'Dance First' Review
“Dance First” is a unique title for a unique movie. This is a biopic drama about Samuel Beckett, the writer of many works, including “Waiting for Godot”. He’s played by Gabriel Byrne, who delivers an excellent performance. The film opens in 1969, in black and white, when Beckett wins the Nobel Prize for Literature. He’s hesitant to get up on stage, and pretty soon we wonder, ‘What kind of movie are we in for here?’
He begins talking with another version of himself (also played by Byrne). They question where — or who — should receive the prize money. “Dance First” is about reflection. We flash back to the younger version of Beckett (played by Fionn O’Shea). It’s a challenging role that O’Shea pulls off. There’s a specific demeanor and attitude Beckett has, especially in his younger days, and O’Shea conveys that really well.
“Dance First” (a title with power to its significance) is also about regrets, looking back on your youth, and how you want to remember the people who influenced your life and the work that you’ve done. Aidan Gillen plays writer James Joyce, who was a mentor to Beckett. It’s a great character. The conversations are unapologetic. There are a lot of scenes with fantastic meanings behind them and lessons learned.
The middle section is the slowest and least compelling, but that’s a minor quibble. Honestly, this is one of the most sophisticated and mature movies I’ve seen in quite some time. James Marsh (of “The Theory of Everything” and phenomenal Oscar-winning documentary “Man on Wire”) does a really strong job with the direction.
If you’re able to see this in a theater near you, or watch it at home when it premieres on digital platforms on August 16th, I highly recommend you check out “Dance First”.
