Save the Last Dance (2001)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Thomas Carter

Writers (WGA):

Duane Adler (story)
Duane Adler (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

12 January 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Music | Romance

Tagline:

The Only Person You Need To Be Is Yourself.

Plot:

A white midwestern girl moves to Chicago, where her new boyfriend is a black teen from the South Side with a rough, semi-criminal past.

Plot Keywords:

Dance | Dancing | Ghetto | Hip Hop | Slang

Awards:

6 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Julia Stiles	...	Sara
Sean Patrick Thomas	...	Derek
Kerry Washington	...	Chenille
Fredro Starr	...	Malakai
Terry Kinney	...	Roy
Bianca Lawson	...	Nikki
Vince Green	...	Snookie
Garland Whitt	...	Kenny
Elisabeth Oas	...	Diggy
Artel Great	...	Arvel (as Artel Jarod Walker)
Cory Stewart	...	Lip
Jennifer Anglin	...	Glynn
Dorothy Martin	...	Momma Dean
Kim Tlusty	...	Lindsay
Felicia Fields	...	Woman on Train
Ora Jones	...	Mrs. Gwynn
Tab Baker	...	Mr. Campbell
Kevin Reid	...	Wonk
Andrew Rothenberg	...	Stern Judge
Mekdes Bruk	...	Lakisha
Ronald Ray	...	Stepps Slacker
Tai'isha Davis	...	Tiffnee
Karimah Westbrook	...	Alyssa
Erica Hubbard	...	Jasmine
Richmond Talauega	...	Stepps Dancer
Whitney Powell	...	Toni
Brenda Pickleman	...	Older Disgusted Woman
Julie Greenberg	...	Gymnastics Teacher
Anna Paskevska	...	Ballet Instructor
Malaika Paul	...	Basketball Player
Jennifer Echols	...	Lavatory Girl
Ellie Weingardt	...	Ballet Judge's Assistant
Earl Manning	...	Hip Hop Dancer
Latisha Oliver	...	Hip Hop Dancer
Nefertiti Robinson	...	Hip Hop Dancer
Roland 'Ro Ro' Tabor	...	Hip Hop Dancer
Anthony Talauega	...	Hip Hop Dancer
Richard Whitebear	...	Hip Hop Dancer
Earl Wright	...	Hip Hop Dancer
Ariane Dolan	...	Ballet Dancer
Chryssie Whitehead	...	Ballet Dancer
Sarita Smith Childs	...	Ballet Dancer
Trinity Hamilton	...	Ballet Dancer
Randy Herrera	...	Ballet Dancer
Audrey Leung	...	Ballet Dancer
Katrina Oeffling	...	Ballet Dancer
Joanna Wozniak	...	Ballet Dancer
Maia Wilkins	...	Sea Shadow Dancer
Davis C. Robertson	...	Sea Shadow Dancer
Michael Anderson	...	Les Presages Dancer
Deanne Brown	...	Les Presages Dancer
Deborah Dawn	...	Les Presages Dancer
Nicole Marie Duffy	...	Les Presages Dancer
Sam Franke	...	Les Presages Dancer
Jennifer Goodman	...	Les Presages Dancer
Taryn Kaschock	...	Les Presages Dancer
Stacy Joy Keller	...	Les Presages Dancer
Calvin Kitten	...	Les Presages Dancer
Michael Levine	...	Les Presages Dancer
Pierre Lockett	...	Les Presages Dancer
Suzanne Lopez	...	Les Presages Dancer
Brian McSween	...	Les Presages Dancer
Jeremiah O'Connor	...	Les Presages Dancer
Emily Patterson	...	Les Presages Dancer
Domingo Rubio	...	Les Presages Dancer
Tracy Shields	...	Les Presages Dancer
Patrick Simonello	...	Les Presages Dancer
Guoping Wang	...	Les Presages Dancer
Teanna Zarro	...	Les Presages Dancer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Safia Jalila	...	Portia (uncredited)
Milauna Jemai	...	Hip Hop Dancer (uncredited)
Marcello Robinson	...	Student (uncredited)
Lora Starkman	...	Hip Hop Dancer (uncredited)

