Movie Review Black Los Angeles

BlackNLA Movie Reviews

*****THE REEL DEAL: Reviewz from the Street*****

by Edwardo Jackson

BIASES: late 20s black male; frustrated screenwriter who favors action, comedy, and glossy, big budget movies over indie flicks, kiddie flicks, and weepy Merchant Ivory fare

TAKE THE LEAD (PG-13)

MOVIE BIASES: Looks like "Dangerous Minds" meets "Save the Last Dance." Or something.

MAJOR PLAYERS: Antonio Banderas (Shrek 2), Rob Brown (Coach Carter), Alfre Woodard (Something New), Yaya DaCosta (TV's "America's Next Top Model"), and director Liz Friedlander (music videos)

After a chance meeting in the streets of New York with sullen, almost-delinquent student Jason "Rock" Rockwell (Brown), an intrigued Pierre Dulaine (Banderas), owner of and dance instructor at his own studio, volunteers to turn an urban high school's detention class into Ballroom Dance 101. Teaching a brand of ballroom that's "like sex on hardwood," Dulaine gradually wins over his suspicious, jaded students (Rock: "Nobody gives something for nothing.") with impeccable manners
and the lure of a "silly white" dance competition. As the students improve themselves and repair their own personal rifts - particularly Rock and his overburdened, contentious dance partner LaRhette (DaCosta) - Dulaine opens himself up to augmenting his traditional style with young, hip hop flavor.

I always get nervous about this type of film that my college Script Analysis professor would most likely classify as one of those "Into the Heart of Darkness" flicks. You know the type: white teacher/missionary/savior journeys to the classroom/jungle/city to advance us poor children/savages/Negroes. By their very definition and execution, they're insulting and condescending, to say the least.
Thankfully, "Take the Lead" isn't one of them.

Attacking the pompous principle of the Great White Teacher head-on by dressing him up as Antonio Banderas and exploiting his native Spanish (as in Spaniard) accent (which just makes everything sound better), "Lead" smartly places a slight majority of its focus on the kids. Not only are there more of them, with their varying stories and challenges ("Life, for these kids, is a fight to stay alive," says Principal
Augustine James (Woodard)), but also their growth emotionally and artistically feels more organic once the emphasis is shifted away from the teacher and put upon the student. From the goofy charm of Marcus T. Paulk's Eddie to the earnest awkwardness of Lauren Collins' fish-out-of-water rich girl Caitlin, each of the secondary "students" (nary a one looks teen-aged) offer enthusiastic, heartfelt support. As the two lead students, Rob Brown gives a fine, if enigmatic performance as Rock while Yaya DaCosta is a talented, FOINE slim goodie to keep an eye on (being a trained dancer didn't hurt her, either).

Friedlander makes a confident, if not safe, debut in the music and dance themed "Lead." The dance montages are creatively arranged, the hip hop and big band standards mash-ups are cleverly vibrant and flavorful, plus she follows the "Coach Carter"/"Save the Last Dance"/"Romeo & Juliet" formula with her own flair, giving special attention to the transformation of the soul through elegant touching and etiquette. Her biggest advocate is none other than "Lead's" true lead, Antonio Banderas, whose Dulaine inspires and shapes the students' self-confidence through his respectful treatment of women and teaching them how to lead, follow, and trust others as well as yourself. With a generation of urban youth culture that favors
purposeful inarticulation like "Uh huh" to the risks of naked, "proper" expression, Dulaine's hard-fought battle to earn his students' respect is genuine and often amusing.

Combined with a bangin' soundtrack and score partially supervised by Swizz Beats, "Take the Lead" does take us on a journey, only it's not "Into the Heart of Darkness." For a change, it's into heartwarming, solid entertainment.

@@@ REELS
(THREE REELS)
It's pretty hot – go give it a shot.

Like what you read? Agree/disagree with The Reel Deal? Think he's talkin' out his...HUSH YO' MOUF! (I'm only talkin' about The Reel Deal!) Email him at ReelReviewz@aol.com!

