Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School [DVD]

I just wanted to watch a sweet movie. Luckily, I chose this one. It left me with a smile.

No idea how a cast of perfromers of this this caliber was put together for a film this modest but I thoroughly ejoyed their efforts

There are so many well-know actors in this movie, it would be easier to list who's not in it--Meryl Streep and Brad Pitt. Every scene was like "wow--he/she's in this?". Some have only a few minutes of screen time, but still. I won't lie, it was an odd movie and I almost stopped watching during the first scene as the main character acts so strangely when he comes upon a traffic accident. But it's worth sticking it out even though there are like 2 sets of flashbacks. Watch it for yourself. It's worth it just for the acting.

I never heard of this movie before tonight when l found it searching Prime for something uplifting. It took me a while to place Robert Carlyle then l realized l remembered him from "Once Upon A Time", and loved him in it. There are so many faces you will recognize here! I loved that. The story takes a somber tone from the first, but almost without you realizing, it makes a smooth and gentle transition and becomes a lovely feel good movie with a few good messages! Just what l wanted!! ***Spoiler***John Goodman's character was the most coherently talkative dying man ever portrayed! This was a character unto itself! To me it was the comic relief. You can't help but laugh! I believe it was intentionally preposterous!

This movie has 3 separate yet intertwining story lines with flashbacks to aid the story telling.. It doesn't move fast but somehow keeps you in your chair. The sound track is lively and cheering.

What an enjoyable movie! It is sweet and poignant. It has a great cast and wonderful music. This movie is not your typical romance, comedy, or drama.

Wow! This is a deceptively, powerful movie in a surprisingly quiet way. Many people won't like it because it's slow & methodical in presentation; but, that's how it ended up touching my heart. Me thinks this film is a work of love for someone who had a connection with all the famous actor/actresses that were in it - some having just a very small role. I was impressed. Even when the viewer gets just a tad impatient, there's a reason the build up is so slow. Hell, life may be a roller coaster but there still are times when things slow down to a crawl.Let;s see, there's Danny Devito in the smallest of all the roles & it wasn't until the camera did a close-up of this character that I realized who was playing the part. John Goodman, Mary Steenburgen, Marisa Tomei, Adam Arkin, Donnie Wahlberg, Sonia Braga, Robert Carlyle, Sean Austin, Camryn Manheim, & the list goes on.The critics felt this short film was heavily flawed; but, I didn't or at least it didn't register enough to bother me. Perhaps being in grief & life counseling myself the movie struck a cord. Whatever it's faults, i was caught up enough in it to be touched by each individual's story no matter how little the audience was told. For me, what was revealed was sufficient so at least a connected was created.On many levels the films can be called amateurish - so what?!? I cannot stress enough how much that didn't bother me.So, my advice is give it a go & if you don't feel any connection, stop watching. For those of you who feel the pull, stay with it & enjoy watching the main characters grow - albeit slowly, but grow nevertheless.Sometimes a film doesn't have to be a masterpiece to touch a person's heart. Sometimes, you don't have to have had the exact same sort of experiences to connect. As with most things in life - it's how you view it.

I grant you, the title really needs some work. Had it not been for Robert Carlyle, I would never have seen this film at all. Fortunately, he is, as always, capable of anything.Carlyle plays Frank Keane, a widower still feeling a great deal of pain and guilt over his wife's suicide. He comes upon a horrible wreck and in calling 911 for Steve Mills (John Goodman), changes his own life forever. He is encouraged by the operator to keep Steve talking and so begins the journey into the past.Steve is a recently released inmate who had promised to meet his grade school crush at the Marilyn Hotchkiss Ballroom Dancing & Charm School they both attended as young people. This was to happen on the 5th day, of the 5th month of the 5th year of the new millenium (or May 5, 2005).Realizing he is not going to make his appointment, Steve implores Frank, whom he has only just met, to go in his place. To let his girl know he meant to be there. Once Frank decides to respect the dying man's wishes, the film goes back and forth between the ambulance where Steve tells him the story of Lisa (the girl) and Frank actually going to the school to find her.He doesn't, but in attending the class he finds that he is still capable of joy, and love. I'm not entirely sure what people were complaining about as far as this film is concerned. Is this not what 'An Affair to Remember' is basically about. Certainly a different platform, but promising to meet someone years in the future has been done, many times. Why is this so unbelievable? Steve has been in prison for years. I am not surprised, nor do I find it unbelievable that he would focus on this one meeting.One of the most heart wrenching moments in the film is when Steve asks Frank why his wife killed herself and he answers simply, "I don't know."This movie is not about ballroom dancing, nor is it about death; it is about rebirth. A tale that reminds us even in the most dire of circumstances, when it appears everything we have has been ripped away, life will go on and it will get better. Marisa Tomei plays Meridith, who is clearly the love interest, but the way they go about creating the relationship between Meridith and Frank is realistic. Both of them have their own issues, and find they can deal with them through one another.In the end, it's a beautifully told story that allows for healing. So few romantic drama's these days end well, and it's ridiculious. Happy endings can and do happen. I wish Hollywood would figure that out.

Lovely film, quality exactly as described, nice little note from the seller. If you're looking for a feel good story line (with the odd sad bit) you could do far worse than this one.

Very well written and well observed with three interwoven storylines. A film that is always kind and optimistic about human nature at the same time as being well crafted and acted from beginning to end. Lots of detail in the observations about human behaviour. I simply loved this film.

I returned this item as I was able to borrow a copy to watch from my library.Not moved by this DVD.

I was really looking forward to watching this film and was rather disapponted with it.It was slow moving and rather depressing and not much dancing in it.Even Robert Carlyle wasn't at his best in the film.

This must be one of the best hidden gems ever. Robert Carlyle just plays this to perfection. He can dance, he can really act and his love scene must be one of the most touching I've ever seen.