Directed by
Thomas Carter

Writing credits (WGA)
Duane Adler		(story)
Duane Adler		(screenplay) and
Cheryl Edwards		(screenplay)

Produced by
Marie Cantin	....	co-producer
Robert W. Cort	....	producer
Scarlett Lacey	....	associate producer
David Madden	....	producer
Douglas Curtis	....	co-producer (uncredited)
Douglas Curtis	....	line producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Mark Isham

Cinematography by
Robbie Greenberg		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Jeff Canavan
Fritz Feick

Casting by
Avy Kaufman

Production Design by
Paul Eads

Art Direction by
Diane Hughes

Set Decoration by
Tricia Schneider

Costume Design by
Sandra Hernandez

Makeup Department
Eadra Brown	....	hair stylist
Lun Yé Hodges	....	hair supervisor (as Lun Yé Marsh)
Claudia Moser	....	key makeup artist
Cheryl Pickenback	....	hair stylist
Anne Scheeley	....	makeup artist
Marsha Shearrill	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Dan Dugan	....	unit production manager (as Daniel S. Dugan)
Nan Morales	....	executive in charge of production (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Lisa Campbell	....	first assistant director
Robert A. Hudecek	....	second unit director
Jon Mallard	....	assistant director
Michael J. Moore	....	second assistant director
Noel Olken	....	additional second second director (uncredited)

Art Department
Wendy Bonn	....	club designer
Joanna S. Frank	....	set decorator/props coordinator (as Joanna Mickey)
Michael D. Gianneschi	....	assistant property master
Veloz Gomez	....	props
Anthony A. Ianni	....	set designer
Craig Jackson	....	set designer
Blake E. Matthys	....	on-set dresser
Mike Monckton	....	swing grip
Glenn Stevens	....	carpenter
Timothy W. Tiedje	....	property master
Gary E. Wamhoff	....	carpenter

Sound Department
Zack Davis	....	adr editor
Jason England	....	dialogue editor
Tammy Fearing	....	adr editor
Dana LeBlanc Frankley	....	adr assistant (as Dana LeBlanc)
Lisa Gillespie	....	music playback
David K. Grant	....	sound recordist: second unit
Robin Harlan	....	foley artist
Gregory King	....	sound re-recording mixer
Andy Koyama	....	sound re-recording mixer
Susan Kurtz	....	dialog editor
Susan Kurtz	....	sound editor
Jeff Kushner	....	sound effects editor
Ron Meredith	....	assistant sound editor
Jon Michaels	....	assistant sound editor
Sarah Monat	....	foley artist
Ronnie Morgan	....	assistant sound editor
David Obermeyer	....	production sound mixer
Sarah Payan	....	sound editor
Vic Radulich	....	dialog editor
Blair Scheller	....	boom operator
Randy Singer	....	foley mixer (as Randy K. Singer)
Beth Sterner	....	supervising sound editor
David E. Stone	....	sound effects editor
Mike Szakmeister	....	supervising sound editor
Robert Ulrich	....	supervising adr editor
Ronald L. Wright	....	second boom operator
Joe DeAngelis	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
Bill Meadows	....	dubbing recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Ryan Evans	....	special effects
Rodman Kiser	....	special effects foreman
John D. Milinac	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Jennifer Law-Stump	....	digital effects artist: Pacific Title Digital

Stunts
Nicole Callender	....	stunts
Tobiasz Daszkiewicz	....	stunt driver
Erica Grace	....	stunts
Rick Le Fevour	....	stunt coordinator (as Rick LeFevour)
John 'Punch' Lewis	....	stunts
Tom Lowell	....	stunts
John Moio	....	stunt coordinator
Linda Perlin	....	stunts
Gene Williams	....	stunts
Percy "Spitfire" Brown	....	stunt actor: car driver (uncredited)
Daniel Maldonado	....	stunts (uncredited)
Angela Meryl	....	stunts (uncredited)
Larry C. Tankson	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Sam Bertone	....	electrician
Alphonse Blumenthal	....	chief lighting technician (as Al Blumenthal)
Kelly R. Borisy	....	first company grip (as Kelly Borisy)
Fernando M. Briones	....	grip (as Fernando Brienes)
Robert C. Carlson	....	first assistant photographer (as Robert Carlson)
Paolo Cascio	....	first assistant photographer: "b" camera (as Paul Cascio)
Chad Cutuara	....	electrician (as Chad Catuara)
Gerrit Dangremond	....	Steadicam operator
Gerrit Dangremond	....	camera operator
Peter J. Donoghue	....	chief rigging electrician (as Peter Donoghue)
Robert W. Faison	....	first assistant photographer: "b" camera
Fred Folmer	....	best boy grip
George A. Folmer	....	grip
John P. Friday	....	chief rigging technician (as John Friday)
Christopher Glasgow	....	grip (as Christopher J. Glasgow)
Bob Gomez	....	rigging electrician
Ron Goodman	....	camera operator: SpaceCam
Jim Handley	....	grip (as James Handley)
James Hartnett	....	second company rigging grip (as James M. Hartnett)
James Haworth	....	electrician
Rory Herbster	....	electrician (as Rory E. Herbster)
Michael Kohnhorst	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Kelly Krotine	....	film loader
Julie 'Doc' Lindstrom	....	additional grip
Anthony J. Lullo	....	assistant chief lighting technician (as Anthony Lullo)
Michelle M. Mann	....	second assistant photographer: "b" camera (as Michelle Mann)
Donna McLain	....	electrician
Rick Rios	....	electrician
James F. Roorda	....	first company rigging grip
Chris Ryerson	....	grip
Chris Stloukal	....	electrician
Jason Storandt	....	dolly grip operator
Michael Tackett	....	still photographer
Park B. Taylor	....	electrician
Makiko Watanabe	....	assistant camera
Thomas E. Whalen	....	video assist operator
Steven R. Wojcik	....	camera operator: "b" camera

Casting Department
Beth Bowling	....	casting associate
Kim Coleman	....	casting associate: Los Angeles
Nina Henninger	....	casting scout
Nina Henninger	....	search casting
Karen Peake	....	extras casting
Claire Simon	....	location casting
Teresa Thoma	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gordana Golubovich	....	costumer
Sukari McGill	....	set costumer
Sandra J. White	....	wardrobe coordinator
Katherine Wright	....	costume shopper
Michelle Martini	....	assistant costume designer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Kenny Becker	....	color timer
Chris Boscardin	....	assistant editor
Jeff Canavan	....	additional editor (as Jeff W. Canavan)
Alexander Garcia	....	first assistant editor
Sean Menzies	....	assistant editor
Jason Wasserman	....	apprentice film editor
David Young	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Joie Binns	....	music coordinator
Thomas A. Carlson	....	music editor (as Tom Carlson)
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor (as Sandy De Crescent)
Norman Dlugatch	....	music technical engineer (as Norm Dlugatch)
Dominic Gonzales	....	music floor person
Janice Hayen	....	music preparation
Stephen Krause	....	music mixer
Stephen Krause	....	music recordist
Ken Kugler	....	conductor
Ken Kugler	....	orchestrator
Suzan Mann	....	music clearance (as Suzán Mann)
Michael McQuarn	....	music supervisor
Cindy O'Connor	....	music assistant
Michael T. Ryan	....	supervising music editor
Paul Wertheimer	....	music recordist

Transportation Department
George DiLeonardi	....	transportation coordinator
Robert Wallace	....	driver

