The Company (2003)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Robert Altman

Writers (WGA):

Neve Campbell (story) &
Barbara Turner (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

5 February 2004 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Drama | Music | Romance

Plot:

Ensemble drama centered around a group of ballet dancers, with a focus on one young dancer (Campbell) who's poised to become a principal performer.

Plot Keywords:

Ballet | Dance | Backstage | Locker Room | Bar

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Neve Campbell	...	Loretta 'Ry' Ryan
Malcolm McDowell	...	Alberto Antonelli
James Franco	...	Josh
Barbara E. Robertson	...	Harriet (as Barbara Robertson)
William Dick	...	Edouard
Susie Cusack	...	Susie
Marilyn Dodds Frank	...	Mrs. Ryan
John Lordan	...	Mr. Ryan
Mariann Mayberry	...	Stepmother
Roderick Peeples	...	Stepfather
Yasen Peyankov	...	Justin's Mentor
Davis C. Robertson	...	Alec - Joffrey Dancer (as Davis Robertson)
Deborah Dawn	...	Deborah - Joffrey Dancer
John Gluckman	...	John - Joffrey Dancer
David Gombert	...	Justin - Joffrey Dancer
Suzanne L. Prisco	...	Suzanne - Joffrey Dancer
Domingo Rubio	...	Domingo - Joffrey Dancer
Emily Patterson	...	Noel - Joffrey Dancer
Maia Wilkins	...	Maia - Joffrey Dancer
Sam Franke	...	Frankie - Joffrey Dancer
Trinity Hamilton	...	Trinity - Joffrey Dancer
Julianne Kepley	...	Julianne - Joffrey Dancer
Valerie Robin	...	Veronica - Joffrey Dancer
Deanne Brown	...	Dana - Joffrey Dancer
Michael Smith	...	Michael - Joffrey Dancer
Matthew Roy Prescott	...	Colton - Joffrey Dancer
Lar Lubovitch	...	Choreographer #1
Robert Desrosiers	...	Choreographer #2
Charthel Arthur	...	Ballet Mistress #1
Cameron Basden	...	Ballet Mistress #2
Mark Goldweber	...	Ballet Master #1
Pierre Lockett	...	Ballet Master #2
Adam Sklute	...	Ballet Master #3
Heather Aagard	...	The Company
Michael Anderson	...	The Company
Erica Lynette Edwards	...	The Company
Jennifer Goodman	...	The Company
Stacy Joy Keller	...	The Company
Calvin Kitten	...	The Company
Peter Kozak	...	The Company
Britta Lazenga	...	The Company
Michael Levine	...	The Company
Brian McSween	...	The Company
Elizabeth Mertz	...	The Company
Masayoshi Onuki	...	The Company
Samuel Pergande	...	The Company
Willy Shives	...	The Company
Erin Smith	...	The Company
Kathleen Thielhelm	...	The Company
Mauro Villanueva	...	The Company
Yukari Yasui	...	The Company
Tristan Alberda	...	Apprentice #1
Bobby Briscoe	...	Apprentice #2
Orlando Julius Canova	...	Apprentice #3
Angelina Sansone	...	Apprentice #4
Jacqueline Sherwood	...	Apprentice #5
Jessica Wyatt	...	Apprentice #6
Michael Andrew Currey	...	Stage Manager #1
Katherine Selig	...	Stage Manager #2
Paul Lewis	...	Company Pianist
Julie O'Connell	...	Physical Therapist
George Darveris	...	Production Manager
Marc Grapey	...	Toast Master
Keith Prisco	...	Bridegroom
Emma Harrison	...	Neo Waitress
Dwayne Whitmore	...	Neo Bouncer
Danny McCarthy	...	Bartender
Robert Breuler	...	Barfly
Larry Glazer	...	Grant Park Cellist
Mark Hummel	...	Grant Park Pianist
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John G. Connolly	...	Norm the Contractor (uncredited)
Chris Gober	...	Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Kevin Scott Greer	...	Ballet Fan (uncredited)
Kevin Lingle	...	Bartender (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Altman

Writing credits (WGA)
Neve Campbell		(story) &
Barbara Turner		(story)
Barbara Turner		(screenplay)

