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THE COMPANY
RATING: B
A Sony
Pictures Classics Release
Starring: Neve
Campbell. Malcolm McDowell, James Franco. Music by Van Dyke Parks,
Director of Photography Andre Dunn, Story by Neve Campbell and
Barbara Turner, Written by Barbara Turner, Directed by Robert
Altman.
Rated PG-13, Running Time 107 mins. 2.40:1 Anamorphic Scope Aspect
Ratio.
Robert Altman returns with another feature that's not on the level
of his last work "Gosford Park" but is an entertaining
exercise nonetheless. At the suggestion of actress Neve Campbell,
he's set his sights on the world of the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago.
Campbell who co-wrote and produced the film stars as Ry (short
for Ryan), an up and coming ballet dancer at the Joffrey who struggles
for recognition amongst her competitive peers. The Company is
presided over by Mr. A (Antonelli), brilliantly played by Malcolm
McDowell as a shrewd man with a short attention span. Their latest
production is called "The Blue Snake" and Ry has managed
to land herself the lead. If this sounds like one of those romantic
comedies like "Center Stage" or "Honey", think
again. There is no plot, this is a Robert Altman film after all.
"The Company" is full of those episodic Altmanesque
moments, where we eavesdrop on the lives of the characters without
ever getting to know them. Kinda like life itself. We're not there
for every moment in the story and the parts that aren't shown
we can usually fill in ourselves. Campbell shares some romantic
screen time with James Franco (in a surprisingly restrained role)
as a restaurant cook who eventually becomes her live in boyfriend.
We don't see a courtship or a first date, in fact several scenes
after glimpsing each other in a bar he comes by her apartment
and greets her in her bathtub as if they've been involved for
a while. Campbell may be the center character, but the film is
about the crazy process that goes into organizing a production
at a ballet company. It's not completely accurate, otherwise it
would be boring, and so it’s told in an entertaining way.
 It’s
interesting that Campbell was able to team up with Altman on such
an unconventional project. She's never been given the credit she
deserves as an actress, but her work in small art house features
such as "Panic" and this one will undoubtedly prove
that she's more than just a "Scream" Queen from a "Party
of Five." I'm sure she could be rolling in dough by appearing
in sequel after sequel but her persistence in projects such as
this will prove her worth. I'm also happy to see the great Malcolm
McDowell in such a rich and humorous role. As Mr. A, the head
of the Company you can probably get his attention for only five
seconds at a time before you see the blur of his yellow scarfed
neck flying out to a meeting. He's almost like a cross between
Martin Short in the "Father of the Bride" films and
Robin Williams in "The Birdcage." His flamboyance is
especially apparent when he advises his dancers on a PA system.
"Remember, (eat) Broccoli salad, not Chili Con Carne.
"The Company" isn't one of Altman's best films, but
the wit of his direction and storytelling is there along with
his sense of humor. The big production of the film called "The
Blue Snake" is an outrageous show full of ballet dancers
in costumes that resemble Elmo from "Sesame Street"
and a silver helium balloon tied to the lead performer's head.
If you don't pick up that its all a joke, then you're missing
the point.
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