Edwardo Jackson is the author of the novels EVER AFTER and NEVA HAFTA, (Villard/Random House), a writer for UrbanFilmPremiere.com, and an LA-based screenwriter. Visit his website at www.edwardojackson.com




			BlackNLA Movie Reviews ***THE REEL DEAL: Reviewz from the Street*** by Edwardo Jackson BIASES: late 20s black male; frustrated screenwriter who favors action, comedy, and glossy, big budget movies over indie flicks, kiddie flicks, and weepy Merchant Ivory fare TAKE THE LEAD (PG-13) MOVIE BIASES: Looks like "Dangerous Minds" meets "Save the Last Dance." Or something. MAJOR PLAYERS: Antonio Banderas (Shrek 2), Rob Brown (Coach Carter), Alfre Woodard (Something New), Yaya DaCosta (TV's "America's Next Top Model"), and director Liz Friedlander (music videos) After a chance meeting in the streets of New York with sullen, almost-delinquent student Jason "Rock" Rockwell (Brown), an intrigued Pierre Dulaine (Banderas), owner of and dance instructor at his own studio, volunteers to turn an urban high school's detention class into Ballroom Dance 101. Teaching a brand of ballroom that's "like sex on hardwood," Dulaine gradually wins over his suspicious, jaded students (Rock: "Nobody gives something for nothing.") with impeccable manners and the lure of a "silly white" dance competition. As the students improve themselves and repair their own personal rifts - particularly Rock and his overburdened, contentious dance partner LaRhette (DaCosta) - Dulaine opens himself up to augmenting his traditional style with young, hip hop flavor. I always get nervous about this type of film that my college Script Analysis professor would most likely classify as one of those "Into the Heart of Darkness" flicks. You know the type: white teacher/missionary/savior journeys to the classroom/jungle/city to advance us poor children/savages/Negroes. By their very definition and execution, they're insulting and condescending, to say the least. Thankfully, "Take the Lead" isn't one of them. Attacking the pompous principle of the Great White Teacher head-on by dressing him up as Antonio Banderas and exploiting his native Spanish (as in Spaniard) accent (which just makes everything sound better), "Lead" smartly places a slight majority of its focus on the kids. Not only are there more of them, with their varying stories and challenges ("Life, for these kids, is a fight to stay alive," says Principal Augustine James (Woodard)), but also their growth emotionally and artistically feels more organic once the emphasis is shifted away from the teacher and put upon the student. From the goofy charm of Marcus T. Paulk's Eddie to the earnest awkwardness of Lauren Collins' fish-out-of-water rich girl Caitlin, each of the secondary "students" (nary a one looks teen-aged) offer enthusiastic, heartfelt support. As the two lead students, Rob Brown gives a fine, if enigmatic performance as Rock while Yaya DaCosta is a talented, FOINE slim goodie to keep an eye on (being a trained dancer didn't hurt her, either). Friedlander makes a confident, if not safe, debut in the music and dance themed "Lead." The dance montages are creatively arranged, the hip hop and big band standards mash-ups are cleverly vibrant and flavorful, plus she follows the "Coach Carter"/"Save the Last Dance"/"Romeo & Juliet" formula with her own flair, giving special attention to the transformation of the soul through elegant touching and etiquette. Her biggest advocate is none other than "Lead's" true lead, Antonio Banderas, whose Dulaine inspires and shapes the students' self-confidence through his respectful treatment of women and teaching them how to lead, follow, and trust others as well as yourself. With a generation of urban youth culture that favors purposeful inarticulation like "Uh huh" to the risks of naked, "proper" expression, Dulaine's hard-fought battle to earn his students' respect is genuine and often amusing. Combined with a bangin' soundtrack and score partially supervised by Swizz Beats, "Take the Lead" does take us on a journey, only it's not "Into the Heart of Darkness." For a change, it's into heartwarming, solid entertainment. @@@ REELS (THREE REELS) It's pretty hot – go give it a shot. Like what you read? Agree/disagree with The Reel Deal? Think he's talkin' out his...HUSH YO' MOUF! (I'm only talkin' about The Reel Deal!) Email him at ReelReviewz@aol.com! Edwardo Jackson is the author of the novels EVER AFTER and NEVA HAFTA, (Villard/Random House), a writer for UrbanFilmPremiere.com, and an LA-based screenwriter. Visit his website at www.edwardojackson.com © 2004, Edwardo Jackson