The Bottom Line
This film is slow-moving and murky at times, but I found it thought-provoking, and I was intrigued by its main character as played by Javier Bardem.
Pros
- Evocative, noirish mood
- Sensitive, underplayed performance by Bardem
- Shot in unusual locations (Ecuador and Portugal)
Cons
- Too slow-moving for some
- Murky at times
- Emotionally muted
Description
- DVD containing English-language drama/thriller “The Dancer Upstairs” (2002)
- Movie directed by John Malkovich and written by Nicholas Shakespeare, based on his novel
- Film stars Javier Bardem
- DVD contains feature-length audio commentary by Malkovich and Bardem
- DVD contains a making-of featurette and a Sundance Channel featurette
- Excellent picture quality
- Excellent sound quality
Guide Review - "The Dancer Upstairs" DVD Review
I love the evocative, noirish mood of this English-language drama/thriller, which takes place in an unnamed Latin American country. Javier Bardem stars as Agustin Rejas, a police official trying to track down a Marxist terrorist whose brutal acts are destabilizing the country. Along the way, Rejas becomes romantically involved with his daughter’s lovely dance teacher (Laura Morante). I was particularly impressed by Bardem’s sensitive, underplayed performance. For me, much of this film’s subtle power comes from the way it shows the fragility of civilization and how a small number of terrorists can topple the delicate balance that holds society together.
