Strictly Ballroom is one of those films which I�ve never rented, but somehow I always manage to watch it every few months when it turns up late on Channel Four. And very happy I am for it. I may well lose myself a job for saying this (not that the tight git pays me) but I consider this to be the best Luhrmann film I�ve seen. Yes, better than Romeo and Juliet. Yes, better than Moulin Rouge.
Luhrmann obviously has a thing for the classic �obstacle� love story. This one is set in the tooth-achingly candied world of the Australian competitive ballroom dancing circuit, where Scott (Mercurio) is the newest rising star. Under pressure from his former-dancer mother to live out her dreams by winning the national championship, Scott and his partner Liz are tipped to win until one frustrated moment, when Scott begins making up his own, Spanish-inspired steps. Liz clacks off on her gold-lam� shoes and joins with another star dancer, and Scott needs to find another partner.
Only Fran (Tara Morice), the spotty, underdog beginner from dancing class, likes his new steps and despite his disdain Scott agrees to dance with her in secret. It doesn�t take a clairvoyant to predict what will happen. Fran�s skin miraculously clears up and she�s turning into a fantastic dancer. The film rests on Scott�s decision: does he follow his manipulative parents� wishes, or does he dance for love?
This film is where the glitzy Luhrmann touch works best; while the jolie-laide fantasia of Moulin Rouge may be light years superior simply as a visual experience, it hasn�t a patch on this lower level of tackiness for comic effects. This is Blackpool compared with Moulin�s Las Vegas. From the dizzy heights of Tina Sparkle�s hairsprayed canary-yellow fringe, to the swampy seediness of Scott�s repressed father, we are assaulted on all sides, without ever feeling like they�re labouring the point.
There are also some good romantic moments, which avoid slushiness through their simplicity and directness. This quality serves as a dose of reality within Scott�s feverish, myopically plastic world. It�s nice to see Fran blossom not into a golden-limbed, heavy breathing Hollywood babe, but into the decently and realistically pretty girl that Scott falls in love with.
A rather obvious metaphor for following your heart rather than the status quo, this film has a much more believable love story and is far funnier and warmer than you-know-what. Good romantic comedy is usually identifiable when you forget it�s meant to be a romantic comedy, and Strictly Ballroom is a film in its own league. Rent it soon. |
