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Strictly Ballroom (1992) More at IMDbPro »

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151 comments in total

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38 out of 47 people found the following comment useful :-
Bravo! A classic! Makes you feel great!, 19 May 2000
Author: nz man from Masterton, New Zealand

Yes, yes, I agree with all of the wonderful comments below, but here are a few things nobody has mentioned:

1. The EDITING is superb. All too often we focus on the actors, music, or cinematography. This is natural, and in this film all of these are superb. But keep a close watch of the editing - wow, it is perfect and ties the whole film together flawlessly. There are so many cuts that make the perspective magical.(And no, I am not a film editor.)

2. Look at WHO is dancing together as couples, right at the end. This, like so many other fine details, carries lots of significance.

3. When Scott and Fran are practising on the deck at her house, under the instruction of her family, her Spanish father dances with her and says "Muy bien, muy bien, Fran. Very good!" Notice that he uses her Anglo name "Fran" rather than her Spanish name, and converts over to English. The look he gives her tells us that he is probably seeing his (deceased) wife, via his daughter whom he loves, and that he finally ACCEPTS her and her Anglo boyfriend. This is but one of many small scenes that have more depth than may be first apparent.

My wife and I grabbed this video to 'fill in time' during a quiet weekend. We were astounded at how it captivated us since we had already seen it when it first came out. Like other comments below, we have watched the end repeatedly, and it always 'revs us up' into the clouds. Bravo!

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32 out of 41 people found the following comment useful :-
An All-Time Favorite, 11 September 2004

Author: stevenfain from Seattle WA USA

This movie is one of those rare pieces of cinema where it all comes together.

The style is consistent - campy. The acting is wonderful. The editing and rhythm are superb. The music engaging.

It is about ballroom dancing. It is a love story. It is about the love and pathos of life.

If you've not seen this movie and are in need of a smile, see this one. It is about a dance studio whose main dancer, a male, is in need of a partner for regional championships. He and his former partner have split, leaving an opening that is a challenge to fill. The do fill it, but not until the last moment, and when it comes together, it creates a finale that is among the best ever shot.

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28 out of 35 people found the following comment useful :-
What A Way To DANCE!!, 25 July 2002
Author: (timmauk@hotmail.com) from st. pete, fl usa

It's a love story. It's a story about being yourself. It's story of following your dreams and not giving up. It's a story with DANCING!!

A boy who loves to dance HIS WAY loses at the major dancing competition. Why or why can't he dance like the others. This is killing his mother. No one wants to be his partner now. He is TOO MUCH!

He works as an instructor at his parents dance studio. His mom wants him to dance again, but the right way. His dad doesn't say much. He is too busy reliving his old dancing days when he was happier. There is a girl who dances at the studio who wants to be his partner. She is too plain and clumsy to be taken seriously. Will she ever get the chance?? Will the boy ever make the world see his way?? Will his mom ever chill out?? Will his Dad end up in the Nuthouse??? For the answers to these questions, please get this film.

Seriously, you will love this film. Though it follows closely to the "DIRTY DANCING" story, it is much more than that. The characters are just so off the wall you will laugh your arse off. The love story is kind of sweet, but the DANCING is great!

8 out of 10

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22 out of 27 people found the following comment useful :-
Funny, inspiring, offbeat, creative, 28 May 2003
Author: noleander from Spokane, WA

An outstanding movie in nearly every regard. Filmed in Australia on a tight budget, this movie succeeds in the one area that counts most: it _entertains_ the viewer.

A parody of "underdog makes good" movies, Strictly Ballroom is set in the competitive world of ballroom dancing. The movie educates (about ballroom dancing), amuses (especially with the bumbling bad guys), and uplifts (with the take-home message about following your dreams).

The show is stolen by Paul Mercurio, starring as the protagonist male dancer. His acting and dancing are superb.

A bit corny, a bit burlesque, but lots of fun! What more could you want?

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12 out of 15 people found the following comment useful :-
quirky, strange and funny, 27 October 2004
Author: krisds from Alexandria, VA

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

I feel funny commenting on this movie so long after the fact but couldn't resist. I saw this movie originally in the theatre ages ago when it was first released. I can recall the experience so vividly because of the impact this movie made on me and my drastic change of opinion over the course of the movie.

I had no inkling what the film was about because it was a friend's pick, and for the first 20 minutes I wondered what was going on and would have considered walking out if it weren't for my friends.

Shortly it became VERY clear it was a satire and was poking fun at the whole ballroom dancing 'phenomenon'. The exaggerations were very funny, and in addition you had the ugly duckling theme and romance between an unlikely couple.

