No, I miss Blockbuster for the browsing. Yes, I know I can browse titles on Netflix or On Demand, but it's not the same as browsing the aisles at the video store. Going to Blockbuster (or Hollywood Video or any of the other video store chains that existed) was about the browsing. Sure, I might come in with a plan to rent The Breakfast Club and Sixteen Candles for the millionth time this month, but I'd always leave with at least one unexpected item in my movie pile. Something about the cover of a video would catch my eye or maybe it'd be an employee pick (there as always an employee pick section) or some other special category like "Indie Comedies Featuring a 70s Icon" or "Movies with a Girl Gang." Oddly specific categories are my jam. The more odd and specific you can be with telling me why I might enjoy a movie tells me you're paying attention and maybe stalking me online (I'm looking at you, Netflix).
It's because of Blockbuster that I watched Party Girl, most of Quentin Taratino's movies before I was able to see them in the theatre, and it's how I "discovered" today's Lazy Movie Weekend entry, Strictly Ballroom.
Think about the 1990s in terms of the movies: independent movies were the thing everyone wanted to watch, people beyond Hollywood starting paying attention to film festivals, delightful ensemble movies were popping up left and right, foreign films moved outside of the art house, and weird was cool in movies. Like the music of the time, there was something for everyone and most of it was really amazing. This was my peak movie time; I watched movies all the time and went to the movies as much as I could. I don't know what was going on in Australia at this time, but there was a very specific interest in Australian movies in the mid-late 1990s. In quick succession, you had Strictly Ballroom, Muriel's Wedding, Cosi, Shine, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, The Piano, The Sum of Us, Sirens, and Flirting. We introduced to Russell Crowe, Nicole Kidman, Rachel Griffiths, and Toni Collette. Australia seemed like the weirdest and most magical place.
Strictly Ballroom was my Australia gateway movie (yes, that's a thing). It led me to Muriel's Wedding and Cosi and the rest is history. It let me believe that despite my aversion to his version of Romeo + Juliet, I could still get behind a Baz Luhrmann movie. Strictly Ballroom is the first movie in his "Red Curtain Trilogy" and it's my favorite of the three. It's odd and funny and heartwarming and I love it. It's now streaming on Netflix, which is awesome. I've watched it twice since I found this out, and it was magical both times. So, grab some popcorn and maybe a glass of wine, and let's rumba our way through Strictly Ballroom.
- Hey, there's that red curtain. It pops up throughout the whole movie.
- Baz Luhrmann wrote Strictly Ballroom as a stage play. It debuted in 1984 and was based on his experience participating in ballroom dancing competitions.
- Based on the opening sequence of this movie alone, ballroom dancing seems like the weirdest, but funnest world to inhabit. Everything's so sparkly and pretty, if not a little over the top. The personalities are big and brassy. I feel like I missed out on some fun.
- The movie is sort of set up like a documentary at first. We meet the key players and they're all talking about a controversy we haven't yet seen - Scott Hastings, the coolest ballroom dancer ever, using non-federation steps. The nightmare!
- Scott, played by Paul Mecurio, is every leading man of this era, trying to channel cool guy-ness and edginess while ballroom dancing. Like you do.
- That yellow sequin jumpsuit is life! It is something else. I hate a deep V-neck collar on a dude, but this takes things to a whole new level.
- Let's all take a moment to bask in the glory of every single suit Les Kendall appears in during this movie. They're pastel or shiny in a way that no one else could ever pull off.
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- Scott's mom, Shirley (played by Pat Thomson), is the greatest stage mom of Australian cinema. "Did I fail him as a mother?" - such delivery. I love every moment is on screen. Sadly, Thomson died before the film was released.
- A new realization I had during this version of the movie was that Barry Fife (Bill Hunter), the president of the dance federation, is the Donald Trump of the fake Australian competitive ballroom dancing world. From the hair to the shady dealings to his manner towards women, Fife and Trump are the same. Hunter seems to play all Australian bad guys during this period and he's so good. Seriously though, I had a hard time watching him as I made this comparison.
- The bangs! We need to pause and talk about everyone's bangs in this movie. I used to tease and spray my bangs within an inch of their life too, but these women take it to a whole new level. There's sequins and it all matches whatever they're wearing. Exactly how much hairspray was used during the making of this movie?
