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Save the Last Dance 2001 |
Review by Jonathan Cornwell |
Directed by Thomas Carter
PG-13, 115 min. (violence, language, mature themes) |
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Starring: Julia Stiles, Sean Patrick Thomas, Terry Kinney, Fredro Starr, Vince Green, Bianca Lawson
Producers: Robert W. Cort, David Madden
Screenplay: Duane Adler, Cheryl Edwards
Cinematography: Robbie Greenberg
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Released: 1.12.01 (Wide) |
Rating:
  (out of ) |
Save the Last Dance embraces an ever-increasingly difficult subject such as interracial relationships and
its affects on others in a straightforward, common sense way. It conveys the hidden feelings and unspoken words of both
sides of the relationship and the ensuing angst that follows. Dancing, although one of the central themes of the film, is just
an outlet to entice younger audiences to the theater, and once you're inside it forces you to contemplate the problems (and
benefits) that arise from such a relationship. Everything from stereotypes to gang violence is addressed here, and it does so in
a way that almost anyone can relate to. Although not the strongest story at first glance, strong performances from its lead
actors saves the film from mediocrity.
Sara Johnson (Julia Stiles) is a gifted ballerina who is auditioning for a spot at Julliard, the best dance school in the country.
When her mother doesn't show for her audition, she fails and then receives word that she has been killed in an auto accident.
Forced to live with her distant father (Terry Kinney), she finds herself in an inner Chicago ghetto attending a high school
that is almost entirely made up of black students. She quickly finds a friend, Chenille (Kerry Washington), and meets her
brother, Derek (Sean Patrick Thomas). Derek is a promising student - he's been admitted to Georgetown and is on course
for a ticket out of the slums. But he's intrigued by Sara, who is struggling to find herself but has a soft heart under her tough
exterior. Soon they become an item, with Derek showing Sara how to dance in the local clubs and inspire her to give
ballet one more try. However, things turn grim when their friends frown on the relationship and Derek's best friend (Fredro Starr)
needs his help in a private street fight.
Many of Derek's friends are upset that a white girl, Sara, can simply walk in and take the one promising black man that the
school has to offer away from them - they also want the chance to escape the ghetto life. Sara must also fight stereotypes
of her own as her friends from her past will not understand the relationship either. The film begins to delve into these problems
and does an admirable job of presenting them, but doesn't go far enough to make any real statement of resolution to them.
Sara Stiles is without question one of the rising stars of her generation, as evidenced by her previous outings such as
State and Main and Hamlet. She is comfortable in her roles, and knows how to bring out what's necessary for each scene
to be convincing and heartfelt. She is also keenly aware of who she's working with, in this case Sean Patrick Thomas, and
seems determined to make his job easier as well. I'm sure she's only a few major roles away from stardom. Thomas also
gives a nice turn as Derek, his skills as an actor proven with difficult scenes not only with Stiles, but also with Starr, concerning
his inner struggle to help his best friend or stay out of trouble.
Maybe the best part of Save the Last Dance is its unpredictable conclusion, if you can call it that. It seems more satisfied with
presenting the problems, providing possible solutions to them, and letting the audience decide what may or may not happen
in the future. It leaves things on the table, so-to-speak, and is refreshingly void of any contrived ending that otherwise would
have seriously undermined its effort to that point. To be honest, this film surprised me. I expected a boring, stale plot aimed
at teenagers-who-need-a-date-movie, but was pleasantly met with intelligence and competent acting that helps boost it
to a mildy thought-provoking film that has some guts to go along with its good looks.
© 2001 Jonathan Cornwell
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 | Masterpiece - Film perfection |
| Excellent - A Must See |
| Good - Highly Recommended |
| Fair - Worth seeing |
| Average - Viewable, but not recommended |
| Below average - View at own risk |
| Poor - Avoid at all costs |
| Very poor - An embarassment to the film industry |
| Zero | Awful - One of the worst films ever made |
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