Breaking
Through
(2015/XLrator DVD)
Picture:
C Sound: C Extras: D Film: B-
Casey
(Sophie Aguiar) became an overnight online dance celebrity through
YouTube and internet, but in order to reach the next level of stardom
her manager tells her to dance moves that aren't hers and she must
create an internet persona of what her fans expect/want. But is it
worth losing herself and her friends? All Casey wanted was to be
popular, to choreography her own dance moves and dance on the world
stage and in John Swetnam's Breaking
Through
(2015), she may get more than expected.
When
she gets her chance, she forgets of all her friends who helped her
and even ignores them when they try to warn her she's in danger. She
realizes only too late even though she has everything and it means
nothing if she doesn't have any friends or be herself. Only after
one of her friends gets raped on web-cam (with the world watching)
does she realize how wrong she was and she lost something much more
just her friends.
This is an age old story that has been told
too many times, a story of a young starlet dreaming of fame and
fortune only to realize how far they have fallen and how hollow is
fame when they can't even be themselves. It is only after some
tragic event do they realize they sold their soul for money and fame.
Is it all her fault about that sexual assault, though? That's a
major problem with this otherwise formula dance tale. John Legend
co-produced.
The
anamorphically enhanced 2.35 X 1 image (shot with an Arri Alexa) is
too soft throughout, while the lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is very
uneven and weak in the non-music moments. There are no extras.
-
Ricky Chiang
