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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Menu Guide Wedding Weather Subscribe Contact Us June 30, 2005 ‘Mad Hot Ballroom’ a rare and wonderful documentary By Chris Honoré Tidings reviewer “Mad Hot Ballroom” is irresistible. Clearly, a well-made documentary can be like nothing else. First, it’s a door that opens, asking the audience to step through, revealing a new and engaging, even surprising world. A world that could never have been fully anticipated or, as is often the case, even contemplated. Yet there it is. Which is exactly the case with “Mad Hot Ballroom.” Every year, the fifth-graders of the New York Public Schools are required to learn ballroom dancing, a program that lasts 10 weeks. Boys and girls are taught to tango, fox-trot, swing, rumba and meringue. Such dances, at first blush, would seem to be the last vestige of a time, at least for these kids, that is long past. And so, as the film opens, we see the students standing self-consciously in the gym, a teacher explaining the fundamentals of ballroom dancing. You can almost hear the students saying, “Booorrring.” Clearly, this will be a hard sell. Not so. One of the unexpected and delightful experiences watching this wonderful film is seeing the young people of Tribeca, Bensonhurst and Washington Heights —- the three schools that the camera follows -— not only come to embrace the dances but enthusiastically, even joyfully, learn the intricate dance steps while preparing for a citywide dance competition. Awkwardly at first, they move around the gym floor, some timid, embarrassed, others stiff and uncertain. What they are learning are some of the most graceful, beautiful and provocative dance steps ever invented between a man and a woman. And for these budding adolescents, the moments holding one another, even at arm’s length, can be emotionally charged and filled with ambivalence. Marilyn Agrelo, the movie’s director, allows the camera to linger on the kids, to be the third person in the room, so to speak. Hence, the audience is privy to their countless moments of courage as they master, however slowly, the various dances. They learn to stand straight, to look their partner in the eye, to sweep a hand gracefully back over the head during the tango, and to let loose during the swing. It’s a joy to watch. The camera loves these still innocent, coltish kids. And keep in mind, not to stretch a point too far, for these newbie adolescents on the cusp of great change, dance is also a metaphor. They are just now becoming intensely aware of themselves and one another. Agrelo, to her credit, gives them the opportunity to speak, away from the dance floor, about their concerns and assumptions about life. They talk candidly about this boy and that girl, about feeling safe, their hopes and dreams, and even about marriage and the ideal mate. Agrelo also gives a few of the teachers the chance to share their impressions of their students, and we see caring professionals whose eyes well with tears when talking about how the 10-week program has changed some of the kids in unexpected and remarkable ways. As the film progresses, the competition that culminates the 10-week experience begins to loom large. What began as one more class, called ballroom dancing, has evolved. and the kids want to not only perfect their dance steps, they want to win. With a capital “W.” And so the dance lessons take on a heightened importance. This is no longer Kansas. This is serious, electric, and like the kids on the screen, the audience is swept away. Captured. And what more can we expect from a moviegoing experience? All that is left to say is to be sure and not let “Mad Hot Ballroom” slip away without seeing it. It’s a rare and wonderful film. War of the Worlds Updated retelling of the classic 1898 H.G. Wells story about aliens invading the earth, as seen through the eyes of one family. Directed by Steven Spielberg (“E.T.”, “Jaws”, “Schindler’s List”, “Minority Report”, “Jurassic Park”) Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Tim Robbins, Miranda Otto, Justin Chatwin. PG-13 for frightening sequences of sci fi violence, disturbing images/118 min. Rebound A high-strung college basketball coach must redeem himself following a public meltdown, by leading a somewhat lacking junior high school team. Martin Lawrence, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Breckin Meyer, Horatio Sanz, Megan Mulllally. PG for mild language and thematic elements/87 min. Layer Cake A successful cocaine dealer who’s earned a respected place amount England’s mafia elite plans early retirement. Then the mob’s big boxx hands down a tough assignment - find a missing rich girl, the daughter of one of his employer’s pals. Daniel Craig, Colm Meaney. R for strong brutal violence, sexuality, nudity, pervasive language and drug use/105 min. Bewitched A conceited actor, getting a last break as the lead in a remake of “Bewitched,” thinks a certain unknown would be perfect casting for the part of Samantha, but he doesn’t know she really is a witch. Nicole