The Company (film)
| The Company | |
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The Company movie poster
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| Directed by | Robert Altman |
| Produced by |
Robert Altman Joshua Astrachan Neve Campbell Pamela Koffler David Levy Christine Vachon |
| Written by |
Barbara Turner (screenplay) Barbara Turner & Neve Campbell (story) |
| Starring |
Neve Campbell Malcolm McDowell James Franco |
| Music by | Van Dyke Parks |
| Cinematography | Andrew Dunn |
| Edited by | Geraldine Peroni |
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Production
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Release date
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Running time
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112 minutes |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $15 million |
| Box office | $6,401,690 |
The Company is a 2003 drama film directed by Robert Altman and starring Neve Campbell, who co-wrote and co-produced the film. The film also stars Malcolm McDowell and James Franco and is set in the company of the Joffrey Ballet.
The Company is composed of stories gathered from the dancers, choreographers, and staff of the Joffrey Ballet. Most of the roles are played by company members. While a small subplot relates a love story between Campbell's character and a character played by James Franco, most of the movie focuses on the company as a whole, without any real star or linear plot. The many company stories woven together express the dedication and hard work that dancers must put in to their art, although they are seldom rewarded with fame or fortune.
The part of Alberto Antonelli was reportedly inspired by the real life dancer and choreographer Gerald Arpino.
The Company was an idea of Campbell's for a long time — she began her career as a ballet dancer, having been a student at Canada's National Ballet School. Altman was initially reluctant to direct the film, reportedly remarking, "Barbara, I read your script and I don't get it. I don't understand. I don't know what it is. I'm just the wrong guy for this." The director eventually relented, however, and The Company turned out to be his penultimate film. Neve Campbell and James Franco prepared for their roles as restaurant workers by training under Mickaël Blais, the chef of Marche, an upscale bistro in Chicago.
Dance lighting for the Joffrey Ballet portions was composed by the dance lighting designer Kevin Dreyer.
Excerpts of the following dance pieces are included in the film:
The Company was given a limited release on December 25, 2003, earning $93,776 in eleven theaters over its opening weekend. The film ultimately grossed $2,283,914 in North America and $4,117,776 in foreign markets, bringing its worldwide box office total to $6,401,690—well below its estimated $15 million budget.
The Company received a mostly positive response from critics. The film currently holds a 71% positive "Fresh" rating on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus, "Its deliberately unfocused narrative may frustrate some viewers, but The Company finds Altman gracefully applying his distinctive eye to the world of dance."
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