Customer Reviews

One Last Dance

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

So few films have been made about the dance world, and this one captures the heart of it, with the insane hours of hard work, the sweat, and the frayed egos. The plot of "One Last Dance" is based on "Without a Word," a play Patrick Swayze and his wife Lisa Neimi created many years ago. It is a wisp of a story, mostly about the emotions and conflicts of 3 dancers who are past their performance peak, returning to the stage for a benefit gala, to face their fears and the relationships they left behind.

Writer/director/actress and dancer Neimi, who has an inner and outer beauty so lovely to watch, has put "One Last Dance" together on a shoestring budget, with tremendous skill and a marvelous cast. The company dancers are superb, with a technical virtuosity in many styles, from traditional to the most contemporary. George de la Pena plays Max Delano, one of the 3 leads, and will be remembered from his days with the American Ballet Theater and on Broadway, and is dynamic both as a dancer and an actor. Other standouts include Matthew Walker as Alex McGrath, a sadistic choreographer, and Stefan Wenta as Orest, a poetic teacher who is an inspiration to all. Patrick Swayze as Travis is a marvel, with the athleticism and energy of someone half his age.

The wonderful score is by Stacy Widelitz, with non-original music that ranges from Beethoven's 7th Symphony, to a cameo by Daniel Heifetz (grandson of the legendary Jascha Heifetz) as a street violinist. The cinematography by Albert Dunk is terrific on the dance sequences, which sometimes have a touch of surrealism using smoke and other effects, and there are some magnificent overhead crane shots. Dance is not an easy thing to film, and in "One Last Dance" we have scenes that are spectacular. The interesting and sometimes inspired choreography is by Alonzo King, Dwight Rhoden, Doug Varone, and Patsy Swayze (Patrick's mother).

As someone who spent 2 decades of my life immersed in the world of dance, I appreciate the authenticity of this film, and the excellence of its performers. It is sure to become a film classic for dancers and those who love to watch them. DVD extras include a "behind the scenes" piece, and commentary by Patrick and Lisa. Total running time is 100 minutes.

Patrick Swayze is a man of many talents. He is an exceptional actor, dancer, and singer. I purchased this movie solely because he was in it. :)
However, I was VERY pleasantly surprised that there was so much more to this movie! The storyline was wonderful. Very little dialog is needed. The story of three dancers returning to the dance world is told through their dancing.
It was intriguing to watch the 40 something year olds dance their hearts out, often along side the 20 something year olds. I would love to watch "The Company" dance together in person... if that were only possible. They all meshed together extremely well.
Lisa Neimi did a wonderful job. Her ability to dance, act, and direct is stunning.
George de la Pena's acting and dancing skills were breath taking as well.

Don't watch this movie with your eyes only, FEEL it through your heart and soul!

This movie is not without flaws--the dialogue and acting occasionally seem flat, recycled storylines, melodrama, etc., yet I am a sucker for dance movies and loved it nonetheless. It's pretty obvious from the get-go that Travis and Chrissa are soul mates destined to reconnect after seven years of separation and misunderstandings. When Alex, the emotionally abusive director of a New York Dance Company, goes too far with his criticisms (this is the point where I'd like to introduce people of Alex's bent to the wonders of Dale Carnegie in helpfully motivating people), three dancers' lives are redirected. Chrissa has a nervous breakdown (we later learn that she was newly pregnant during this scene, so horomones and stress contributed to her break) while Travis (injured from overexertion) can do little to comfort her besides telling off Alex. Max, the other member of the pas de trois, carries off a sobbing and temporarily deranged Chrissa to the nearest mental health hospital. (The three dancers were days away from premiering a pas de trois dance before this misfortune interrupts them.) Travis wrongfully assumes that Chrissa hasn't contacted him because she wants her space and wants him out of her life (he doesn't realize she had been hospitalized). Chrissa, meanwhile, is hurt that Travis hasn't inquired after her and therefore, keeps her pregnancy a secret from him. Max is the middle man, and seven years later, he is instrumental in reconnecting the estranged lovers when the struggling company decides to resurrect the Pas de Trois.

Yes, the plot is the stuff of soap operas, but it has heart, and the real-life love between Patrick Swayze (Travis) and his wife, Lisa Niemi (Chrissa), is palpable on-screen. Also, I can always empathize with someone who is experiencing a breakdown of sorts (read my Fred Luskin's "Forgive for Good" and Sylvia Plath's "The Bell Jar" reviews for an insider's perspective on what an awful experience this is). In addition, I appreciate this movie's undercurrent theme: move beyond the negative voices we've picked up through the years.

Swayze and Niemi are no longer twentysomethings, yet they hold their own in this physically demanding art form. They dance beautifully.

In the behind-the-scenes special feature, Swayze said that this production hired four choreographers to represent the latest happenings in the dance world. I loved the choreography and the dancing--it was breathtaking and innovative. I was thrilled to see some of the very same dancers in this movie who have graced the covers of Dance and Pointe magazines. The dancers said that they felt like they really were members of the movie's dance company and that there was a spirit of collaboration and non-competitiveness as well as a suspension of ego during filming. One dancer said that he and the other dancers could easily and happily tour the movie's original dances to (he confidentally believed) great acclaim.

