Strictly Ballroom [DVD] [1992]: Amazon.co.uk: Paul Mercurio, Tara Morice, Bill Hunter, Pat Thomson, Gia Carides, Peter Whitford, Barry Otto, John Hannan, Sonia Kruger, Kris McQuade, Pip Mushin, Leonie Page, Steve Mason, Baz Luhrmann, Antoinette Albert, Jane Scott, Tristram Miall, Andrew Bovell, Craig Pearce: DVD

Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review

While the plot of this Australian film may seem a bit familiar (the Ugly Duckling meets Dirty Dancing), the whimsical tone and superb dance sequences will make you forget the movie's predictability. Scott (Paul Mercurio) is a champion ballroom dancer who wants to dance "his own steps". Fran is the homely, beginning dancer who convinces Scott that he should dance his own steps... with her. Complicating matters are Scott's domineering mother (Pat Thompson), a former dancer herself, who wants her son to win the Australian Pan Pacific Championship (the same contest she lost years ago), and a conniving dance committee that is determined that "there are no new steps!" The dancing is enjoyable, yet not overwhelming, and the movie strives hard not to take itself too seriously (the beginning of the film is even styled as a pseudo-documentary). Strictly Ballroom, while not so subtly imparting its moral ("A life lived in fear is a life half-lived"), is a laughable romp that's sure to be a crowd pleaser. --Jenny Brown, Amazon.com

Special Features

16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
DVD 5
English
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital Stereo English
Dolby Digital Stereo
Behind The Scenes
Music Video
Original Trailer
Interactive Menus
Biographies
Scene Access

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Customer Reviews

15 Reviews

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
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Average Customer Review

4.7 out of 5 stars (15 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Low Budget Masterpiece, 26 Oct 2001

By A Customer

It's not that Baz Luhrman's success has gone to his head, far from it....it's just that his other two movies to date...Romeo and Juliet, Moulin Rouge...are not a patch on Strictly Ballroom. This film reeks of warm sentimentality that crawls onto you and sinks into your every pore. It's full to the brim with quirky comedy moments that flood effortlessly from the entire cast, who are all Australian...not a Leonardo or Nicole amongst them. The fact that no heavy weight star is present only serves to enforce the feeling of empathy that you build for the main protagonists. Scott Mercurio is fantastic as the tortured classical dancer who strives to break free from the established laws of Ballroom and redefine it's expression. Tara Morice is equally as impressive in the role of Fran, who's only a trainee dancer but shares Scott's passion for flare and free movement. Of course the love plot bubbles quietly beneath them as they try to take the dance world by storm. All in all it's a wonderfully balanced film of heart, wit, great dancing and outstanding performances. You can see that Luhrman has an undoubted ability to dazzle with dance, music and comedy it's therefore such a shame that Romeo and Juliet and Moulin Rouge lean heavily into a more serious genre. It's not that they're bad movies but personally I'd like to suspend my disbelief with the help of laughter and not suspense. Especially where dance is concerned. Strictly Ballroom is NOT TO BE MISSED!

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20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliantly quirky, fast-paced film with romance and humour, 11 Jul 2005

By	deepbluesky (London, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Strictly Ballroom [DVD] [1992] (DVD)

A smash hit at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival, this hugely enjoyable film launched director Baz Luhrmann's career, created a renaissance of popular interest in latin and ballroom dance - and named a host of television talent shows! I love Strictly Ballroom. I've seen it about six times since it was released in 1992, each time with mixed amusement and exhilaration. Paul Mercurio is superb in the lead role as Scott Hastings, a sizzling dance talent torn between his - and his mother's - lifelong ambition to win the prestigious Pan-Pacific Dance Championship, and the subversive urge to dance his own original steps. Tara Morice plays his 'ugly duckling' dance partner Fran to perfection, his whimsical father is endearingly eccentric, and the entire cast of engaging characters never misses a beat. This brilliantly quirky, fast-paced film manages to combine spectacular dancing, tongue-in-cheek visual humour and John Waters-style camp kitschness with a gentle romantic subplot. Not to mention some striking cinematic moments - for example the camera movement as Scott and Fran dance together for the first time, while above them, Scott's father prances gleefully around the washing line alone on a moonlit rooftop. Even by the generally high standards of the Australian film industry, Strictly Ballroom shines. If you haven't yet seen it, you've a real treat in store!