** SPOILER….. My favorite scene and one I consider to be one of the best examples of film chemistry is the sexy but subtle dance scene when Fran and Scott are dancing behind the curtain while the dance competitors do a parody out on the floor. **

I feel really sorry for the people that don't seem to get it- there were several reviewers who didn't seem to understand the fact that this is a satire. And don't think to compare it to Moulin Rouge. While they both are kinetic and bright and strange, you approach them in completely different ways- Moulin Rouge is spectacular and quirky in its way, but not funny in the way Strictly Ballroom is. Just watch this without any preconceived notions and you might come out of it humming and smiling like an idiot like I did. (And no, it's not a chick flick, the guys that were with us then and who have borrowed my copy since have enjoyed it just as much).

10/10- One of my favorites

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15 out of 21 people found the following comment useful :-
Dance!, 28 January 2004

Author: R_O_U_S from United Kingdom

This was nothing like I expected at first. It's got the frenetic sense of humour that most Australian films of the period exuded, for one thing. And it's not a simple boy-meets-girl-and-they-dance story...that's the heart of it, but there's a lot of weirdness along the way. Basically, it's in-fighting backstage at Come Dancing. It begins Baz Luhrmann's ascent to greatness. And it features a truly odd performance from Barry Otto as Scott's father.

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15 out of 22 people found the following comment useful :-
An extravagant, original piece of film., 22 September 2005

Author: mad_mandonna from United Kingdom

Baz Lurhman's first film is a piece of film that is worthy of more that it is given. It is absolutely cheesy in every way shape and form, however you love it more because of this. The attention to detail in the direction is fantastic, each scene is done with glistening sense of bewilderment and beauty. The acting is very plausible and energetic, the dance is done with with verve and style. The music fits in well within the story. From the beginning it's all very heart warming, but the end scene gave me tingles up and down my arm. It's an enjoyable film, but at times you wonder whether your feeling bewildered, entertained or thrilled.

What ever you feel for this film, you cannot put it down for the stylised direction, and the extravagant behaviour of the characters.

See if you like Moulin Rouge, Dirty dancing or Romeo and Juliet.

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8 out of 9 people found the following comment useful :-
Best Dance movie ever, Greatest choreography and costumes; also a good Romance with its moments, 13 October 2008

Author: Cihan (Sean) Vercan (Victorydawn) from London, Ontario

Waltz, Rumba, Samba, Tango, Cha Cha, Step Salsa... Never seen a movie with that much rich choreography before. That's Baz Luhrmann, who is an expert at swinging a visual feast; and Strictly Ballroom is his red curtain trio opening(together with Romeo+Juliet and Moulin Rouge!).

With his own style of cinematography and overdrive speed of camera work, it's impossible to watch a 94 minutes film in exact 94 minutes. Otherwise you'd be falling into anxiety saying to yourself: "Ooops! Did i just miss a scene?" I still rewind on many scenes each time I watch Strictly Ballroom and Moulin Rouge!

Here are some unforgettable and timelessly cult scenes and moments I most like:

1- Scott&Francesca dancing in front of the Coca Cola broad sheet at the roof 2- Scott&Francesca dancing with Doris Day's "Perhaps,Perhaps, Perhaps(1954 version)" behind the red curtain 3- Francesca and Scott's meeting scene and the way she introducing herself to Scott 4- Scott practicing his style of dance and watching himself by the mirror 5- Scott's father starting clapping in unison when Scott&Francesca turned back to the stage where they are banned 6- Francesca persuading Scott upon the choices they look forward to make beside the wire fences they walk through in the night

Strictly Ballroom is one of the best choices to watch and enjoy it with your beloved. It will keep you locked in a close embrace. It is also the best choice to start learning couples' dancing.

But, if you're looking for some silver screen accomplishment, which I mostly do for every movie I watched, there is only the noteworthy achievement of costume design. Directing-editing-screenplay are collaboratively proper since it is Baz Luhrmann's own project. I only disliked the sound editing.

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11 out of 15 people found the following comment useful :-
A fun movie with a great message, 10 June 2005

Author: dubuque57 from United States

This is a very stylized film, a lot of fun, a lot of great dancing. Some of the costumes and performances, within the scope of the plot, are almost painful, yet appropriate. And the upshot of the whole thing is a message we wish we could all live by, every day. I relate to the ugly duckling storyline, and also enjoy the attractive male star! There are characters you love to hate and those who step up when you didn't think they would. The flashbacks are very quirky/funny. I'm sure in Australia this ballroom dancing stuff is taken deadly seriously, so Luhrman probably took a hit for lampooning it the way he does. But the whole thing is a good time that ends up having unexpectedly warm, deep meaning, and not many movies these days can say that.

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13 out of 20 people found the following comment useful :-
Never has a movie been so completely engaging, 27 December 1999

Author: lionesss from New York City

From beginning to end. Wow. This is the best Baz Luhrmann film, without a doubt. I've seen it maybe half a dozen times. The characters are hilarious, but even the most obvious parodies are real. They're all so absorbed in their crazy, strange, fantastic world of dancing, you can't help but get absolutely involved in what transpires onscreen. Fran's (Morice) 'transformation' is done very well, and she is possibly the only sane person in a world of over-the-top loons. Scott (Mercurio) is astoundingly handsome and believably self-involved. Go see it!

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