No, it's not "Dirty Dancing;" this film is about real, classical dancing that is a joy to watch. Patrick Swayze, Lisa Neimi, and George de la Pena are brilliant dancers and bring the somewhat thin, yet still moving story to life. The company of supporting dancers is excellent, and the film shows the realities of a life of back-breaking work with few rewards lived mostly 'for the love of the game.' A tribute to true beauty, the final dance sequence is breathtaking.

Patrick Swayze and his real-life wife, Lisa Niemi, are stunning to watch as they dance, either together or in individual practice or in groups. This is lovely, breathtaking dancing coming from "older" folks. As usual, Swayze is poetry in motion and proves once again how very versatile an actor he is. (Who else can play a believable drag queen, a classical ballet/jazz dancer, dramatic roles and villains?) Lisa Niemi has remarkable grace and flexibility for her age and her acting is passable.

But the plot is lame and a little more attention could have been paid to making it less ordinary; that is the only complaint. As an aside, the cover photo on the DVD case never happens in the film.

George de la Pena, the co-star dancer, is just fabulous. In fact, all the dancers are a joy to watch. If you love the Dance, you will enjoy this film. If you want a good plot, look elsewhere.

ONE LAST DANCE appears to be a film for dancers, either active or retired, wannabees or romanticists. There is some terrific Brazilian influenced music from Stacy Widelitz that enhances much of the corps dancing and some beautiful moments of cinematography making the most of a bare ballet studio rehearsal hall - both of which add what dreaminess this low budget film has to offer.

Written and directed and produced and acted by Lisa Niemi the story involves the return to the boards by three retired dancers (Lisa Niemi, Patrick Swayze, George de la Pena - all three are dancers in real life) to pay homage to the gifts of a highly regarded yet now dead choreographer. The three left dancing seven years prior to the story for personal reasons, mostly involving lack of confidence and personal issues that affected each tangentially. They return to a company to perform a dance by the dead choreographer and the rest of the slim story is how these out of shape hoofers regain the healing magic of dancing.

The corps of ballet dancers assembled for this film is exceptionally fine for a pickup group: Rasta Thomas, Desmond Richardson, Kathryn Bradney, Tai Jiminez, Bambi Swayze, Jamie Bishton, Stephanie Slater, Heather Thompson, Dwight Rhoden and Yosuke Mino deserve special mention. The scenes of dancing vary depending on the choreography of each of four artists - Alonzo King, Dwight Rhoden, Patsy Swayze, and Doug Varone. But in the end to be less than a documentary about the rigors and rewards of dancing there must be a well-acted story based on a sensitive script and that is where the film is shaky and a bit self indulgent. Swayze, Niemi, de la Pena take the roles as far as they go, but in the end the story is much ado about very little.
Yet there is some gorgeous dance work well filmed that will satisfy even the most particular critic. The DVD added features include some insights into the difficulty and final rewards of bringing ONE LAST DANCE to the screen, and in these comments there is more story than that found in the script. Grady Harp, September 05

I am a dancer. I found the choreography in this movie beautiful, brillient and different. The emotion in it really touched me, and I had actually fallen out of dancing because of many different reasons and this movie really did bring me back to my love of dance. It's very rare to find dance movie that will offer quite as much as this movie did. Not to mention I absolutly adore George De La Pena. Awsome dancer and he was my favorite character in the movie. I love the fact that every character has something they are working through, no one is exactly perfect. To me, although the acting may not be what every one would call oscar quality, to me, it shows a glimps in to life. How pent up emotions can lead to frustrations that are some times difficult to get through. This movie, to me is well worth the watch. Sorry for the ramble.

I was sooooooooo excited to see that this movie had been released, and I was not disappointed. The dancing was magnificent, and it was amazing to see Patrick & Lisa together.
I have to saythought for many....it was disheartening to see you perform with your wife, Patrick, because so many of us have fantasized of that same possibility!
I would recommend it to ALL who love dance! It is a beautiful tribute to what a person CAN do!

WOW! This is definietly a movie for dancers or any dancer wannabes out there. I had never seen Patrick Swayze and his gorgeous wife Lisa Niemi dance together. Their solo was breath taking. The sparks flew between them. There was no question they are deeply in love. Their passion showed in their dancing. They took musical notes and made them into a love song. The fact that they aren't twenty anymore made it even more of an accomplishment. Their lines, their extension, their strength, their fluid expression were all beautiful to watch. Lisa's flexibility was unbelievable at any age. The story was very true to life, shown in flashbacks, and the dancing superb. I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that the dancers looked real, sweaty and out of breath. They weren't all made up or their hair perfect. The third dancer George de la Pena was a very great surprise to me because I hadn't seen him dance before. The three of them together, at the end, dancing The Last Dance was breathtaking. I don't think I took a deep breath during the movie. As you've guessed, I loved it!

If you love dance (balletic, rather than ballroom), you'll surely enjoy this offering starring husband and wife team Patrick Swayze and Lisa Nieme. Directed, as well, by the latter, the film also stars dancer/actor George Dr La Pena. Assisting the stars are young dancers of breathtaking ability. The entire company deserves high marks! The slight story of former lovers (Swayze and Nieme) brought back together for "one last dance" is merely a device to allow the cast to show their balletic ability. The most haunting image of the film is provided by the shots of a solo Swayze dancing in a darkened studio amid wnd-tossed gauzy curtains. The Swayzes had tried for years to interest Hollywood studios in the film, finally producing and releasing it on their own. An insightful audio "making of" track provides interesting details. I recommend this film for its fine dance work, in spite of its slight story line.