On the Verge of Revolution: John Malkovich's The Dancer Upstairs

SteynonLine ^ | April 13, 2024 | Rick McGinnis

[Twotone]

There's a movie out now that imagines modern America in the grips of a civil war. It is, as far as I can tell, a wholly logic-free bit of fantasy (California and Texas uniting as a rebel front!), with a script that hits its ideological touchstones like a piledriver. It's an election year, so expect more of the same, but it's worth comparing this First World fever dream of social collapse with a story grounded in a very real, recent, historical moment.

The Dancer Upstairs (2002) begins with four people driving at night along a country road. They're listening to Nina Simone – a recording of a concert where Simone is taking a (customarily) long time to introduce a song. One of them complains, but the man in glasses in the passenger seat says that she's getting ready to sing. A lone policeman steps out into the road to flag them, but the woman behind the wheel coldly swerves and guns the car, running him over. His flashlight is caught in a car's wheel, its light and sparks from the road flashing as they drive around a curve, away from the body on the ground.

The next scene begins on another country road in the middle of a misty, overcast morning. Titles over the picture tell us that we're in "Latin America", and that it's "The Recent Past". A truck with the same four people pulls up to another checkpoint, choosing to stop this time. Rejas (Javier Bardem), a police sergeant, asks for their papers and notes that the man in the glasses has only temporary I.D. with no picture. He invites him into their little barracks and office where they chat while Rejas fills out new paperwork for him.

[Twotone]

Never heard of this movie, but this column brings back some very sad history.

[lee martell]

Not sure if I would want to sit for this entire movie.
After that first episode, with the lady at the wheel purposely running over the cop, I already don’t like one of the main characters.

I recall seeing the movie “Being John Malkovich” years ago, back when I would often go the the theater. That was a witty, funny and eccentric kind of film. That one, I liked right away. There was an officer building being visited by some of the characters. On floor 7.5, all the ceilings were very, very low. Everyone had to crouch down, as though they were giants now out of place. No explanation was given for the low, low ceilings on floor 7.5. It was what it was.

[Theoria]

Good movie, was the first time I Javier Bardem in a movie.

[plain talk]

““Being John Malkovich””

yeah the restaurant scene where everyone in the restaurant looks like Malkovich was bizarre. I like creative movies.

[FLT-bird]

I watched this movie a few months ago. Its pretty good.

[wintertime]

p

[spacejunkie2001]

malchovich isn’t listed in the cast....is he in this?

[Mears]

Per the article he is director .

….

[Theoria]

No, he’s not.

[spacejunkie2001]

thanks much. Is it a good movie? doesn’t look like it’s streaming for free but i’ll buy it if it’s good. I do love Malkovich

[Theoria]

Good. It has a similar feel to me as The Year of Living Dangerously, which Mel Gibson stared in as a young actor. It displays the social dynamic of revolution in the background of South America and the corrupt practices of government, educated 'communism' etc.