Malkovich's directorial debut

[Shakamaker]

Anyone seen The Dancer Upstairs?

There's been some interesting IMDB user comments for 'The Dancer Upstairs' (http://us.imdb.com/CommentsShow?0118926), and I'm wondering what you Schmoes thought...

An auspicious debut, and perhaps purposefully under-edited?

Bardem may have been under-used in the lead, but was it more that Rejas's heavy personal involvement was far-fetched and dispassionately portrayed?

Why weren't the reasons for Ezequiel revolting - and the reasons he had such an obedient, loving following - better explained? Were the politics just an undercurrent to a more simple story?

[James Logan]

I haven't seen this one, but have been curious about it. John Malkovich directing and Javier Bardem starring is always something thought-provoking. I heard it was like a Costa-Gavras movie in a way...any comments about that?

[blankpage]

I was going to check this one out, but from the trailers, it didn't look like a film I really felt like sitting through at the cinema. I will give it a rent, though.

[Deckard]

This one starts here in Australia later this month and Im going to be there for sure.........looks like a superb piece of cinema plus Im a huge Javier Bardeem (Perdita, Durango) fan.

Will posta review once I see it.

[Shakamaker]

Maybe it starts in Brisbane later than Melbourne, becuase it was released here last week.

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The Dancer Upstairs was under-edited. I didn't feel I was right there as 'the fourth wall', because the way it was written and edited made me feel detached from the characters: It was hard to relate to the characters because the writing did not develop them, and the editing did not visually portray them with any emotion, the only notable exception being Bardem's (lead) character, Rejas.

For a film dubbed as a political thriller, I found as the story dragged on, the exploration/recreation of recent revolutionary events within Latin America became tantamount to the exploration of the humanity of Rejas. It started to explore his relationships with his family and his daughter's dance teacher, and his need to feel fulfilled in what he does - that he now makes a difference, after giving up a lucrative, yet morally questionable position as a lawyer.

That Malkovich placed a slightly lesser importance on the political/thriller aspects of the film, are noticed in it's 'climax', when Rejas finally captures and confronts the revolutionary leader, Ezequiel; their exchange is brief and superfluous. Furthermore, there is no real expansion on why Ezequiel is revolting. There is no genuine insight as to what drives his followers to join him, and die for him. The real climax to the real plot occurs straight afterwards, when Reyas discovers that the subject of his longing is undeniably involved in the revolution. It's a twist Malkovich allows you to see coming - again, unfortunately -in an emotionally-detached manner. Due to this, I found it hard to empathise with Rejas's sorrow in the end.

On the political/thriller side of the film, I was really engrossed with the political dialogue, and loved watching the team set about trying to catch Ezequiel. I loved the build-up, was morbidly fascinated by the creative methods employed in the terrorist attacks. I enjoyed the refreshingly under-employed - but still funny - cop banter.

I think by not wanting to stamp a signature on his first film, Malkovich purposefully under-edited The Dance Upstairs. I think he went out of his way to not make this film appear to be a mainstream film. Unfortunately, this came at a cost, as by doing so, he under-used Bardem, and made it difficult to relate to the characters and their cause. Some better editing is all this film needed.