Hip hop ballet

Rating: 7/10 (10 November 2002)

This is another adaptation of the age old love story with the culture/family clash (think Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story. Slight modifications that serve it well (no economic conflicts in this one; they are both poor).

There is not a person I can think of for the lead role than Julia Stiles. She blends in her character elements of slow rural America, with the faster pace of the South Side. A candid appraisal could not gloss over the stereotypes, but in this case, they serve the movie well to situate it within the particular genre.
I enjoyed this film. A friend derides it as a "chick film". But something about the rawness of the settings, the known characterization and the pace of the film, just bring an elusive "artsy" edge to the movie.
Recommended to all for an evening's watch.