SVS: “Strictly Ballroom”

Last updated on: January 9, 2015 at 1:28 pm by Joseph Susanka

SVS: “Strictly Ballroom” 2015-01-09T13:28:36-07:00 Joseph Susanka

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Baz Lurhmann’s crazy.

Seriously. The guy’s insane.

For years, I’ve struggled with his films. But not because he’s crazy. I struggle with them because he’s not quite crazy enough. Or at least he’s not whole-heartedly crazy. Not uncompromisingly crazy. He’s always holding a little something back.

Wow, you know who sounds crazy now? Me. Luhrmann holding something back?

Seriously?

Yes. The things about him that are most insane are stylistic things: zooming, wooshing, wildly-windmilling camera work; extreme, over-the-top and in-your-face acting; crazy musical mishmashes. The guy’s a walking encyclopedia of visual and aural tricks; a cinematic mad scientist.

But the stories he’s telling? They’re not crazy. Shakespeare, for example. Or Dumas/Verdi/Boethius. Or F. Scott Fitzgerald. Those stories are sort of straight-forward, even somber. They’re not crazy. But he’s telling them in such a crazy way, and that clashes. Always makes me feel like he’s putting old wine in new wine skins, and things are splitting up and spilling out all over the place.

There is an exception to this rule, though. A story that is as absurd and awesome and inexplicable and impossible as his style. A film that is, as a result, far-and-away my favorite Luhrmann. And it’s on NETFLIX INSTANT.

Strictly Ballroom.

Dumped by his partner just before a major dance competition, gifted hoofer Scott Hastings (Paul Mercurio) is forced to take a graceless neophyte (Tara Morice) as his new partner. But much to everyone’s surprise, Scott soon turns his unpromising protégé into a topnotch dancer.

Wow. That sounds pretty tame. And like something I’d never want to watch. Quick! We’d better go to the tape:

There we go. That’s the Baz I know. And love. Because everything (and everyone) in it is as insane as he is. So it works. And it’s wonderfully, really and truly crazy.

Yes, that’s an actual endorsement. Not a “damning with faint praise.” It’s a great film, filled to bursting with life and vigor and the joy and beauty of movies and dancing and a whole lot of fun. (Also, PG for mild language and sensuality. And because competitive ballroom dancing costumes are the only things in the world crazier than Baz Luhrmann.)

The ending (SPOILERS!) has left me grinning goofily every time I’ve seen it. And I’m sure it will again. Because I’ll definitely watch it again. And again. And again.

Interesting side note: Luhrmann’s mother was a ballroom dance teacher and dress shop owner, and his father was a farmer. The movie (and Baz) make a bit more sense once you know that. But don’t worry…only a bit.

“A bit of musicality, please!”

Attribution(s): All publicity images and movie stills are the property of Miramax and other respective production studios and distributors , and are intended for editorial use only.

Movies

Streaming Video Suggestions

Previous Post

March 27, 2014

Speaking Truth to Power, Jamie-Style

Next Post

March 29, 2014 Closer and Closer

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Art Baseball Faith Family Lenten Music Movies Music No Commentary Necessary Parked By the Jukebox Photography Politics Quodlibets Streaming Video Suggestions Summa Short Films Television The Man Behind the Booth Through a Lens, Darkly

Select a Month December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 July 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 November 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz