There are many themes in the movie, but it seems the underlying theme that carries through the whole film is the power of television and the people behind it. The movie is pot-holed with interludes where people in the television industry share their comments and thoughts on the lives of the characters and the power of TV, (but don't worry, unlike many movies I can think of, this does not jar the flow of the movie, which is quite an accomplishment). One woman says (and no, this isn't an exact quote) that if a commercial can convince you that a certain ant-acid is the solution to your pain, or that one insurance company is the solution to your debt problems, then it can certainly convince someone that violence is the answer, can't it? This has been a long debated topic since the beginning of television, and Nicole Ari Parker squares off with Isaiah Washington over this very issue during the course of the movie, while trying to juggle their intertwining professions, relationsips, and ultimately, the morals that both bring them together and put them at odds.

This movie shows the depth and evolution of a person superbly, portraying the effect television, power, money, love, hate, confusion, controversy and rejection have on a persons heart, soul, and life.

The movie started out much as I expected it to, a reasonably interesting light hearted film centering on three main characters; Isaiah Washington, who plays an ambitious african-american with dreams of being an influential power in the television industry. Nicole Ari Parker plays a strong headed and strong willed african-american woman (as usual), but in this movie, she brings an extra element of magic to the character she gets type-casted into so often. There's a genuine emotion about her performance in this movie that feels real. Maybe it's because this is a topic that really does effect her, after all, she is an actress. Last, but not least, you have Vicellous Reon Shannon, who plays a confused youth caught up with the drama and baggage of a young daughter, an angry girlfriend, and her volatile gang-banger boyfriend. Shannon's character goes through the most phases of evolution, going from depressed and down on his luck, to fame in a second, to arrogance, to everything falling to pieces, and finally to the moment of truth, where everything that has piled up on his nerves and emotions climbs to a feverish climax, bringing every character in the movie to a confrontation of their own lives and decisions. Without Shannon's character, you wouldn't have a movie.

The GREATEST feature of this movie, however, is that every character starts off relatively innocent and ambitious with strong-standing morals and visions for their life. Determined to stand their ground against the arrogant, greedy and emotionally blind executives in the TV industry who try to conform and supress their ideas, they find themselves slowly crushed, melted and molded to what the industry wants them to be, spurred inexorably into the fires by their own aspirations. What's so great about this, is that 3/4's of the way through the movie, each character in the movie has evolved into the one person whom they hated in the beginning of the story. Nicole Ari Parker becomes the self-absorbed screen writer, unable to hear the voice of other, perhaps wiser people. Isaiah Washington, who arguably had the lowest standards to begin with, becomes the dis-loyal father whom he's hated for so many years by abandoning Nicole Ari Parker's character in her moment of need. Last, but not least, Shannon's character ends up drawn back to his old image of gangsta, a man of the streets, and evolves consequently into the image of his baby-mother's volatile boyfriend whom he's been so opposed to since the beginning of the film.

Finally, each character finding themselves at a point in their lives they swore they would never be at, they are all faced with several life-changing decisions, and in a climax that will you leave you utterly breathless, fall back to ground-zero, each character in a different way, forced to take a look back on their life and what effects their decisions may have had on their peers, friends, and relationships.

"Dancing in September" is a sombre, accurate and moving character study that is sadly under-recognized as well as under-appreciated. "Dancing in September" is filled with hidden meanings, subliminal messages, and out-right confrontations of multiple issues our society refuses to face today. This is a film that will make you think, something the television and movie-making industry lacks now-a-days, and something that more movies need.


Staying true to yourself   May 14, 2004
S. M. Anderson (Lithia Springs, GA)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

I really enjoyed this movie. It shows what can happen when you are behind the scenes of show business. How a person can get caught up, and how much it can change your life, and not always for the better. A really good movie to watch, with some good acting. People will want to compare this movie to Bamboolzed, but they are very different. I saw this when it first came on HBO a few years ago. Tommy Crawford (Nicole Ari Parker of TV's "Soul Food"), is a staff writer on a television sitcom. When she speaks out about the show she is writing on she gets fired.

She pitches her own television series to a start-up television network. George Washington (Isaiah Washington), an ambitious executive at the network, sees Tommy's show as a way up the corporate ladder and champions the project. Tommy's (called "Just Us") is on the network's fall line-up after some "creative tweaking."

Another reason to check out this movie is for Vicellous Reon Shannon's performance as James or "Semaj." His character is going through some emotional changes, and he is trying to make good with the mother of his child played by Melinda Williams (Soul Food Series). This movie is really excellent, and it's one you really should see. It's powerful without beating you on the head. You will get the message easily.


Good Film   September 15, 2003
mistermaxxx@yahoo.com (usa)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful

this film is really cool.it takes you behind scenes of a Show from the Writer&Producer Perspective.this Film&Bamboozled have alot in common.the sad Part not much has realy changed with how Hollywood acknowledges the Diversity in Black life on TV.it's still the Same Ole Same ole overall.this film deals with alot of issues head on.Props to the cast.