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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Strictly Ballroom, 23 April 2006

By	Rich Milligan (Thatcham, Berkshire) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Strictly Ballroom [DVD] [1992] (DVD)

This perceptive and well-executed film still after nearly 15 years since its release comes over as one of the most original films I've ever watched. The storyline is nothing more than a re-working of a classic fairy tale of handsome princes and ugly frogs (or dance partners) and yet the magical retelling make this film the success it is.

Scott Hastings is the ballroom dance prodigy who since being groomed to win the all important Pan-Pacific Grand Prix championship from the age of 6 looks like he could be throwing it all away by continuing to use un-registered and therefore illegal dance steps in his routine. His mother is shocked and dismayed that Scott could throw his chance of the title, his dance coach, Les Kendell is similarly gob smacked but most effected of all is Scott dance partner, who quits dancing with Scott and takes up with arch rival, the peroxide blonde Ken Railings.

Scott on the other hand is less concerned and seems more bothered with trying to dance true to the tune in his heart, a feeling that is shared by plain beginner dancer Fran. Scott and Fran begin to practice in secret, Scott deciding that his mother and Les wouldn't approve of such an unattractive and unorthodox partner and Fran deciding that her authoritarian and unforgiving Latino father would definitely not approve of her associating with such a boy. The backdrop the whole film is the outrageous and colourful world of Australian Ballroom Dance championships. There's more sequins and fake tan going on here than ever seen in one place before. Overseeing it all is chairman of the dance association, the toupeed and orange Barry Fife.

As I say, it doesn't take the brains of an Archbishop to work out what is going to happen here but the enthusiasm and energy that the pretty unknown cast bring to the film makes it almost compulsive viewing. Both Paul Mercurio (Scott) and Tara Morice (Fran) bring a charming innocence to their roles and it's really nice to see a proper ugly duckling to beautiful swan story. There's great support from the rest of the cast but both Pat Thomson and Bill Hunter deserve special mentions.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Strictly funny.
If you like Muriel's Wedding you will love this film. I first saw this film sixteen years ago and have watched it countless times. Read more

Published 1 month ago by Mr. Steven R. Turner

4.0 out of 5 stars terrible plot, lovely dancing
Four stars just for Paul Mercurio - awful plot, not spectacular acting, but what a dancer!

Published 8 months ago by rita wing

5.0 out of 5 stars strictly ballroom
I first saw this film in the 90s and thoroughly enjoyed it, I've also watched anytime its been on TV. Read more

Published 10 months ago by Souxchef

4.0 out of 5 stars Great fun
A great combination of comedy, dancing, sparkles and false tan!

The main character, Scott, likes to make up his own moves when ballroom dancing and as a result loses... Read more

Published 14 months ago by Good day sunshine

5.0 out of 5 stars Everybody deserves to see this
I saw this film at a young age. I'm 18 now and it really had a lasing effect on me. Baz Luhrman tells the story of scot hastings, a ballroom champion who is sick of dancing the... Read more

Published 21 months ago by Jennifer

4.0 out of 5 stars Strictly brilliant
Packed full of Australian humor, and not taking its self seriously, this film will leave you side ache long after it has finished. Read more

Published on 4 Sep 2007 by Girl- bibliophile

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic transformation movie with laughs
Strictly Ballroom is brilliant feel-good film with loads of laughs. It's a story of a gauche Spanish girl living in Australia, who during the course of the film transforms into a... Read more

Published on 17 Jul 2006 by EmmaCate

5.0 out of 5 stars The Definitive Rom Com?
I believe that the storyline has its origins in work done by some Australian theatre students and some beautiful theatrical set pieces (think Moulin Rouge, on a smaller budget)... Read more

Published on 15 May 2006 by Philip Knight

5.0 out of 5 stars A delight for the eyes!!!!
Although Baz Lurhmann is more famously renowned for Moulin Rounge it would be unfair to say that this was his only success! Read more

Published on 6 May 2002

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful film!
It's a shame this film had to wait for Moulin Rouge's success to be noticed by the world at large. However, let's just be thankful it has now been spotted! Read more

Published on 17 April 2002 by tiggrie

› See all 15 customer reviews...

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Strictly Ballroom [DVD] [1992]

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