5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
it makes A Chorus Line all the better, October 14, 2009
After wiping the tears away at the end of the film, my first thought was, "This helps erase the memory of the awful film Of A Chorus Line". Having seen the show a number of times before the film adaptation, I was ready for a permanent homage to my favorite of all Broadway shows. I could have shot the director after seeing his misinterpretation of the original show. Every Little Step is even better than a film of the show could be for those of us who love it.
We are given a look into the genesis of Michael Bennett's concept. I did not know how groundbreaking A Chorus Line was until seeing this film. I think we all know about workshopping plays and shows now, but this show was the first one. Mr. Bennett sold the concept and found several years' funding to develop the show. Everyone in the Broadway community knows how hard the life of chorus dancers is and I think was interested in seeing a show that honored them. Mr. Bennett "wrote" the show by committee. The stories are true, though the film points out that he might have done a lot better giving more credit to the contributors. The concept was so compelling that Marvin Hamlisch, then making a very good living doing Hollywood films, dropped everything and went to NYC to write the music. The story about retitling one of the songs is special.
The stories about making the show and the archival films bring back wonderful memories and give great insight to the original show and the inspiration to/for the revival. Having principals from the original show staging the new one gives us a special look at why casting for this revival was so hard to do. Most important to the director and backers was whether they should even dare to try reproducing this most perfect of all Broadway shows. Would they be able to honor the spirit of both the show and Michael Bennett? Well, I saw the show (on tour, not on Broadway) and think they did Mr. Bennett and the original cast proud.
Because the show was so personal, the selection of the cast was also very personal. Every one of the over 3000 people trying out was auditioned. There were no "resume only" cuts. Every performer was treated with the utmost respect, and well they should have been. The people trying out are exactly the same ones Michael Bennett workshopped and personally selected for his show, only a newer generation. There are descendants of the original cast. There are people who have been around a long time and are most certainly wondering if it's time to hang up their shoes. There are people with more talent than a single human ought to have. There are people who have what might seem like too much ego and some with so much modesty that you wonder how they get themselves on a stage. The creative team is often moved, as is the audience, by the auditions. There are people they want in the show and there are people who knock their socks off. Most of all, these are people who LOVE what they do and are willing to work possibly beyond their own capabilities to get a part in this show that honors their work.
It was easy for someone who loves the show like me to get quickly involved. I have friends who have not seen the show who got hooked almost as quickly as I did. Nobody I knew at the preview screening "survived" the film with dry eyes, and we all sat through to the last credit, savoring the film to the very last second. For those who have only seen the film adaptation -- just forget a lot of what you saw and who did the songs. Every Little Step gets it right. Those of you who claim to not like Broadway shows can find much to like in watching these very talented people competing for jobs which, in many cases, are the goal they've been shooting for all their careers. They work so hard and bare their souls trying to be "the one". "I really need this job" isn't just a song, it's the real thing here. Many of the people auditioning are on unemployment. And you just can't help getting involved. There was lots of applause when certain performers were selected. There was much discussion after the film about why their -- mine, too -- person wasn't chosen. For instance, I think you'll be glad to know the person who wasn't chosen for the role of Cassie has gone on to do much great featured work in the DC area. She's really good, too! Take it from someone who's seen her live.
Haven't you bought the film yet? What are you waiting for?
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Every Little Step" strides boldly and with grace, October 12, 2011
I saw "A Chorus Line" 11 times on Broadway during its original run. I had strong opinions on Donna McKechnie versus Anne Reinking. I knew every word and every step - could do entire dance sequences without stopping for a drink of water. "What I Did For Love" WAS (is?) my anthem.
As far as I know - no filming of the original show was made.
The movie of "A Chorus Line" (with Michael Douglas et al) was so awful that I wanted to picket theaters that screened it and carry a sign that said "DANGER: Do Not Enter or you will never know that this story is really a masterpiece. REALLY." It was like seeing the Mona Lisa painted by a 3rd grader on black velvet: not the real thing.
"Every Little Step" tells the story of casting the revival of "A Chorus Line". It does a superb job of taking me back there - back to where I was hopeful, emotional, committed and limber.
It doesn't cheat or exaggerate: it doesn't have to. The truth of the story shines through. The performers are fantastic both when they are performing in auditions, and when they are not. The plot lines build naturally with all the inherent drama and uncertainty that IS the lives of these performers. The viewer involvement is as deep and complete as it was with the original show: we find favorites, yet love them all and wish they could all get the part, we tense up and time our breathing to that of the talent who are strutting their stuff over and over and over again.
It is a trip back in time with pretty photography, no editing room pyrotechnics (a la "Chicago", the film), great sound and amazing people who fill your laptop, HD TV, and/or soul.
If you never saw the original show, or the revival, I am sorry. But luckily for all of us, "Every Little Step" is a viable, satisfying and memorable alternative.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I Hope I Get It, December 16, 2009
[ZACH]
"Step, kick, kick, leap, kick, touch...Again!
Step, kick, kick, leap, kick, touch...Again!
Step, kick, kick, leap, kick, touch...Again!
Step, kick, kick, leap, kick, touch...Right!
That connects with...
Turn, turn, out, in, jump, step,
Step, kick, kick, leap, kick, touch.
Got it?... Going on. And...
Turn, turn, touch, down, back, step,
Pivot, step, walk, walk, walk.
Right! Let's do the whole combination,
Facing away from the mirror.
From the top. A-Five, six, seven, eight!
[ALL]
God, I hope I get it.
I hope I get it.
How many people does he need? "
Song 'I Hope I Get It' from 'Chorus Line'
'Every Little Step' is all about the auditioning for a show about auditioning. 'Chorus Line' that glorious show by Michael Bennett, is about to be played again on Broadway. We see up close and personal the people going for the auditions, and a little bit about their lives. This film follows several singer/dancers through their audition process.
Broadway "gypsies", the show's background chorus are coming together for the 2006 auditions for the revival of 'Chorus Line'. We see how the auditions are composed, what the dancers/singers go through and how discouraging and encouraging each audition is. Michael Bennett came up with the idea for the play. One winter night in 1974, Bennett gathered a group of dancers and asked everyone to talk about their lives while taping everything. The tapes were dramatic and confessional, it is said. The idea of 'Chorus Line' came to be. And, we all know the success of the show. I was fortunate to see the original Broadway show, and love everything about it. It opened in 1975, received 9 Tony Awards, a Pulitzer, and ran for 6,137 performances before closing in 1990. In 2006, 3,000 people applied in the audition process. We follow some of these people as they are moved on or told 'thanks alot, but no thanks'.
We are also privy to the history of 'Chorus Line' from some of the people originally involved, and that is a fascinating part of the film. "Composer Marvin Hamlisch credits Marsha Mason with a suggestion that turned A Chorus Line's fortunes around. After seeing a preview, she told Bennett that "it was wrong that that girl (Cassie) doesn't get the job." Bennett took the criticism to heart, the ending was changed, Cassie was hired, and as Hamlisch reports, "there were standing ovations from that night."
Those 3,000 people all do these auditions for one reason, They Do It For Love.
Highly Recommended. prisrob 12-16-09
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