High
Strung (2016/Sony DVD)
Picture:
B Sound: B+ Extras: D Film: A-
Ruby
(Keenan Kampa), a young, talented ballet dancer comes to New York and
immediately runs into illegal British street performer/violinist
Johnnie (Nicholas Galitzine). As their worlds collide, so does their
different styles, dance, and music. Between class and the streets,
Ruby and Johnnie's friends battle it out with their impromptu dance
and music battles, but when trouble threatens Ruby's scholarship (in
New York under Manhattan Dance Company) and threatens to deport
Johnnie. Can they work together to save each other?
In
Michael Damian's High Strung (2016), Ruby is from the upper
class 'elite' society (and being a virgin factors into things),
Johnnie is struggling to get an American Visa. When they clash,
sparks fly and between the two begins an unspoken attraction, but as
things get heated up Ruby and Johnnie find themselves in trouble when
Ruby isn't performing up to standard, her scholarship is threatened.
Johnie finds that his fake lawyer stole his money and American
immigration office wants to deport him. Now, their only hope is to
win the String and Dance competition... together.
This
was another dance movie where young talented dancers and musicians
battle it out on who is the best, a fusion of old with new, ballet
mixes with rap and street dancing. The movie was like a fairy tale
Romeo and Juliet of traditional vs modern. Of course, REAL ballet
teacher companies would never think of modernization, much evolution
of to modern dancing (God forbid change), but this was very
effective. This is singer/actor Damian's fourth feature film as
director. Jane Seymour also stars.
The
anamorphically enhanced 2.35 X 1 image is really nice for the format,
making one wonder where the Blu-ray is, while the lossy Dolby Digital
5.1 mix is very active and well recorded. Wish it were lossless.
There are no extras.
-
Ricky Chiang
