Taglines: An inside look at the world of ballet.
With the complete cooperation of the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, Altman follows the stories of the dancers, whose professional and personal lives grow impossibly close, as they cope with the demands of a life in the ballet. Campbell plays a gifted but conflicted company member on the verge of becoming a principal dancer at a fictional Chicago troupe, with McDowell the company’s co-founder and artistic director, considered one of America’s most exciting choreographers. Franco plays Campbell’s boyfriend and one of the few characters not involved in the world of dance.
The Company is a film about the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago. It was released on December 26, 2003 in the United States and around the world in the first half of 2004. The movie was directed by Robert Altman and stars Neve Campbell, who also co-wrote and co-produced the film. The movie also stars Malcolm McDowell as the ballet company’s artistic director, a character based on Gerald Arpino.
The Company is composed of stories gathered from the dancers, choreographers, and staff of the Joffrey Ballet. Most of the roles are played by company members. While a small subplot relates a love story between Campbell’s character and a character played by James Franco, most of the movie focuses on the company as a whole, without any real star or linear plot. The many company stories woven together express the dedication and hard work that dancers must put in to their art, although they are seldom rewarded with fame or fortune.
The Company
Directed by: Robert Altman
Starring: Neve Campbell, Malcolm McDowell, James Franco, Barbara E. Robertson, William Dick, Susie Cusack
Screenplay by: Neve Campbell, Barbara Turner
Production Design by: Gary Baugh
Cinematography by: Andrew Dunn
Film Editing by: Geraldine Peroni
Costume Design by: Susan Kaufmann
Set Decoration by: Karen Bruck
Music by: Van Dyke Parks
MPAA Rating: None.
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics
Release Date: December 26, 2003
