The Company
d. Robert Altman, 2003
Robert Altman's enchanting ballet movie The Company is so good it may make me want to check out some more late Altman. His newest film, A Prairie Home Companion, is likable enough, but it lacks the masterful presence of this movie. Through almost two hours, Altman gives the audience a basically plotless portrayal of a ballet company. This may seem like a waste of time for some people, but The Company quickly turns from what could have been a standard ballet movie with a storyline to something more abstract, a celebration, not only of dance, but of making movies. For anyone willing to watch a beautiful film that's about nothing but the experience of watching it, The Company will not disappoint. (And if you like the ballet sequences in the film, I suggest you check out The Red Shoes, which is a more magical/fairy tale-ish take on dance).