Produced by
Robert Altman	....	producer
Joshua Astrachan	....	producer
Jane Barclay	....	executive producer
Neve Campbell	....	producer
Lowell Dubrinsky	....	associate producer
Sharon Harel	....	executive producer
Jocelyn Hayes	....	associate producer
Stefan Jonas	....	executive producer
Pamela Koffler	....	producer
Hannah Leader	....	executive producer
David Levy	....	producer
David Ley	....	producer
Karyn McCarthy	....	line producer
Jonas McCord	....	executive producer
Dieter Meyer	....	executive producer
Roland Pellegrino	....	executive producer
John Sloss	....	executive producer
Christine Vachon	....	producer
John Wells	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Van Dyke Parks

Cinematography by
Andrew Dunn

Film Editing by
Geraldine Peroni

Casting by
Pam Dixon
Mickie Paskal
Jennifer Rudnicke

Production Design by
Gary Baugh

Art Direction by
Craig Jackson

Set Decoration by
Karen Bruck

Costume Design by
Susan Kaufmann

Makeup Department
Agnes M. Gibicar	....	key hair stylist (as Agnes Gibicar)
Jamie Sue Weiss	....	key makeup artist (as Jamie Weiss)

Production Management
Sarah Connors	....	post-production supervisor
Karyn McCarthy	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jennifer Deigl	....	second second assistant director
James Giovannetti Jr.	....	first assistant director
Richard S. Lederer	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Troy Borisy	....	lead man
Alan Broadbent	....	paint foreman
David J. Chamerski	....	assistant property master
Ron Coy	....	sign painter
Frank D. Dambra	....	painter
William Dambra	....	property master
Joeseph H. Gilmartin	....	set carpenter
Peter Hurley	....	paintings at Joffrey Studio
John P. Kenny III	....	set carpenter
Cyril A. Matthys	....	swing gang
Tom Mulvihill	....	assistant to art director
Michael V. Nichols	....	lead man
Jon Nicholson	....	on-set dresser
Benjamin Nowicki	....	art department coordinator
Timothy J. Osman	....	set carpenter
Tom Osman	....	construction coordinator
Tom Osman	....	set carpenter
Troy Osman	....	construction foreman
Tyler Osman	....	construction coordinator
Lia Roldan	....	art department assistant
Daniel R. Sarich	....	painter (as Dan Sarich)
John Schultz	....	head painter
Paul Schultz	....	stand-by painter
Matthew Tufano	....	swing gang
Merje Veski	....	assistant decorator

Sound Department
Gina Alfano	....	supervising adr editor
Michael Barry	....	sound re-recording mixer
Vincent Cirilli	....	ProTools engineer
Ajae Clearway	....	assistant sound editor
Karl Dondlinger	....	sound intern
Stefan Fraticelli	....	foley assistant
Nicholas Gibson	....	sound engineer
Peter Glossop	....	production sound mixer
Mike Howells	....	audio post coordinator
Ira Ingber	....	synthesizer pre-lay
John Keating	....	stereo sound consultant: DTS
Dan Korintus	....	sound editor
Goro Koyama	....	foley artist
Malaika Langa	....	audio post coordinator
Andy Malcolm	....	foley artist
Anna Malkin	....	foley recording assistant
Ron Malligers	....	foley recording mixer (as Ron Mellegers)
Tony Martinez	....	sound editor
Eric McAllister	....	supervising sound assistant
Shaun Mills	....	boom operator
Carol Mintz	....	audio post coordinator
Stephen Muir	....	foley recording assistant
Eliza Paley	....	sound
Eliza Paley	....	supervising sound editor
John Roseberg	....	contractor
Jac Rubenstein	....	supervising dialogue editor
Steve F.B. Smith	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Greg Steele	....	adr mixer
Eric Strausser	....	apprentice sound editor
Bill Sweeney	....	sound editor
Don White	....	foley recording mixer
Don White	....	location foley recording mixer
Rebecca Wright	....	foley recording assistant
Ronald L. Wright	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Ryan Evans	....	special effects
Rodman Kiser	....	special effects coordinator
John D. Milinac	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Randall Balsmeyer	....	visual effects supervisor
Tom Bristow	....	I/O manager
J. John Corbett	....	visual effects
Thomas Mathai	....	data manager (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Reed Altman	....	camera operator
Peter Biagi	....	camera operator (as Pete Biagi)
Richard Bond	....	grip
Cortland Boyd	....	electrician
Kevin Boyd	....	24 frame video operator
Rob Brady	....	assistant electrician
Fernando M. Briones	....	grip
Donald Carlson	....	assistant camera
Robert C. Carlson	....	assistant camera (as Rob Carlson)
Vince Cordero	....	electrician
Matt Dinerstein	....	still photographer
Chad Erickson	....	second assistant camera
Russell Lee Fine	....	additional camera operator
Fred Folmer	....	dolly grip: "b" camera
Chris Freres	....	grip
Christopher Glasgow	....	grip
Chris Glomp	....	best boy electric
John Hudecek	....	grip
Gregory A. Jackson	....	second assistant camera (as Greg Jackson)
Timothy Jipping	....	rigging electrician
George Kohut	....	additional camera operator
Robert Krzeminski	....	best boy grip
Peter Kuttner	....	assistant camera
Morgan Michael Lewis	....	key grip (as Mike Lewis)
Ted Lichtenheld	....	additional camera operator
Anthony J. Lullo	....	rigging gaffer
Joseph M. Lyons	....	set lighting technician
Donna McLain	....	electrician
David Morenz	....	assistant camera
Peter Picchietti	....	second assistant camera
Keith Pokorski	....	second assistant camera
Mark Purkart	....	dolly grip
James F. Roorda	....	key rigging grip
Chris Ryerson	....	grip
Kory Salajka	....	grip (as Koren Salajka)
Dan Schroer	....	second assistant camera
Ryan Sheridan	....	digital imaging technician
Dean M. Simmon	....	assistant camera
Jason Storandt	....	dolly grip
Rick Thomas	....	gaffer
Billy Wauer	....	electrician
Mark N. Woods	....	crane operator: Technocrane
Joe Gajewski	....	additional grip (uncredited)

Animation Department
J. John Corbett	....	digital artist
Amit Sethi	....	digital artist

Casting Department
Rebecca Rian	....	casting assistant
Rachel Tenner	....	casting: Chicago
Bruce Winant	....	adr voice casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Patrick Caulfield	....	set costumer
Lizzie Cook	....	set costumer
Gretchen Gain	....	set costumer
Gina Panno	....	set costumer
Heather Pollock	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Steve Bowen	....	digital color timer
Ben Estrada	....	digital colorist assistant
Affonso Gonçalves	....	additional editor
May Kuckro	....	assistant editor
Hilda Saffari	....	digital intermediate producer
Mike Stanwick	....	color timer
Nicholas Corrao	....	apprentice editor (uncredited)
Harry Muller	....	color timer (uncredited)

Music Department
Tim Boyle	....	scoring mixer
Mark Gasbarro	....	additional orchestrator
Leslie Ann Jones	....	scoring mixer
Wayne Kaiser	....	music copying
Andrew Kinney	....	orchestrator: additional arrangements
Christopher Klatman	....	supervising orchestrator
Annette Kudrak	....	supervising music editor
Arnie Roth	....	music producer: dance
Carl Sealove	....	music editor
Mark Willsher	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Thaddeus E. Larkowski	....	transportation captain (as Ted Larkowski)

Other crew
Mike Altman	....	operator: Darbeevision
Kate Amer	....	production coordinator
Jeremy Beiermann	....	production secretary
Adam Berry	....	additional production assistant
Jennifer Byrne	....	assistant production coordinator
Drucilla Ann Carlson	....	script supervisor
Nicholas Carranza	....	production assistant
Amy Clark	....	location assistant
Laura Comerford	....	insurance services
J. John Corbett	....	title designer
Janet Cowperthwaite	....	manager: Kronos Quartet
Kathleen Dagis	....	stand-in
Sara Ellingen	....	production assistant
Bill Feightner	....	vice president of technology
Sarah Foerster	....	production intern
Jennifer Gaylord	....	legal services
Lisa Gillespie	....	production assistant
Chris Gober	....	production intern
Carrie Goodman	....	location assistant
Todd Helbing	....	assistant: Barbara Turner
Jeffrey Hurt	....	craft service foreman
Renee Kitterman	....	accounting assistant
Sarah Klein	....	assistant: Josh Astrachan
Keith Kolecki	....	production assistant
Ross L. Kulma	....	set medic
Arona Martin	....	assistant: Neve Campbell
Allison McKenzie	....	assistant: Barbara Turner
Tom Nicoll	....	key set production assistant
Sara Nudelman	....	production intern
Noel Olken	....	location manager
Carrie Oviatt	....	payroll accountant
Stefan Rand	....	production assistant
Harriet Ross	....	artistic manager: Joffrey Ballet
Albert G. Ruben	....	insurance services
Adrienne Swan	....	first assistant accountant
Jon Maichel Thomas	....	title designer
Christi Tidman	....	production accountant
Brett Tyne	....	assistant: Robert Altman and David Levy
Dan Urbain	....	remote head technician
Jan Watson	....	company manager
Meghan K. Wicker	....	assistant: Killer Films
Candace Wirt	....	production intern
Stuart Wolf	....	unit publicist
Mark N. Woods	....	technocrane operator
Michael J. Harker	....	completion bond company representative (uncredited)
Michael Landers	....	additional voices (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Sony Pictures Classics
• Capitol Films
• CP Medien AG
• Killer Films
• John Wells Productions
• First Snow Production
• Sandcastle 5 Productions
• S.R.O. Entertainment AG
• Marly Pictures Inc.