Other crew
Kwame Amoaku	....	production assistant
Natalie Angel	....	assistant to line producer
Susan Becton	....	production coordinator
Betsy Bottando	....	location manager
Jennifer Byrne	....	assistant to producer
Carol Sue Byron	....	production accountant
Paul Capalbo	....	production assistant
Randy Duncan	....	ballet choreographer
Jana Fain	....	development for Thomas Carter
Jay Floyd	....	clearance administrator
Karin Fong	....	title designer
Karen Garlich	....	office production assistant
Sherri Robin Goldman	....	payroll accountant
P.J. Haines	....	chef
Eric Hetzel	....	assistant to producer
Ross L. Kulma	....	first aid (as Ross Kulma)
Linda Leifer	....	script supervisor: second unit
Sean Lynn	....	assistant chef
Peter Madamba	....	script researcher
Ernie Malik	....	publicist
David Malley	....	production assistant
Pat McCarthy	....	production coordinator: pre-production
Ray McCort	....	aerial coordinator/pilot
David Mendoza	....	production assistant
Catherine Middleton	....	assistant accountant
Leslie Mikol	....	production assistant
Stefan Nikolov	....	location assistant
Carrie Oviatt	....	assistant production coordinator
Fatima Robinson	....	choreographer (as Fatima)
Ian Smith	....	prep assistant location manager
Rick Tropasso	....	first assistant accountant
Dan Urbain	....	remote head technician
Wendy Bonn	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Arif S. Kinchen	....	voice-over (uncredited)
Denise Mora	....	second assistant accountant (uncredited)
Monica Timmel	....	stand-in (uncredited)

Thanks
Gleb Klioner	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Cort/Madden Productions
• MTV Films

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (2001) (USA) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2001) (Germany) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2001) (Austria) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2001) (UK) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2001) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2001) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2001) (Spain) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2001) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Panasia Films (2002) (Hong Kong) (theatrical)
• Paramount Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (2001) (USA) (VHS) (special edition)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2001) (France) (theatrical)
• Eagle Pictures (2001) (Italy) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2001) (Mexico) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2001) (Chile) (theatrical)
• Paramount Home Entertainment Finland (2001) (Finland) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment Finland (2001) (Finland) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2002) (Argentina) (all media)
• Argentina Video Home (2002) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2002) (Argentina) (VHS)
• WB Television Network, The (2003) (USA) (TV)
• Net5 (2005) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Paramount Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD) (special collector's edition)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (steelbook)

Other Companies

• Hollywood Records  soundtrack published by
• Imaginary Forces  titles

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violence, sexual content, language and brief drug references.

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Malaysia:U | Iceland:L | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:PG | Finland:K-11 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIA | Hungary:14 | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:PG | Norway:11 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

CTA Rail System, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Cort/Madden Productions

Trivia:

Director Thomas Carter cast Julia Stiles in the role of Sara after seeing her "table dance" in 10 Things I Hate About You (1999).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: The same shot showing the school entrance and a guy wearing a yellow jacket walking on the street is used twice. Once in the scene where Sara arrives at the school for the first time, and once right before the scene with Malakai and a girl in the school bathroom.

Quotes:

Malakai: I'm not you, Derek. I can't do nothin' but what I'm doin'. I can't go to Georgetown with a 10.0 GPA, operatin' on people, doin' brain surgery or whatever the Hell you're goin' to be doin'.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Julia Stiles/Aerosmith (#26.15)" (2001)

Soundtrack:

Bonafide

Slammin'? Kinda....

Let's get one thing straight. Teen movies are starting to get unbearable. So it is a relief when something like "Save the Last Dance" comes along and offers something up that's just a little off of redundancy. There seems to be a lot going on here, with the main characters dealing with everything from death of loved ones to single parenthood to racial issues. You don't see THAT often in teen movies! But what it really comes down to is DANCE! Julia Stiles plays a former ballet dancer whose dreams are self-imposingly dashed by a tragic event, and the rest of the movie is about her re-chasing her dream in totally different circumstances than what she's used to (mainly: being the only white girl in a rough Chicago all-black neighbourhood). The movie does touch upon a lot of issues, as previously mentioned, but none of them are explored enough to give the film a lot of substance. What does make the film somewhat enjoyable is the dance sequences and the performances. There seems to be a real chemistry between Stiles (who's great in everything she does!) and Sean Patrick Thomas, who is really talented! I've only seen him in supporting roles, but this film shows he can be a leading man. The scene stealer award goes to Kerry Washington, who is so much fun in every one of her scenes. I hope to see a lot more of her in the future. IN A NUTSHELL: It's good to see a teen film that deals with more issues than just prom dates, and it will make you think, but it's not deep enough to be more than just a "dance" movie in the same vain as "Centre Stage" and "Dirty Dancing", culminating in long dance routine by Stiles, and when the routine is over, everything is resolved. Are all the issues REALLY resolved? Only in Hollywood!! Skippy's Rating: 7/10