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RAZZLE DAZZLE
By debbie lynn elias
So what would a film festival be without at least one d ynamic and dazzling mockumentary? A lot less entertaining, I can tell you that. Thankfully, we don’t have to worry about that at LAFF this year as award winning commercial director Darren Ashton brings us some good clean and irreverently funny family fun thanks to a whole lot of RAZZLE DAZZLE.
Since the early days of entertainment, and probably as far back as the Greeks and then some, there have been stage mothers, cut-throat competitions and starstruck little children all clamoring for that lead role, the spotlight, the glitz, the glamour, just one more day in the sun. (Now mind you, I’m talking about the kids, not the mothers....well, maybe not....but that’s another story). And as recorded history shows us, those few key elements have proven invaluable in providing media fodder, legal precedent, creating stars, dashing Olympic hopes with the blade of an ice skate, and on and on. Which brings us to our story - the quest for gold and the title of champion dance school at Australia’s most coveted dance competition, The Sanosafe Troupe Spectacular.
Concentrating on two schools with two very different schools of thought, in this corner we have Mr. Jonathon and his Jazzketeers. A self-perceived well known second rate dancer and choreographer, Mr. Jonathon believes that through dance he can not only entertain, but educate. Unique in his conceptionalization process, he focuses on politically motivated global issue routines such as animal drug testing, corporate slavery and downtrodden and enslaved Afghani women. Instead of practice sessions that would harken to the principles and disciplines of Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire, Mr. Jonathan encourages his students to break into groups as caged animals being hunted by mad gun-toting scientists, having them writhe around on the floor flailing their little arms and legs, following the “flow” of their own energies - or peer rivalry. Aiding and abetting the Jazzketeers in their pursuit of dancing gold is Mr. Jonathon’s assistant Barbara. A kindly woman with only the best of intentions, she has set new records with the number of foster children she has aided. She has also set new records for the number of foster children “returned.” And it’s always after a dance recital. The troupe’s costume designer is Marianne. Never speaking a word, with her gothic look it’s no wonder she is able to translate Mr. Jonathon’s visions in fantastical costumes that often look a cross between Betsey Johnson and Cyndi Lauper of the 80's. And what troupe wouldn’t be complete without a pushy pesky narcissistic stage mother with a daughter of only fair talents and the rival new kid on the block with a sweet divorced pregnant mom who captivates Mr. Jonathon’s attention and hormones? Here, we have obnoxious, pushy, obsessive, demanding, over-the-top stage mother Justine and her tiara-wearing daughter (I swear that thing is imbedded in her head) Tenille and the sincerely lovely, genteel, quiet Paulette and her legitimately talented daughter Grace.
In the other corner, we find Miss Elizabeth and her five-time grand final winning dance troupe. With her hair pulled in a bun so tight she has a built-in face lift, she has the disciplines of stick wielding Debbie Allen in “Fame.” Ballet positions, straight backs, firm shoulders, weigh-ins, starvation, and dance routines that are always covered in sequins and end in a Rockette kick line are her trademarks.
Watching each troupe prepare for the regionals, semi-finals and ultimately the finals, we are taken backstage, behind the scenes watching the girls struggle and rehearse, fighting for that all important center stage lead. We see the mental thought processes that the instructors go through, although Miss Elizabeth has no real thought process and uses the same tired routine day in and day out, and Mr. Jonathon is a whirlwind of indecisiveness stating, “I like to take the audience, show them very clearly where we’re going, suddenly from behind slip a bag over their head, bend them over double, get them in a head-lock, rabbit-punch them very, very quickly in the kidneys, get he knuckles of my hand and rub them all over their face, and then whip the bag off, kiss them...see...’cause I’ve subverted them.”
As semi-finals day approaches, it is clear that Grace is the stand-out in the Jazzketeers and not Tenille, although Justine will never admit that. Mr. Jonathon is certain he’s going to make it to the finals at Sanosafe this time thanks to his political commentary on the corporate world. On the other hand, Miss Elizabeth is confident that her troupe will be going back for its sixth victory thanks to her safe, precise “classy” routine. When the winners are finally announced, there is joy in Miss Elizabeth’s camp, but none for Mr. Jonathon as the Jazzketeers place third. But wait! What’s this? The next day word comes that the second place troupe has been in a bus accident with their instructor losing her leg. The Jazzketeers are going to Sanosafe!
Kerry Armstrong leads the pack as Justine. Key to the entire mockumentary format, director Darren Ashton knew this role above all others had to be perfectly cast. He had Armstrong in mind from the start and capitalized on her creative energy throughout shooting, often improving mich of Justine’s persona. Let me tell you, whatever the two of them did to nail the character, it worked. You will have tears rolling down your cheeks and want to slap Justine upside her head all at the same time. The other primary role was that of Mr. Jonathon. Difficult to cast because of needing an actor who could pull off deadpan comedic delivery and timing but also needed to dance. Ashton found Ben Miller in England, and once he heard him read for the part, opted for deadpan delivery over dance and brought in “Moulin Rouge!” choreographer John O’Connell to not only teach Miller how to dance but to choreograph each and every dance routine in the film.
According to Ashton, however, the most difficult challenge was casting the Jazzketeers and Miss Elizabeth’s dance troupe. It took auditioning over 600 little girls before the dancers were in place. Paving the way are the two featured girls - Shayne Notelovita as Tenille and Clancy Ryan as Grace. Both are accomplished dancers and both are making their feature film debuts here with wondrous results.!
Written by Carolyn Wilson, RAZZLE DAZZLE is her first screenplay and she has come up with a winner. Based on a very short story (3 pages) that director Darren Ashton stumbled upon, the story started with stage mother Justine who would do anything to see her child succeed no matter what. With Wilson then calling her own personal experiences into play, from there, the project took off like Fred and Ginger flying down to Rio. With rapier wit, deadpan borderline slapstick comedy all premised on “real events” there are times you are asking yourself is this life or art. And you don’t stop laughing. Interestingly, Ashton chose not to give the main Jazzketeers a copy of the script, leaving life to play a hand in their performances but for some rehearsal of the “finalized” routines. He even went so far as to have make-up designer Troy Follington put together make-up kits for the girls and have them do their own hair and make-up throughout the 27 day shoot.
Shooting in high-definition, cinematographer Gary Phillips used a two camera set-up to achieve the documentary feel. This also allowed him to keep the cameras rolling and capture all of the dance and by shooting’s end, 120 hours of raw footage.
Completing the package is the film’s soundtrack. An absolute killer for a multitude of generations, we have everything from the mandatory dance must-haves like “Flashdance” and Toni Basile’s “Mickey” to old standards like “Big Spender” and “That’s Entertainment.”
Who will win? Will Tenille be a star or fall on her conceited little face? Will someone finally slap Justine across the face and tell her to shut up or break her leg? Will Paulette and Mr. Jonathon get together? Will the Jazzketeers finally bring home the gold? Truly a celebration of dance with a wickedly funny petty twist, this is the most entertaining, upbeat and fun film of the fest. Oh yeah...give me that old RAZZLE DAZZLE!
RAZZLE DAZZLE screens Friday, June 22 at 7:15 p.m. at The Landmark and on Tuesday, June 26 at 7:30 p.m. at the Mann Festival.
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