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Take the Lead

Take the Lead

Drama · Music · 2006

A former professional dancer volunteers to teach dance in the New York public school system and, while his background first clashes with his students' tastes, together they create a completely new style of dance. Based on the story of ballroom dancer, Pierre Dulane.

Movie details

Take the Lead

“Never Follow”

2006 Drama · Music 1h 58m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.9 / 10

Community rating

A former professional dancer volunteers to teach dance in the New York public school system and, while his background first clashes with his students' tastes, together they create a completely new style of dance. Based on the story of ballroom dancer, Pierre Dulane.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Take the Lead?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Liz Friedlander

Written by

Dianne Houston

Antonio Banderas

Antonio Banderas

Pierre Dulaine

Rob Brown

Rob Brown

Rock

Yaya DaCosta

Yaya DaCosta

LaRhette

Alfre Woodard

Alfre Woodard

Augustine James

John Ortiz

John Ortiz

Mr. Temple

Laura Benanti

Laura Benanti

Tina

K

Katya Virshilas

Morgan

Court is in session

Put Take the Lead on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Adrenaline Seeker

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.