- I still don't know what the Bogo Pogo is, even though I've seen this movie a ton. I know it's supposed to be a dance step, but in my heart, it's a really great 90s era Australian synth pop band.
- "You've got a light in you, boy. Let it shine." Just hold onto this phrase if you ever need a pick up for yourself. Also, foreshadowing.
- Liz (Gia Carides) and Scott matching clothing even off the dance floor is a thing of weird beauty.
- Scott's sister, Kylie, and her dance partner, Luke, are the greatest. Netflix recommended a documentary to me called Baby Ballroom and I may need to watch it for Kylie. Is competitive ballroom dancing something you're born into or can anyone sign their kid up for this? I wonder.
- Doug, Scott's dad, is basically a dad joke wrapped in a delightful human being. I love him so much, including his socks and shorts ensembles.
- And then we meet Fran, the oddball of the dancing studio. She is so awkward and lovely.
- Paul Mecurio was one of the trained dancers cast in the movie, although he was a ballet dancer and had to go through six weeks of ballroom training for the role of Scott. Tara Morice, who played Fran in the stage play, almost didn't get cast because she didn't have a background in dance. The guy that plays her dad and Tina Sparkle were some of the other professional dancers cast.
- Fun fact: Morice also sang the version of "Time After Time" featured on the soundtrack.
- "Ken owns Spa-a-Rama." This is basically what I think of whenever anyone brags about something horrible that they do, but that they're super proud of without knowing it's horrible. It's all in Liz's delivery.
- And then Fran takes off her glasses and is beautiful and dances better than anyone else in the movie. Or something.
- I can't stress enough how wonderful Doug is. Just watch him dance on the roof of the building and tell me he's not amazing. I will fight you on this.
- Tina freaking Sparkle. She is so much to handle. The fruit, the name, the bangs. She so much, but also incredibly normal within the world of this movie.
- I can't apply eye makeup very well since I can't really see without my glasses, but I have to say, Shirley's eye makeup in this movie is horrifying. It's what would happen if a teenage girl and a new drag queen both learning to apply makeup got together and helped one another. Too much.
- The "Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps" sequence is my favorite part of this entire movie. It's so beautiful and makes me want to learn to ballroom dance. Fun fact: Doris Day requested a private screening of the film because of the use of this song. She loved the movie (apparently).
- The eye contact in ballroom dancing is what keeps me from ever wanting to dance (that and the fact that I'm an awkward dancer). It's so intense to watch.
- And then everyone gangs up on poor Fran and sends her back home with no partner.
- "What is so wrong with the way I dance?" Nothing, Scott. Nothing.
- Scott picked the wrong dance with Fran's family. His paso doble was a joke. Fran's dad and grandma show him what's what and it is awesome. The paso doble mimics the movements of bull fighting, which you can see very plainly. It was created in France in the 1930s, and is widely associated with Spanish and Portuguese dance.
- Of course, this also means Scott finds his heart and love of dance. And gets a shiny gold jacket (which was the most expensive costume and took six weeks to make).
- "Nothing terrible is going to happen." Shirley, don't say things like that.
- So many lies. So much shadiness. I'm telling you, Barry Fife is Donald Trump. It's so obvious to me now.
- And then Scott and Fran fall in love through the magic of dance. As couples do.
- The flashback sequence! It's a delight in its campiness. Apparently, it was supposed to be more realistic, but the budget wasn't there so it was easier and less costly to create a weird, fever dream version of the 1967 competition. Sure. I believe you.
- The Pan Pacific Finals. Tina is with Ken, Liz and Scott are set to dance together again, and Fran is back in beginners where she belongs. Until Doug shouts, "We lived our lives in fear!" and Scott gets his shit together.
- What is Liz wearing? It's like what would happen if a dominatrix and a space pilot had a very yellow costume baby. I have no words for this outfit.
- And then Scott flies out onto the dance floor and he and Fran dance the greatest paso doble anyone has ever seen, with and without music. It is magical and heals everyone's soul and sets the Australian competitive ballroom dancing world on fire. Yes, I just wrote that sentence.
- The "Love Is in the Air" plays and the red curtain closes.
Do yourself a favor and spend this weekend with the gang from Strictly Ballroom. Then watch Muriel's Wedding, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, and Cosi. You'll thank me for it later. It's not exactly browsing at the Blockbuster, but it's close enough.
Scott & Fran image
Yellow jumpsuit
Scott & Fran 2
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