Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageTake The Lead (2006)
Director: Liz Friedlander
Movie review
From Time Out London
Inner city schoolkids’ lives are changed by charismatic teacher: yes, there’s more than a touch of ‘Dangerous Minds’ about this feelgood dance drama. Antonio Banderas plays Pierre Dulaine, the New York dance teacher whose work inspired the documentary ‘Mad Hot Ballroom’. But the liberties taken with Dulaine’s story undermine the film’s true-life basis and push it towards cliché. The naive adolescents of ‘Mad Hot…’ are replaced by surly teenagers more interested in hip-hop than the cha-cha, but with a need for emotional rescue by a kindly Hispanic ballroom dancer. Still, while their transformation is predictable, it’s quietly enjoyable, and the teen angle opens the door to romance and gritty gang-war subplots. Banderas has charm, but the ‘Fame’-like pupils suffer in comparison to their characterful real-life counterparts.Author: Anna Smith
Time Out London Issue 1860: April 12-19 2006
Cast & crew
Director: Liz Friedlander
Producer: Diane Nabatoff, Christopher Godsick
Cast: Antonio Banderas, Rob Brown, Yaya DaCosta, Alfre Woodard, John Ortiz, Laura Benanti, Dante Basco, Jenna Dewan, Marcus T Paulk full cast
Genre(s): Drama
Rated: 12A
Duration: 120 mins
UK Release: Apr 14 2006
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Has David Cronenberg turned tame?
Has director David Cronenberg veered too far from his radical and bloody roots with new film 'A Dangerous Method'?
The 10 worst date movies
Just in time for Valentine's Day, we present ten of the least romantic films ever made
Where to watch this year's Oscar-nominated films
Find out where to watch 2012's Oscar-nominated films in London cinemas
10 unlikely badboy biopics
Featuring Phil Collins, Jeremy Clarkson, Nick Clegg, David Starkey and a host of other unlikely subjects
Interview: Sean Durkin on 'Martha Marcy May Marlene'
The first-time director of the brilliant new thriller discusses religious cults and robot boxing
Pop-up cinema for Valentine's Day
Side-step romantic clichés with some alternative Valentine’s viewing
What do you think?
Post your review now