May 23, 2007 08:26 PM
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(Updated May 24, 2007 07:07 PM)
Movie **White Nights
The Plot(rottentomatoes.com)
When Nikola "Kolya" Rodchenko's(MIKHAIL BARYSHNIKOV) plane makes an emergency landing in the Soviet Union, the world-famous dancer has reason to feel terrified: now that the defector is back on Russian soil, the authorities may refuse to let him leave again. But the KGB actually has a subtler and more clever plan: they want Kolya to return of his own free will. They send him to Siberia to meet with another famous defector, Raymond Greenwood(GREGORY HINES), a talented African-American tap dancer, who has requested Russian citizenship because he'd become fed up with racism at home.
Despite their clashing ideologies, the two men find that their love of dance overcomes political differences. But Kolya is determined to go back to the United States, and Raymond is just as determined not to leave his wife(ISABELLA ROSSELLINI), a Soviet citizen. In a strange role reversal, the two must find common ground for either to get what they want.
*My Review
*Wow.when was the last time I'd indulged in a dancing dessert!
I've never seen Richard Gere's Chicago, Dirty Dancing or even the Richard Gere-Jennifer Lopez starrer Shall We Dance released recently.
Among Indian movies though, I've seen some dance classics like Kamal Hassan's Sagara Sangamam, Mohanlal's Kamaladhalam or even Mithun Chakraborty's Dance Dance. The middle & late 80's and the early 90's were the best periods of Indian Cinema in terms of dance classics.
White Nights should be my first Hollywood dance movie, where splendid choreography blends effortlessly into a supsense thriller.
And major credit, I think should go to the dance choreographer and the fantastic dancer & actor himself, Mikhail Baryshnikov. How many of us know this guy? Even in real life, Mikhail defected from Russia to North America disillusioned by the ways of Russian government. Widely regarded as a legendary ballet dancer, he has a cool acting talent to boot(was nominated for Best Actor Oscar for'The Turning Point'). He's now most populary seen in "Sex and the City" episodes as the character Aleksandr Petrovsky.
Never miss the opening dance sequence of Mikhail in White Nights at any cost.
Black American actor Gregory Hines(character of Ben Doucette in "Will & Grace episodes), like his character Raymond, was also a professional tap dancer in real life. Sadly he passed away in 2003. Gregory is the other lead actor, after Mikhail in the movie, who wows us with his acting & dancing moves.
We also have actress Helen Mirren(Best Actress Oscar for The Queen, 2006) who acts as an ex-ballet dancer who loved Mikhail dearly before he defected. She and actor Jerzy Skolimowski (as the negative character Colonel Chaiko) also endear themselves to us with their screen histrionics.
Director - Taylor Hackford
Year- 1985
Starring - Mikhail Baryshnikov, Gregory Hines, Helen Mirren, Geraldine Page, Jerzy Skolimowski
Verdict~ Master direction by Taylor Hackford(also directed Ray, The Devil's Advocate and An Officer and a Gentleman), bright performances, superb dance choreography and tense moments of suspense - ingredients enough for your time-pass entertainment during night hours.
Go for it and ignore your gaping mouth drooling at Mikhail Baryshnikov's gifted moves.
