One Last Dance

When the successful artistic director Alex McGrath (Matthew Walker) dies, his New York dance company invites three veteran dancers, Travis MacPhearson (Patrick Swaize), Chrissa Lindh (Lisa Niemi) and Max Delano (George De La Pena), to exhibit a never performed dance piece called "Without a Word" as a last homage in a benefit show. Along the troubled trio reunion, secrets are disclosed, deep wounds are healed, culminating with their last dance together.

"One Last Dance" is certainly a very personal work of Patrick Swaize and mostly of his wife Lisa Niemi, who are producers, writer, director and lead actor and actress. The choreography is very beautiful, with a great music score including two Brazilian songs. Lisa Niemi and Patrick Swaize show that they are in good shape as dancers. Unfortunately, the screenplay is weak, with a sort of soap-opera drama and Lisa Niemi performs a confused character, never clear of her feelings and intentions. If she had a serious situation with Alex, why does she need to dance again? Travis returned for Chrissa, and Max because he is completely broken. Further, the tearful character Chrissa Lindh is boring in some moments with her insecurity. But the dances make this movie a worthwhile entertainment for those who like this art. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "A Última Dança" ("The Last Dance")

Overall, I enjoyed this film. It is a movie musical, but instead of breaking into song, the performers break into dance. This film was very well written and directed. I, however, feel that it doesn't translate well from stage to screen (I wish that I had been able to see the stage production). Or maybe the world just isn't ready for such a progressive method of storytelling. The Complexions dancers are wonderful and Lisa Niemi, Patrick Swayze and George de la Peña are superb dancers. The acting is certainly adequate and, at times, deeply moving. I recommend this movie to anyone with a dance background or an interest in non- traditional films.

Patrick Swayze can be compared to the likes of Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly--he can dance AND act! Many of us who are Patrick,Lisa, and George's "chronological" peers love them for their unbelievable dance ability; but we may hate them for being in such great shape!

How refreshing to see a movie about dance that showed splendid dancing-and lots of it. I'm so tired of movies that just "touch" on dance and delve into the sob-story, high hormonal problems of teen dancers. One of the things I appreciated about this movie was that it was sensual but not sexual. Really, everything is NOT about sex.

My ONLY gripe is some of the language-I'd like to show this movie to some young people who are just starting to dance, because of the focus on FEELING the dance.

I'll wager that many young dancers that show up on unnamed TV shows couldn't keep up with Patrick, Lisa, and George AND do it with the grace and style that the three of them exhibited. Give us more please!

It is a film who I love. Against confuse and pathetic story. But it is just a film deserving be loved.

First for the trio Lisa Niemi, George de la Pena and Patrick Swayze.

Second - for dance, choreographies and music.

Three - for the face of Patrick Swayze in light, like a bronze statue.

Not the last for the forced but seductive end.

It is a pure beautiful film.

Deserving, in high measure, be loved.

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