Distributors

• Paradise Group (2003) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Classics (2003) (USA) (theatrical)
• Monopole-Pathé (2004) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Mongrel Media (2004) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Paradiso Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• TriPictures (2004) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Medusa Distribuzione (2004) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Momentum Pictures (2004) (UK) (theatrical)
• Concorde Filmverleih (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• SPO (2004) (Japan) (theatrical)
• ArtCam (2004) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (2005) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2005) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Avsar Film (2003) (Turkey) (all media)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2004) (USA) (VHS)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Rodman Kiser F/X (special effects)
• Big Film Design (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Footsteps Post-Production Sound  foley recorded at
• Sony Classical  soundtrack published by

Also Known As:

The Company - Das Ensemble (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 on appeal for brief strong language, some nudity and sexual content.

Runtime:

Canada:112 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | USA:112 min | Argentina:112 min

Country:

Germany | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS (8 channels)

Certification:

Iceland:L | France:U | Portugal:M/12 | Australia:PG | Brazil:12 | Germany:o.Al. | Netherlands:AL | Singapore:NC-16 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12A | USA:PG-13 (re-rating on appeal) | Argentina:Atp | USA:R (original rating) (certificate #39884) | Canada:PG (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Sony Pictures Classics

Trivia:

As screenwriter Barbara Turner knew next to nothing about the world of dance, she hung out with the Joffrey Ballet Company for several weeks, during their rehearsals and while they were out socializing.

Goofs:

Continuity: At about 1h 45m into the film, during the curtain call, those dancers were standing at different positions from different angles. Watch for the two men who were wearing blue and red bodysuits, they were standing at different places.

Quotes:

Alberto Antonelli: I hate pretty!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in O Lucky Malcolm! (2006)

Soundtrack:

Auld Lang Syne

Beautiful ballet scenes with token romance plot spliced in. 6/10.

The ballet sequences are probably the most breathtaking we've seen in a fiction film. Altman succeeds in putting ballet in the fore, instead of characters or story. This was his intention, and on this front he gets a 8/10. However, where there are not ballet scenes, there is a story: Neve Campbell wrote it. And she seems not to have seen any other romance movie since the dawn of time. Its just the kind of romance subplot a little girl WOULD write: with soft lighting, flickering candlelight, a beautiful boy who does nothing wrong, listens to your problems, sleeps with you, and lets you get on with your dancing. He appears when it is convenient for both Neve and Bob Altman to insert a romantic scene: and just as gimmicky a brushstroke as this, is his entrance always being marked by the same song, My Funny Valentine. It was nice how they had four different versions of the song, for different moods: the upbeat poolhall number for their meeting, the romantic one for the seduction, and a more melancholy one when she's missing him. Anyone who knows this song (most of us), feel how gimmicky a device this is when it arrives again.

So far is this from the dramatic conflict between love and dancing in Powell and Pressburger's The Red Shoes that we're almost barren of any narrative drive or dramatic conflict at all. That's my main problem with The Company - nothing goes wrong. Or when it does go wrong (raining on the night of a performance), it always serves to improve the moment for the protagonists: indeed it is an incredible scene, Neve dancing a duet with a Joffret dancer. A moving, beautiful dance. But that's precicely the problem: there is no problem!

Malcolm McDowell is no good. He gets a C-. He tries, but its so obvious throughout that he knows not a jot about ballet, and he just walks around play-acting at a ballet coach from the movies, while the real Joffret coaches tell the dancers what they need to know. And his calling everyone "babies" is a clumsy attempt to create character through a catchphrase.

6/10

Beautiful ballet scenes, A+ for putting the dancing centre-stage, so to speak (as opposed to the tawdry melodrama called Centre Stage). But all we've got to go on narrative-wise is a thin-as-a-ballet-ribbon romance subplot. If this wasn't there, actually, it might have been a very successful art movie - but its gimmicky presence is so clumsy its a fault.