Turning Point (B or 3/4 stars)
'The Turning Point' (directed by Herbert Ross) explores the breadth of female friendship; examining the strains of a love-hate relationship btwn. 2 women who met while studying/dancing ballet. Deedee (Shirley MacLaine), who now lives in rural Kansas, chose to leave the world of ballet, to marry & raise a family. Emma (Anne Bancroft) kept dancing & went on to become a prima ballerina. They reunite after many yrs. apart when Emma's dance company comes to Oklahoma City on tour; stirring up memories that affects the present. Looking into each other's lives, they both wonder about the decisions they each made so long ago & if they were the right ones. Deedee longs for the acclaim she would have received if Emma had not persuaded her to marry Wayne (Tom Skerritt), another dancer.
However, Emma is secretly horrified by the fact that her career is dwindling & wishes she had the fulfillment of family that Deedee has. Deedee's daughter Emilia (Leslie Browne) has become an exquisite ballerina & is asked to dance in N.Y. with Emma's company. Although Deedee goes with Emilia to the city, she soon finds herself playing 2nd fiddle to Emma who dotes on her talented daughter. After Emilia's debut, Deedee confronts Emma with her resentments & jealousy. They argue in a bar & move it outside where they have a physical altercation - only to finally collapse into each other's arms; exhausted, yet having settled misunderstandings. And Emma admits to Deedee that she did, in fact, spur her on to get married so that she could get the main role which would lead her to her lengthy success.
Anne Bancroft captures the innermost anxieties of a confident, charismatic, & seemingly graceful ballet star who is painfully aware of her body's decline & her slow-but-sure descent into crippling sadness. Shirley MacLaine's depiction of a lonely woman, nagged by regrets is stellar, as well. Director Herbert Ross really knew how to draw-out great performances from these two movie stars. And their climactic battle of words & fists is well worth the wait. Ross not only excels in leading his cast, he also manages to make the world of ballet come to life onscreen; and the impressive company of dancers play a major role in the film. We watch them in training, grueling exercises, repeated rehearsals, as well as actual performances.
Leslie Browne & Mikhail Baryshnikov, who in the context of the movie are lovers, treat us to some superb dance numbers. Baryshnikov's character may be a womanizer, but his leaps are something to behold. And cinematographer Robert Surtees captures said leaps & all other beautiful, breathtaking moments of ballet. So I consider 'The Turning Point' a well-acted, engaging portrait of friendship-regained & an illuminating glimpse into the world of classical ballet. My major issue with the film is that a lot of the plot is treated as a souped-up backstage melodrama/soap opera level. I would have liked a more authentic/grounded tone in several key scenes. I also don't believe this film deserved 11 Oscar nominations (including Best Picture/Director). This is a good movie, but it's not exceptional.
However, Emma is secretly horrified by the fact that her career is dwindling & wishes she had the fulfillment of family that Deedee has. Deedee's daughter Emilia (Leslie Browne) has become an exquisite ballerina & is asked to dance in N.Y. with Emma's company. Although Deedee goes with Emilia to the city, she soon finds herself playing 2nd fiddle to Emma who dotes on her talented daughter. After Emilia's debut, Deedee confronts Emma with her resentments & jealousy. They argue in a bar & move it outside where they have a physical altercation - only to finally collapse into each other's arms; exhausted, yet having settled misunderstandings. And Emma admits to Deedee that she did, in fact, spur her on to get married so that she could get the main role which would lead her to her lengthy success.
Anne Bancroft captures the innermost anxieties of a confident, charismatic, & seemingly graceful ballet star who is painfully aware of her body's decline & her slow-but-sure descent into crippling sadness. Shirley MacLaine's depiction of a lonely woman, nagged by regrets is stellar, as well. Director Herbert Ross really knew how to draw-out great performances from these two movie stars. And their climactic battle of words & fists is well worth the wait. Ross not only excels in leading his cast, he also manages to make the world of ballet come to life onscreen; and the impressive company of dancers play a major role in the film. We watch them in training, grueling exercises, repeated rehearsals, as well as actual performances.
Leslie Browne & Mikhail Baryshnikov, who in the context of the movie are lovers, treat us to some superb dance numbers. Baryshnikov's character may be a womanizer, but his leaps are something to behold. And cinematographer Robert Surtees captures said leaps & all other beautiful, breathtaking moments of ballet. So I consider 'The Turning Point' a well-acted, engaging portrait of friendship-regained & an illuminating glimpse into the world of classical ballet. My major issue with the film is that a lot of the plot is treated as a souped-up backstage melodrama/soap opera level. I would have liked a more authentic/grounded tone in several key scenes. I also don't believe this film deserved 11 Oscar nominations (including Best Picture/Director). This is a good movie, but it's not exceptional.