There is something piercingly affecting about this film and it’s mainly to do with how much this particular musical means to the dancers and singers whose lives it represents.
Every Little Step (2009)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:86
Fresh:78
Rotten:8
Average Rating:7.5/10
Consensus: Fascinating and insightful, Every Little Step is a thoroughly engrossing behind the scenes look at Broadway performers.
Australian Rating: M [See Full Rating] Coarse language
Runtime: 1 hr 36 mins
Genre: Musical & Performing Arts
Australian Theatrical Release:
Jul 2, 2009 Wide
US Box Office: $1,528,106
Synopsis: After raking in awards at several major film festivals, EVERY LITTLE STEP reaches movie audiences and Broadway fans alike. A film about a musical that is itself about the casting of a musical, the... After raking in awards at several major film festivals, EVERY LITTLE STEP reaches movie audiences and Broadway fans alike. A film about a musical that is itself about the casting of a musical, the documentary takes fans inside the makings of A CHORUS LINE. Much of it focuses on the casting process for the musical’s 2005 revival, though it also takes fans through the show’s many incarnations and to its original inspiration. Back in 1974, choreographer Michael Bennett saw the potential for a spectacular show in the recorded late-night conversations of several stage performers. One year--and a lot of labor--later, A CHORUS LINE premiered to high acclaim, introducing the world to what would turn out to be a timeless work. EVERY LITTLE STEP takes viewers through the next few decades with rare footage and fresh interviews, showing the show’s history unfold in a world filled with war, anxiety, and political change. As casting is done is for the 2005 revival, audiences see how much the times have changed in the light of media outlets like MySpace and AMERICAN IDOL. As viewers get to know the actors behind the production, the realms of theater and reality blur. With its underdog heroes and self-reflexive narrative, A CHORUS LINE is understandably appealing to today’s reality-show audiences. The film is the joint effort of directors James D. Stern and Adam Del Deo, whose backgrounds as theatre producers, filmmakers, and documentarians combine well to create a film that manages to be not only educational but as entertaining as its subject. [More]
Director: James D. Stern, Adam Del Deo
Director: James D. Stern, Adam Del Deo
Producer: James D. Stern, Adam Del Deo
Composer: Jane Antonia Cornish
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics
Reviews for Every Little Step
This fascinating American made documentary tracks a disparate group of dancers trying out for a range of roles in a Broadway revival of the iconic stage musical A Chorus Line.
Fantastic behind-the-scenes sing/dance documentary which gives much more insight into the audition process than all those TV shows.
Just as powerful as the original musical -- keeps you glued to the fascinating and heartbreaking audition process.
All the dancers who move towards the final cut are so good that the line between success and failure seems cruelly arbitrary and the disappointment of those who don't make it is acute. But nobody's giving up.
There are still plenty of engrossing aspects to the film, moments in the audition process that demonstrate the complexity of performance.
We're left with a deep sense of admiration for those who are prepared to face rejection routinely in pursuit of a dream.
A rousing glimpse into the life of a dancer, this involving, moving and thrilling documentary revisits choreographer Michael Bennett's multi-award winning stage show by brilliantly cross-linking it with auditions for its 2006 New York revival
An all access pass to the intimate behind-the-scenes process of casting and rehearsing the revival of the beloved Broadway musical, "A Chorus Line." If you're a fan of the show, you'll love this movie. If you're not familiar with the show, you'll be an in
A bit like watching sausages getting made, but it's fascinating... made from the trenches for people who have no idea what casting looks like.
It instills an appreciation for the tremendous amount of work and passion that the performers put into their craft.
I know what to expect. I am going to see some dancers make it, some not make it, and that’s what it is.
It’s a huge improvement over the Attenborough film; given the film’s non-fiction roots, it seems poetically apt that a documentary take is much more satisfying and engaging than the Hollywood treatment.
No glitz or highly edited voice-overs gussy up the portrayal of artists who brim with passion and are willing to do anything to pursue their dream.
The tights and the hairstyles may have changed a lot in 30 years, but the desperation and the elation remain the same.
Feeds our ever-growing need to root for talented performers seeking that proverbial big break.
Their history of the show, studded with clips from Bennett's original audiotapes, adds a fascinating subtext: in chronicling Broadway, A Chorus Line changed it forever.
Latest News for Every Little Step
November 19, 2009:
Academy Releases Documentary Shortlist ![]()
Awards season is just around the corner, and to prove it, the Academy just released its list of the 15 films still vying for a Documentary Feature Oscar. More...
April 16, 2009:
Critics Consensus: 17 Again Is Sweet And Poignant
This week at the movies, we've got a high school do-over (17 Again, starring Zac Efron and Leslie Mann), some journalistic thrills (State of Play, starring Russell Crowe and... More...
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