Claudio Carvalho
A group of young dancers arrives at the ABA (American Ballet Academy) in New York to an audition. Twelve are selected to dispute the opportunity to be chosen to a workshop to have a chance to become professional dancers. Among the female dancers, the gorgeous Jody Sawyer (Amanda Schull), the rebel Eva Rodriguez (Zoe Saldana) and the anorexic Maureen Cummings (Susan May Pratt) share a room and become friends. The lead dancer and choreographer Cooper Nielson (Ethan Stiefel) has a personal dispute with the director and choreographer Jonathan Reeves (Peter Gallagher) since he married his partner and girlfriend Kathleen Donahue (Julie Kent). Along the days, there are friendship, tension, romance, frustration and many training in the lives of the participants. "Stage Center" is a film that impresses first because of the ballet dancers, most of them professionals. The screenplay with entwined storylines and the natural and powerful performances of these young and unknown actors and dancers are also highly attractive. It seems that they are indeed fighting for a chance to be recognized by Hollywood as great actors and actresses, trying to show their skills to the studios. It shows a splendid direction of the excellent Nycholas Hytner. The choreography and soundtrack are also great. Certainly it is a lovely and wonderful movie, highly indicated for fans of 'Fame', dance, ballet and good films. My vote is nine.Title (Brazil): "Sob a Luz da Fama" ("Under the Spotlight of the Fame")
moonspinner55
Cartoony variation on "Fame" concerns a group of teenagers enrolled at the American Ballet Company who rebel against their instructors, struggle with their weight, battle with their parents and--most especially--check each other out during morning ballet exercises! While cobbling together scenes from "Flashdance", "All That Jazz", "A Chorus Line" along with "Fame" (its prime inspiration), director Nicholas Hytner and screenwriter Carol Heikkinen appear to assume that a few jazzy dance montages set to an artificial backbeat will substitute for the lack of honest characters--or any kind of characters, for that matter. Despite stray vulgarities and a bit of underage sex, "Center Stage" is squeaky-clean and square, the kind of matinée underachiever which attempts to combine Michael Jackson moves with tutus. As timid over its sexuality as it is about dramatic backstage business, the movie is nothing more than a smelly soaper scored for gullible 'tweens. * from ****
Amy Adler
Jody (Amanda Schull) has just been accepted into a post secondary school program at the American Ballet Company in Manhattan. Naturally, she is thrilled, for she longs to dance professionally, and just being admitted is a great feat. Soon, she meets her roommates, Eva (Zoe Saldana) and Maureen (Susan May Pratt). Maureen has been at the school since she was nine and is one of the best students; however, she is catty, cold, and a sort of prima donna. On the other hand, Eva is warm and exceptionally talented but has an independent streak that soon upsets the staff. Also at the company is principal dancer, Cooper (Ethan Steifl) who looks in beautiful Jody's direction. Others warn her that he has fairly recently been jilted by Kathleen, who ended up marrying the company's director (Peter Gallagher). Soon, Jody has other problems, for her technique and body type are criticized by a demanding teacher (Donna Murphy). She becomes discouraged. Meanwhile, Maureen meets a waiter at a gala and, although she tries to deflate his interest, ends up dating him, opening a new world beyond the one her mother has forced on her forever. Because a major recital, featuring all of the students, is about to be cast, who will get major parts and who won't? Only those who stand out at the event will be chosen by major ballet companies around the world. Nerves rattle for all, no? Absolutely! This beautiful film upstages most other dance movies of its kind. While ballet lovers will enjoy it and welcome a glimpse into the real world of cutthroat dance, non ballet fans will also be entertained. This is mainly due to the young, beautiful, and very talented cast. Special kudos should go to Steifl, for he is not only a superb dancer but a great actor, too. Sets, costumes, script, and a solid direction make for one terrific flick. Dear Center Stage makers, you definitely make us "feel like dancing", we're going to dance the night away."
emily282975
Wow! that's all I have to say! This movie is truly great! Offcurse you have to truly appreciate dancing to like it, since the acting is at times quite poor. But if dancing is your passion you will have a passion for this movie! In my opinion it portrays the battles and hardships that all dancers face in a very true way. Have you ever had someone tell you your not good enough or that your body is not perfect enough this movie will give you a boost to keep fighting! Because no matter what dance-teachers or directors say, dancing comes from the heart and soul of the dancer, not from your feat or your posture but from your heart! Because that is where the fire is! Now see it!
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