THIS IS THE MOVIE THAT "A CHORUS LINE--THE MOVIE"
SHOULD HAVE BEEN!!! WOW!  I CAME SEEING THIS DOCUMENTARY WITH HIGH EXPECTATIONS
AND THEY WERE ALL MET  EVEN GIVING ME MORE THAN I EXPECTED!

If you have seen the show you must see
this movie and if you haven't seen the show you must see this movie. This
is just like watching a live performance of A Chorus Line on stage!

I really don't know where to begin. At certain
points there are moments that are more powerful than they were on stage. What
makes this remarkable is that when you see a production of "A Chorus Line" the
performers already have a job but when you see this film it shows actual
performers vying against each others for a role that for various reasons they
want, in the 2006 revival .  This is real, not actors being someone
else.

There are performances
from the archives that bring many of the original performers, some only voices,
contrasting them with the current auditioners . When Jason Tam does Paul's
monologue and you see all the veteran Broadway people who are deciding who will
be chosen, people who have seen hundreds perform the role of Paul, cry when he
is finished (as I did watching the film) you know why he was chosen and , yet,
you don't forget the original Paul, Sammy Williams, who is shown doing some of
the monologue.

There is the remarkable
Donna McKechnie, the original Cassie,
talking about Michael Bennett, the original cast and being shown doing her role
that won her a Tony and Charlotte D'ambroise who will play Cassie in the
revival after competing with others for the role even though she is a major
player on Broadway.

     
The film runs 98 minutes and I wish it was twice as long. Though many
numbers are done most, like Dance 10, Looks 3, are just snippets and too many,
like Nothing aren't done at all.  Some parts were obviously cast at the
beginning because roles like that of Diana or Zack or given short shrift if even
mentioned at all.
There is a lot of time spent with Connie, Sheila and Mike and with some
where you can see why talented performers are obviously turned down.
I learned many new things that I never even paid
attention to, or was aware, of such how Dance 10, Looks 3 got that title and
every age up to 18 is mentioned in song or script, how Nicholas Dante,  James
Kirkward, Marvin Hamlisch and Edward Kleban (though I don't recall the latter
even being mentioned) took the actual words from the original dancer's tapes and
turned them into lyrics and music and spoken words.
I could go on for 98 minutes just talking about this film but all I can
say is that when it comes out on DVD I will/must buy a DVD player so I can watch
it every day and/or whenever I need a "A Chorus Line" fix!!!
AN AMAZING DOCUMENTARY!!!!!  SEE IT!! BUY THE DVD!!