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"MAO'S LAST DANCER" Blu-ray Review by Kevin Carr MOVIE: ***1/2 (out of 5 stars) BLU-RAY EXPERIENCE: ** (out of 5 stars) Rated PG Studio: 20th Century Fox Back to DVD Review Home |  |
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
This true story of Li Cunxin, a Chinese ballet dancer in the 1980s who comes to the United States, is told in “Mao’s Last Dancer.” Li starts off life as a peasant boy, but he is soon taken away to train at a prestigious ballet school. When he starts a tour in Houston, he discovers he likes the American way of life but does not want to turn his back on his country or his people. Soon, his story becomes one of legal battles and citizenship.
WHAT I LIKED
I’ll admit that when I first considered watching “Mao’s Last Dancer,” I wasn’t sure I’d like it. After all, it’s a tale of international citizenship fought against the backdrop of ballet. It doesn’t exactly stir my juices, if you get my drift.
But the film is more than that. Like “Black Swan,” which came out this past award season, the film is not about ballet. It’s about a man’s journey. It shows how a person living a sheltered life in China can have his eyes opened up to the western world. But while the movie shows the struggles of the Chinese peasants and the iron fist of the Communist government, it doesn’t make things gratuitous. This is just the life that Li Cunxin lived, for better or for worse.
The story follows Li Cunxin’s life, which can be quite tender at times. The early years in China are beautifully shot and well constructed. It also is a story of determination as the main characters grows and commits his life to his art.
The performances are pretty solid, notably with Kyle McLaughlin as Li’s immigration lawyer and Bruce Greenwood as the head of the Houston Ballet. On the whole, “Mao’s Last Dancer” is a sweeping story that has many ups and downs, with some pretty noticeable changes in tone and pace. And it has an excellent constructed dénouement, which isn’t always seen in true stories and biographical films.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
Like any true story, “Mao’s Last Dancer” has some elements that don’t quite flow well. While director Bruce Beresford does a very good job of balancing the film, he still has trouble keeping the character action moving along. And, with so many elements in Li Cunxin’s life, certain parts get pushed back or wrapped up into only a scene or two.
BLU-RAY FEATURES
The only feature on the Blu-ray is a mid-length “Making of Mao’s Last Dancer” behind the scenes featurette, which is interesting enough, but the whole of the features could have been better.
WHO’S GOING TO LIKE THIS MOVIE
People who like a new angle to the international immigration drama.
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"WAITING FOR FOREVER" Blu-ray Review by Kevin Carr MOVIE: * (out of 5 stars) BLU-RAY EXPERIENCE: * (out of 5 stars) Rated PG-13 Studio: 20th Century Fox Back to DVD Review Home |  |
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
Will (Tom Sturridge) is a street performer who has had a crush on Emma (Rachel Bilson) since grade school, ever since she comforted him after his parents died. When Emma returns home from school after a bad break-up, Will follows her into town to reconnect. However, soon she wonders if he is crossing lines with his affection and might become dangerous.
WHAT I LIKED
Well, Rachel Bilson is pretty, even if she needs to eat a few more carbs.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
Unlike many critics out there, I’m not wowed by the quirky, independent romantic comedy. I hated “(500) Days of Summer,” and I thought “Sideways” was extremely overrated. Personally, I prefer the more traditional rom com, starring someone like Julia Roberts, Sandra Bullock or Reese Witherspoon. These overly-angsty, art-school-fueled whiners aren’t for me.
My biggest problem with “Waiting for Forever” was that it’s not a love story. It’s a stalker story. More than a decade ago with the release of “There’s Something About Mary,” the entertainment press loudly wondered if stalker stories were the new rom com. Apparently it is. The character of Will isn’t in love with Emma. He’s in love with the idea of Emma, and his affection borderlines on psychosis.
To the filmmakers’ credit, this is addressed in the film, but it’s excused and forgiven with one of the worst deflection plot devices I’ve seen. On top of this, from my perspective, Emma isn’t that great of a person. Sure, she’s cute, but there’s no depth to her character beyond the girl who is just struggling with some relationship guilt... and even then, this makes her character even less desirable.
Finally, there’s tom Sturridge’s performance. Kudos to the guy for thinking he was going to bring anything new to the screen, but his quirky persona went out of style with (and was better achieved by) Johnny Depp in “Benny and Joon.” I’m sure an artistic, free-spirited street performer with a derby hat and pajama pants is adorable for college girls, but he’s a loser. I know I sound like a fuddy duddy in this respect, but I calls ‘em as I sees ‘em.
BLU-RAY FEATURES
No features are included on the Blu-ray.
WHO’S GOING TO LIKE THIS MOVIE
Guys stalking their childhood crushes and girls who don’t know any better.
