"Strictly Ballroom" was Baz Lurhmann's first film. Although perfection would not be reached until "Moulin Rouge", SB is nevertheless a great launch pad for Baz's unconventional artistry.
Of his three films("Romeo+Juliet" and "Moulin Rouge" being the other two)SB is definitely the most campy, with its extreme close-ups, the bizarre costuming of the dancers(which actually isn't that far from the real thing-at least in the 70's-)and especially the John Waters- like flashback sequence. But SB also contains hints of Baz's talent for mixing music, imagery and emotion- I point out the scene where Scott and Fran slowly dance the rumba to Doris Day's "Perhaps".
It may not be everyone's cup of tea;none of Baz's films are. But I for one would watch "Strictly Ballroom" over any of those lame Hollywood "romantic comedies" any day.
Of his three films("Romeo+Juliet" and "Moulin Rouge" being the other two)SB is definitely the most campy, with its extreme close-ups, the bizarre costuming of the dancers(which actually isn't that far from the real thing-at least in the 70's-)and especially the John Waters- like flashback sequence. But SB also contains hints of Baz's talent for mixing music, imagery and emotion- I point out the scene where Scott and Fran slowly dance the rumba to Doris Day's "Perhaps".
It may not be everyone's cup of tea;none of Baz's films are. But I for one would watch "Strictly Ballroom" over any of those lame Hollywood "romantic comedies" any day.