IN 'THE COMPANY,' ALTMAN GRAPPLES WITH THE POINTE.Byline: Glenn Whipp Film Critic 'TIS THE SEASON of the ultra-niche picture, movies seemingly designed for those few thousand people who share the filmmakers' interests and obsessions. We've had ``Shattered Glass'' (journalists fascinated by ethical breaches), ``The Girl With a Pearl Earring'' (Vermeer lovers, would-be cinematographers), ``Monster'' (manic-depressives with an abiding interest in serial killers) and now ``The Company,'' Robert Altman's elegant, dramatically deficient, behind-the-scenes look at the world of ballet. Apparently the movie has caused a bit of a stir with ballet enthusiasts, kind of like when Ken Burns made his ``Jazz'' documentary and riled rile tr.v. riled, ril·ing, riles 1. To stir to anger. See Synonyms at annoy. 2. To stir up (liquid); roil. [Variant of roil.] Adj. 1. up modernists by adhering too closely to Wynton Marsalis' traditionalist orthodoxy. It's hard to know what ballet-heads would find irksome about ``The Company,'' given that Altman has completely forsaken for·sake tr.v. for·sook , for·sak·en , for·sak·ing, for·sakes 1. To give up (something formerly held dear); renounce: forsook liquor. 2. the usual dramatic cliches in dance movies - there's no dueling divas or pretentious prima donnas and very little in the way of general hysteria - in favor of a naturalistic approach naturalistic approach, n a medical philosophy that holds that illness results from external, objective causes (such as accident, infection, mal-formation, etc.) that emphasizes the beauty of the art form. This isn't Altman's ``Nashville'' or even ``Pret a Porter.'' There aren't any intricate plot arcs involving multiple characters, no satire, no ridicule. Heck, he actually seems to like people here, which makes this the ultimate niche movie on the legendary misanthropist's resume. Actress Neve Campbell, who apparently trained with the National Ballet School The National Ballet School of Canada is located in Toronto, Ontario. The National provides a full-time program which combines classical ballet training with academic education from Grades 6 through 12 at its boarding school. of Canada for several years before turning to acting, conceived ``The Company'' as a valentine to ballet. She's the only actor in the film who dances with the featured troupe, the Joffrey Ballet Joffrey Ballet, one of the major American dance companies. It was founded in New York City in 1954 by the dancer-choreographer Robert Joffrey. From 1956 to 1964 it made yearly tours of the United States. of Chicago, and, to this untrained eye, she acquits herself quite nicely. Campbell plays Ry, an aspiring ballerina who's balancing a night job and a burgeoning love affair with a cook (James Franco). But ``The Company,'' aptly given the title, doesn't spend that much time with Ry or any other character, instead focusing on the creative process and the daily struggles involved in putting on a show. What underplayed drama there is comes from a series of injuries and the constant prodding from the demanding, scarf-wearing director Alberto (Malcolm McDowell Malcolm McDowell is a British-born actor, probably best known for his portrayal of Alex in A Clockwork Orange. Biography Acting career McDowell began his professional life serving drinks in his parents' pub and then as a coffee salesman (the latter job ). Alberto doubles as Altman's doppelganger doppelgänger Psychiatry A delusion that a double of a person or place exists elsewhere; it is related to other defects in recognition and suggests organic disease in the nondominant parietal lobe. See Depersonalization disorder, Schizophrenia. and, as such, ``The Company'' is as much about his filmmaking as it is ballet. (Add another ultra-niche to this film: Altman completists.) Watching the ballet troupe gradually put together its performance, incorporating improvisation and emphasizing the organic, is to witness the Altman moviemaking mov·ie·mak·er n. One that makes movies, especially professionally. mov  ie·mak credo at work. It isn't particularly exciting, but
it's not supposed to be. The film's glories are small and
sweet, best appreciated by those with a love for dance and this
movie's director.
THE COMPANY - Three stars (PG-13: brief strong language) Starring: Neve Campbell, Malcolm McDowell. Director: Robert Altman. Running time: 1 hr. 52 min. Playing: Pacific's Sherman Oaks 5, Laemmle's Playhouse 7 in Pasadena, Laemmle's Fallbrook 7 in West Hills, Laemmle's Royal in West Los Angeles
A community of southern California northeast of Beverly Hills. It is mainly residential. Population: 36,600. . In a nutshell: For anyone who loves ballet or Robert Altman films. CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- cover -- color) `THE COMPANY' (2) A former ballerina herself before she became an actress, Neve Campbell, right, performs alongside professional dancers in ``The Company.'' |
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