It’s time for our April Smart Bitches Movie Matinee, where we all watch a romantic movie, possibly a comedy, when it’s most convenient, then convene on the last Sunday of the month to discuss together!
This month, I bring you a conversation wherein RedHeadedGirl, Amanda, and Carrie explain this month’s pick.
Sarah: This month’s movie is Strictly Ballroom, which I have never seen. Why do I have to see this movie?
Redheadedgirl: Baz Luhrmann does competitive ballroom dancing.
Amanda: Get ready for a numbered list.
- Australians
- Costumes
- An Ugly Duckling romance
- COSTUMES
- Quirky af
- Sassy children
- Did I mention the costumes yet?
Redheadedgirl: OMG THE COSTUMES!
It’s so Baz.
Like, you though Moulin Rouge was peak Baz?
It was not.
Amanda: And it uses “Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps” by Doris Day (this is the actual scene from the movie, so be warned) in the soundtrack and words cannot express how much I love that song.
Redheadedgirl: I forgot about that scene.
I am so happy for you that you get to experience this for the first time.
Carrie: The music!
So, you ready for some eyeball candy of the highest grade, plus romance? Yay! And good news: Strictly Ballroom is available on Netflix!
It is also available on iTunes and Amazon, and the DVD can be found at your local library, or very cheaply online in new and used condition from Amazon or Alibris.
I had never heard of this movie but just watched it and it was wonderful. It made up for a really hard day in court. Thanks for the recommendation
In order to understand, you’d have to be a trained professional such as myself or federation president Barry Fife.
So here’s the thing, I love this movie but the last couple of times I’ve watched it I have become terribly depressed. Because I now watch everything streaming on my computer instead of a television, I can look up people and places and songs and all of the stuff because it’s all on the internet.
There is something so awesomely bad about Scott’s mother, Shirley, in this film and I always end up looking her up. Pat Thompson died the same year this was released, before it premiered.
See? It’s depressing.
It won’t keep me from rewatching it. It’s a damn good movie.
Yeah, that could have used a few commas. Sorry about that.
This movie is just fabulous – clever, funny, sweet and the dancing, oh the dancing.
It has a fascinating history too. Apparently it originated as an end-of-year senior production for the graduating acting class at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (more commonly known as NIDA) in Sydney. Baz Luhrmann was one of the students in the play. He (with some others I believe) asked NIDA for the rights to make it into a full play production which had garnered great success and then Baz again came back and asked to turn it into a movie. As far as I’m aware this is how the movie came into being though I’ve never actually looked up the details – this was just something I had learned in passing.
Anyway for all those discovering it for the first time I really hope you enjoy it
That whole soundtrack is just The Best. I have loved it to death and am on at least my second CD. It’s great cleaning music, or PT music.. gets the blood moving. The movie is also fun 🙂
I’ve only seen this once when I was a wee Gingerly and I’m not sure if I’ve even seen it all the way through? I keep getting flashes of Guy Pearce in Priscilla through my head which along with cough syrup is making me question everything, but I really want to watch it now. Unfortunately, it’s a school night so this will have to wait until tomorrow – boooooo.
An absolute fav … I had the VHS, now the DVD, I’ve got the soundtrack on CD … as others before have said: LOVE. THIS. MOVIE.
@ Gingerly – we saw “Priscilla” recently and you know, I would really like to see Guy Pearce in DWTS or something like that, because he’s amazingly graceful.
There is thematic (and casting) overlap between “Priscilla,” “Strictly Ballroom,” and “Muriel’s Wedding.” Sort of the trifecta of Aussie movies well-known in the U.S. 🙂