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LA DANSE: THE PARIS OPERA BALLETMovie Reviews
French language documentary about the goings on in, and the personalities behind, The Paris Opera Ballet. Cast:Marie-Agnès Gillot, Agnes LetestuDirector:Frederick WisemanRelease Date:November 4, 2009DVD Release: TBD From:Shadow DistributionLength:2 hr 39 min
La Danse: The Paris Opera Ballet, Sensational Reviews (Doc) Key Cities
La Danse: The Paris Opera Ballet played in key cities to sensational reviews. • Fiona Morrow wrote in the Toronto Globe & Mail, "...an exquisite behind-the-scenes portrait... Submit to its rhythm, and 'La Danse' is a visceral experience - a virtuoso study in the act of creating a work of art." • And A.O. Scott wrote in the New York Times, "Yes, this is one of the finest dance films ever made, but there’s more to it than that." More Reviews Below...
La Danse: The Paris Opera Ballet Positive Reviews (21 Reviews, reviews below)
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...an empathic, impressionistic portrait... a rapturous (if occasionally disorienting) dance film precisely choreographed with seeming artlessness."(See all of Lisa Schwarzbaum's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 90 words, 12/04/09
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (9 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: OUTSTANDING "...sumptuous in its length and graceful in its rhythm... a feast for ballet lovers... Yes, this is one of the finest dance films ever made, but there's more to it than that."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 764 words, 11/04/09
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "...takes you inside the essence of dance in a way few films can... If you don't already swoon over this art form, this film will make you wonder what took you so long."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 611 words, 11/20/09
V.A. Musetto, New York Post: VERY GOOD(cg) "...dispenses with interviews, voice-overs and on-screen identification of the dancers and choreographers.... heavenly for balletomanes and the uninitiated alike."(See all of V.A. Musetto's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 151 words, 11/04/09
Sid Smith, Chicago Tribune: VERY GOOD(cg) "...too long, and some of Frederick Wiseman's methods seem dated in an era of quick-payoff reality TV. But those willing to while away time in its images will find reward..."(See all of Sid Smith's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 299 words, 11/20/09
David Edelstein, New York Magazine: OUTSTANDING "When a work of art is 'transcendent,' it allows us to see beyond the material world. 'La Danse' is not transcendent. It's about flesh and bone and sinew..."(See all of David Edelstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 313 words, 11/02/09
Fiona Morrow, Toronto Globe & Mail: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...an exquisite behind-the-scenes portrait... Submit to its rhythm, and 'La Danse' is a visceral experience - a virtuoso study in the act of creating a work of art."(See all of Fiona Morrow's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 459 words, 12/18/09
Melissa Anderson, Village Voice/LA Weekly: OUTSTANDING "...shot in deeply satisfying long takes of gorgeous young men and women starting, stopping, listening, questioning, repeating, perfecting."(See all of Melissa Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 477 words, 11/04/09
Glenn Sumi, Toronto Now: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...veteran documentarian Frederick Wiseman turns to the world of ballet. The result, as one of the crusty old French dance masters in the film might mutter, is 'superb.' "(See all of Glenn Sumi's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 264 words, 04/01/10
John R Killacky, Houston Chronicle/San Francisco Chronicle: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...has sumptuous delights to satisfy every balletomane. Clocking in at more than 2 1/2 hours, though, it is clearly a film for the committed dance lover."(See all of John R Killacky's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 430 words, 01/29/10
Richard Nilsen, Arizona Republic: VERY GOOD(cg) "There is no narration, there are no explanatory intertitles; there is just footage.... an insider's look at the ballet, but one that only an insider will get the most out of."(See all of Richard Nilsen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 415 words, 01/29/10
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...a unique kind of magic... we move from the rehearsals to the building's cafeteria, to the grand theater where lighting cues and hectic dress rehearsals are underway..."(See all of Wesley Morris's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 747 words, 12/11/09
Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...captures the fleeting beauty of ballet in dozens of miniature portraits, each quietly soaring. This movie just goes up there and stays there, and it's magical."(See all of Moira Macdonald's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 433 words, 12/04/09
Marc Mohan, Portland Oregonian: VERY GOOD(cg) "...fascinating stuff on a visceral level, granting an appreciation of both the physical strength and flexibility and the mental focus required to make it in the ballet game."(See all of Marc Mohan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 182 words, 12/11/09
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (4 Reviews)
Melissa Anderson, Village Voice/LA Weekly: OUTSTANDING "...shot in deeply satisfying long takes of gorgeous young men and women starting, stopping, listening, questioning, repeating, perfecting."(See all of Melissa Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 477 words, 11/04/09
Jeffrey Gantz, Boston Phoenix: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...for both company and audience, it's tough love, in Wiseman's usual fashion: no ID of the dancers, no ID of any of the seven works they rehearse and perform, few subtitles."(See all of Jeffrey Gantz's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 166 words, 12/10/09
Glenn Sumi, Toronto Now: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...veteran documentarian Frederick Wiseman turns to the world of ballet. The result, as one of the crusty old French dance masters in the film might mutter, is 'superb.' "(See all of Glenn Sumi's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 264 words, 04/01/10
HIGHBROW PRESS (3 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: OUTSTANDING "...sumptuous in its length and graceful in its rhythm... a feast for ballet lovers... Yes, this is one of the finest dance films ever made, but there's more to it than that."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 764 words, 11/04/09
David Denby, New Yorker: EXCELLENT "It's a joyous experience to see an institution in full flower -- to see not dereliction and disorder but the many forms of striving and virtue."(See all of David Denby's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 222 words, 10/26/09
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "...takes you inside the essence of dance in a way few films can... If you don't already swoon over this art form, this film will make you wonder what took you so long."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 611 words, 11/20/09
MOVIE INDUSTRY (4 Reviews)
Leslie Felperin, Daily Variety: VERY GOOD "...august documaker Frederick Wiseman turns his steady gaze on the titular Gallic dance company to create a sprightly look at an institution adapting to changing times."(See all of Leslie Felperin's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 622 words, 09/15/09
Stephen Farber, Hollywood Reporter: OUTSTANDING "It's hard to remember another dance film that has been so exquisitely photographed.... Even people who are not aficionados will be mesmerized..."(See all of Stephen Farber's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 464 words, 11/04/09
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "...takes you inside the essence of dance in a way few films can... If you don't already swoon over this art form, this film will make you wonder what took you so long."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 611 words, 11/20/09
A.O. Scott, New York Times: OUTSTANDING "...sumptuous in its length and graceful in its rhythm... a feast for ballet lovers... Yes, this is one of the finest dance films ever made, but there's more to it than that."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 764 words, 11/04/09
12.7 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
La Danse: The Paris Opera Ballet's reviews are separated by an average 12.7 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
La Danse: The Paris Opera Ballet (21 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:La Danse: The Paris Opera Ballet's reviews cover 24.5% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 8,114 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 386 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
La Danse: The Paris Opera Ballet Coverage, Volume & Length (21 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 21 Days After Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
La Danse: The Paris Opera Ballet's reviews on average broke 21 days after opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is La Danse: The Paris Opera Ballet's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
La Danse: The Paris Opera Ballet (21 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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