Kidman, Will Farrell, Shirley MacLaine, Michael Caine, Jason Schwartzman, Steve Carell, Fred Willard. PG-13 for some language, including sex and drug references, and partial nudity/102 min. Mad Hot Ballroom A profile of several children and their journey into the world of ballroom dancing. The eleven-year-olds go from reluctantly participating to preparing to competing in citywide finals. PG for some thematic elements/105 min. Herbie Fully Loaded Maggie, the new owner of Herbie, a free-wheeling Volkswagon Beetle with a mind of its own, takes over for her NASCAR racing brother. Lindsay Lohan, Justin Long, Breckin Meyer, Matt Dillon, Michael Keaton. G/101 min. Land of the Dead Ruthless opportunists in a skyscraper look down on a fortified city where people try to lead normal lives. Outside the city’s walls, an army of the living dead is evolving.. Inside, anarchy is on the rise. Written and Directed by George A. Romero (“Night of the Living Dead”, “Dawn of the Dead”, “Day of the Dead”) Simon Baker, Dennis Hopper, Asia Argento, Robert Joy, John Leguizamo. R for pervasive strong violence and gore, language, brief sexuality and some drug use/94 min. Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl in 3-D A 10-year-old outcast forced to spend his summer vacation alone uses imaginary friends to prove that dreams can become reality. Directed by Robert Rodriguez (“Spy Kids,” “Sin City”). Taylor Lautner, Taylor Dooley, David Arquette, Kristin Davis. PG for mild action and some rude humor/93 min. Batman Begins Disillusioned industrial heir Bruce Wayne, in the wake of his parents’ murder, travels the world to seek the means to fight injustice and turn fear against those who prey on the fearful. He returns to Gotham and unveils his alter-ego: Batman, a masked crusader who uses his strength, intellect and an array of high tech deceptions to fight sinister forces that threaten the city. Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Cillian Murphy, Katie Holmes, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, Ken Watanabe, Tom Wilkinson, Rutger Hauer. PG-13 for intense action violence, disturbing images and some thematic elements/140 min. Cinderella Man Biographical boxing drama about the life of Jim Braddock, a broken down ex-boxer who enters the boxing ring again out of desperation to feed his family during the Depression. He became a hero of the common folk as he battled his way up the ranks. Directed by Ron Howard (“Beautiful Mind”). Russell Crowe, Renee Zellweger, Paul Giamatti. PG-13 for intense boxing violence and some language/144 min. Land Has Eyes (Pear Ta Ma ‘On Maf) From Rotuma, Fiji with English subtitles. Shamed by her village for being poor and the daughter of a wrongly convicted thief, Viki is inspired by the mythical Warrior Woman of her father’s stories to bring justice to those who conspired against her father. Written and Directed by Vilsoni Hereniko Sapeta Taito, Emily Erasito, Moriki Tigarea, Ritie Titofaga, Voi Fesaitu, Rena Owen. Not Rated/88 min. Madagascar Four zoo animals are shipped back to their homeland by well-meaning humans that believe the wilds will be less stressful for them. But the animals end up on the exotic island of Madagascar. Having been cared for their entire life, they know nothing about survival and must work with the locals to fit in. Voice talents of Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Jada Pinkett Smith, David Schwimmer. PG for mild language, crude humor and some thematic elements/86 min. Mr. and Mrs. Smith John and Jane are an ordinary suburban couple with a lifeless marriage. But they both have a secret: Each is a legendary assassin working for competing organizations. And their new targets are each other. Directed by Doug Limon (“Bourne Identity,” “Swingers”). Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Vince Vaughn. PG-13 for sequences of violence, intense action, sexual content and brief strong language/120 min. Perfect Man A young woman tries to find the perfect man for her mom, as every failed relationship has led to a disruption of their lives. Failing to find one, she makes one up.Hilary Duff, Heather Locklear, Chris Noth. PG for some mildly suggestive content/101 min. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Four friends deal with the uncertainties of being apart for the first time the summer they turn 16. Amber Tamblyn, Alexis Bledel, Blake Lively, America Ferrara, Bradley Whitford, Nancy Travis, Rachel Ticotin. PG for thematic elements, some sensuality and language/119 min. Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith After three years of fighting in the Clone Wars, Anakin Skywalker begins his journey towards the Dark Side of the Force,putting his friendship with Obi-Wan and his marriage to Padme at risk. Written and Directed by George Lucas. Starring Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christensen, Natalie Portman, Christopher Lee, Samuel L. Jackson, Frank Oz, Ian McDiarmid, Jimmy Smits. PG-13 for sci-fi violence and some intense images/140 min. 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