie's confidence can be
severly knocked when told she isn't good enough. Eva Roderiguez: (Don't know if I spelled the last name correctly!) Played by actress Zoe Saldana. Eva is a fiesty dancer, with a quick comment and attitude for anybody who opposes her. A fantastic dancer, Eva shows that when she puts her mind to her dancing, she can shine way beyond the rest. Eva is slightly more in tune than Jodie on what the world is all about, and is very aware of the competition to get into the academy. For Eva, a true love of dancing is more important than getting into ABC.
Maureen Cummings: Played by actress Susan May Pratt. Maureen has been at the academy since she was a little girl, perhaps nine years old. With her mother constantly breathing down her neck about her dancing, you get the feeling that poor Maureen is being stifled by her mothers dreams. A closed off character, Maureen has the best technique in the academy due to her being there for so long. Maureen isn't exactly popular with the other students, but soon warms to her new found friends as well as a love interest! But is dancing what Maureen really wants? Charlie ?: Played by actor Sascha Radetsky. Charlie is a talented dancer who hopes of becoming another addition to the ballet company. Charlie quickly falls for Jodie and makes her understand that she should be dancing for herself and not for other people. A sweet, kind guy, Charlie is the guy next door type, always with a smile.
Erik ?: Played by actor Shakiem Evans. Erik is an equally talented dancer who is gay and one of the sweetest characters in the film. Erik forms a special friendship with Eva and is always there to comfort her and the other members of the group. He has a wickedly fantastic sense of humor and is just a very loveable character! Jonathan ?: Played by actor Peter Gallagher. Jonathan is a tough nut teacher at the academy and also at the company. He's strict, blunt and sometimes, not a nice guy to be around but he knows what to look for and how to make someone the best possible dancer they can be. Dedicated to his work, Jonathan has a little bit of friction with this next character.
Cooper Neilson: Played by actor Ethan Stiefel. Cooper and Jonthan don't get on at the best of times. Can't tell you why though! He isn't a teacher but the best dancer in the school, with a lot more experience under his belt than anyone else. A dangerous motorbike riding, fly by the seat of his pants guy, Cooper often forgets the needs of others and more about his own personal development. Leaning more towards being a choreographer, Cooper has his eye set on starting his own company. Juliette Simone: Played by actress Donna Murphy. Juliette is a partner teacher alongside Jonathan. Slightly more sensitive and a former dancer herself, Juliette recognises talent when she sees it, particularly with Eva, and establishes a banter with her. A little wiser in the ways of the world, Juliette is still a quiet and sometimes shy individual.
There are a few more characters here, but if I included them all, you'd get really bored! ***PLOT***
In the world of ballet there are no mistakes, no second chances. To be a top ballet dancer you have to go to a top school and in Centre Stage, that school is the American Ballet Academy. This school is where the most gifted and beautiful dancers come from all over the world, to sacrifice their normal everyday lives for a shot at living their dream and getting in to the American Ballet Comany (ABC). It's hard work and let's face it, nobody said it would be easy, especially when the American Ballet Company only has open places for 3 boys and 3 girls. The hopeful students will be monitored, studied and asked to perform in a workshop at the end of the summer, when the decision will be made as to who has earned the right to be in the ABC.
Jodie, Eva, Erik, Sergei, Maureen, Emily, Anna and Charlie are just a few of the hopefull dancers, wanting to get in to the ABC.
The classes are tough, as are the teachers, but no teenage based film would be complete without a few normal complications on the way. Love and friendships form and the group of young dancers come together for a common goal, occasionally forgetting about the competiton and their own troubles. All of the dancers mentioned above have to work hard to earn a place in the ABC, and to do that, all of their training goes towards being selected to be in Jonathan or Coopers ballet at the end of the summer. If Jodie and her friends are not selected then they won't have a chance at getting in.
Can't tell you much about the plot because it will ruin it and I revealed a lot in the character profiles! ***QUOTES***
Just a couple of quotes for all you enthusiasts!
Some serious quotes here but some funny ones too! Juliette: "The smart ones know where to look when things get rough."
Erik: "I thought she was gonna detach her jaw and swallow you whole!" Eva: "Yeah...I b**ched her overboard." (talking about Maureen.)
Eva: "I'm not dancing for them anymore...I'm dancing for me." Maureen: "I am the best god damned dancer in the American Ballet Academy....who the hell are you? Nobody!"
***MY PERSONAL OPINION*** To be a ballerina....what little girl hasn't had a dream of being just like barbie! Not me that's for sure! I was forced to do some dancing when I was a little girl, but flatly refused to do ballet!!
This film has a somewhat weak plot, as the film seems to be centred around the individual growth of each character. What I like about this film was the fact that each character came from a different background, with a past and have their own challenges to face and fears to overcome. The plot as a result suffered, but this was more or less made up by the dance sequences. I have always been fascinated with dancing as a form of expression, but a film like this is not something I would normally watch. A reasonable film with a few familiar morals: Don't make yourself sick for your dream.
Make sure that this is what you really want. Have a life, have friends.
Do the best you can because that is all you can do. I hope you enjoyed reading this review. I would reccommend this film to others, if this is the kind of genre they enjoy watching.
Happy trails kids! Leila :)
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by (2%):
24.11.2004 23:40
Brill chick flick isn't it! I know the dances step for step, its such a film! Good review x
06.06.2004 23:38
sounds like a chick flick to me , but your thoughts are more interesting.
01.06.2004 17:00
Another excellent film review here Leila, I love your style...this is a pretty good film, though i wouldnt buy it...Chris xxx