Javier Bardem,
Juan Diego Botto,
Laura Morante,
Elvira Mínguez,
Alexandra Lencastre
... see more 
Actor John Malkovich made his directorial debut with this tense political thriller, set in an unnamed Latin American nation and based on a novel by Nicholas Shakespeare. Agustin Rejas (Javier Bardem) ... read more
DVD Release Date: September 23, 2003
Get It:
Stats: 226 reviews
Your Rating
Flixster Reviews (226)
-
October 17, 2007A hugely promising directorial debut by John Malkovich, this is a stunning political thriller. Javier Bardem is perfect as an ambitious police captain, saddled with a materialistic wife, who finds himself falling for his daughter's dancing teacher while hunting for a revolutionar... read more
-
September 26, 2007A very solid directorial effort from Malkovich, with flaws and everything. Bardem is spot on in the main role.
-
September 19, 2006An intelligent, riveting, tense and nerve wrecking thriller. skillful and remarkable. Malkovich gives and outstanding directional debut. Javier Bardem delivers an astonishing performance. It's as thrilling as it is inriuging.
-
December 17, 2009Good movie, good acting...suspenseful...not what I thought it would be about at all...
Somewhat predictable ending... -
March 8, 2009Slow-paced, but intelligent drama loosely based on a policeman in Latin America who hunted and captured a revolutionist.
-
October 20, 2008This film is the directing debut of John Malkovich. It's an engrossing tale of the search for the leader of a group of revolutionaries in an unnamed Latin American country. The acting is first rate, and the authentic locations make for great atmosphere. If you liked The Day of th... read more
-
May 26, 2008So this "thiller' was some what all over the place but somehow it worked! Bardem shown as usual as a man conflicted...the location was raw and real added to the terrorism that was the main plot of the film...kudos to the sad ending, it did not all work out in the end and it was p... read more
-
November 9, 2007Decent film exploring terrorism (aka freedom fighers) in Latin America. Plot has a few interesting twists but sometimes plays like a Law and Order episode (in Latin America). More of a love story than a thriller and a weak love story at that.
-
August 8, 2007A lot of disturbing animal cruelty scenes in this movie. Other than the violence, I thought it was boring and couldn't get into it. I turned it off half way through.
-
April 12, 2006The Nina Simone track of "Who Knows Where the Time Goes" is the best thing about this movie - and it's worth seeing it just for that.
Critic Reviews
May 23, 2003
Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel
May 16, 2003
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
While The Dancer Upstairs may have nothing else to remind us of [Malkovich], it does have a certain mystique itself. Full Review
May 16, 2003
Tom Long, Detroit News
It is not revolutionary, but it brims with promise and a love of film, and is a fine if worried dance indeed.
May 16, 2003
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press
Reflects its director, being intelligent and elegantly turned-out but distant. Full Review
May 16, 2003
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News
Bardem's performance lingers in ways that give the movie resonance.
May 15, 2003
Kathy Cano Murillo, Arizona Republic
Delivers a haunting story of crime and passion.
May 15, 2003
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A welcome throwback to a time when political thrillers relied more on character and tone than on car chases and gun battles. Full Review
May 9, 2003
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
A slow-burning affair that may seem exotic but mainly crawls from cliche to cliche.
May 9, 2003
Stephen Hunter, Washington Post
It's not a great film, but in its reckless audacity ... it's reassuring. Someone's still willing to take a big chance.
View more
The Dancer Upstairs
reviews
Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
