Let's dance! (Take The Lead (DVD))

Member Name: Diane3

Product:	Take The Lead (DVD)
Date:	27/09/09 (54 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: brilliant performance

Disadvantages: none

After a few comedies I wanted a more serious film, so I watched Take the Lead. It was a drama inspired by a true story. I have just realised that this film was made in 2006. It was directed by Liz Friedlander. The classification is 12 years and over.


Main roles:

Antonio Banderas as Pierre Dulaine
Alfre Woodard as Augustine James
Rob Brown as Rock
Dante Basco as Ramos
John Ortiz as Mr. Temple
Jenna Dewan as Sasha
Yaya Da Costa as LaRhette
Laura Benanti as Tina


Story

Pierre Dulaine is a respected teacher in a dance school. He teaches ballroom dance. On his way home he is eye witness of a car injury. Rock hit a car then gets out the owner's identity card from the car then tries to run away. He crashes into Pierre and loses the identity card.

Pierre realises that it belongs to a school's principal so next day he enters the school and gives back the identity card to the principal personally. While he is waiting for his turn to enter he opens politely the door for women. The principal's secretary notices how polite he is.

He offers his help for the principle, Augustine James. She doesn't believe that by teaching ballroom dance to those aggressive teens has any use. He lets Pierre teach a class.

There are about 20 young kids in the class. Most of them have seen already drugs, violence, death and prostitution. They like music and street dance. When Pierre tells them that he will teach ballroom dance to them they looked away. They didn't find any use in it. Pierre's persistence and conviction slowly makes them dutiful.

They were spellbound by the tango he presented them. Then he mentioned the competition. They could hardly believe that they really have a chance. They started to practice for the competition. As they started to trust Pierre and followed his instructions their attitude has changed. Can they perform well on the competition? I won't tell, watch it, it is worth.


My opinion

I love those films where the characters dance ballroom dance. My hubby and I used to learn ballroom dance a few years ago and we really enjoyed it. So back to the film I loved the dance performances especially the tango of Banderas. He was so sexy and sensual.

I watched this film because of the dances in it not because of Antonio Banderas. I think he is a talented handsome actor who performed brilliantly in the role of Pierre. It fitted him really well.

I have to highlight Alfre Woodard too because she played the role of the Principal exceptionally. She danced only once in front of some parents, so I mention her because of her performance as a caring principal.

There were a lot of kids who presented street dance then ballroom dance. They were really original and I liked their performance too. The music they danced street dance is not my favourite but it was okay.

The story was based on a true story, so it wasn't predictable until the latest 30 minutes. I enjoyed the film very much and I recommend you watching it too if you like ballroom dance.
It is a romantic, emotional film which has a message you can think about for a while after the film terminated. I like these kind of films.
Thanks for reading!

Summary: Watch it if you can.