In 1981, ballet dancer Li Cunxin defected to the United States after a lifetime of training in the People’s Republic of China. Twenty-eight years later, his autobiography was adapted by Bruce Beresford (Driving Miss Daisy) and became one of the highest-grossing Australian films of all time...too bad it wasn’t a better movie.
Mired by stolid direction and unimaginative filmmaking, Mao’s Last Dancer emotionlessly spells out its themes and plots in such a way that even its occasional dips into melodrama fail to evoke the eye-rolls they deserve. Much of the film unfolds in flashback, detailing Li’s childhood in an unnamed village of northeastern China and his adolescent training in Beijing.
Played as a teenager by Australian Ballet dancer Chengwu Guo and an adult by Birmingham Royal Ballet Principal Dancer Chi Cao, Li struggles with a lack of talent and must instead develop his skills through sheer...
Mired by stolid direction and unimaginative filmmaking, Mao’s Last Dancer emotionlessly spells out its themes and plots in such a way that even its occasional dips into melodrama fail to evoke the eye-rolls they deserve. Much of the film unfolds in flashback, detailing Li’s childhood in an unnamed village of northeastern China and his adolescent training in Beijing.
Played as a teenager by Australian Ballet dancer Chengwu Guo and an adult by Birmingham Royal Ballet Principal Dancer Chi Cao, Li struggles with a lack of talent and must instead develop his skills through sheer...
- 5/5/2011
- Shadowlocked
Similar News
When Batman Broke His No Kill Rule and Went to Jail For One of His Dearest Friends in DC
- 5/11/2024
- by Siddhika Prajapati
- FandomWire
Tanner Beard Signs With Link Entertainment
- 5/10/2024
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
“People hate on you as an actor for that”: Megan Fox Claiming Fans Hate Superhero Actors Clearly Never Met Robert Downey Jr, Christian Bale
- 5/9/2024
- by Adya Godboley
- FandomWire
‘Fallout’ Cast & Creators Tease Season 2: Less Spam In The Wasteland, “More Powersuit” & Puppies
- 5/10/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
‘The Flintstones’ Star John Goodman Had A Message For Producer Steven Spielberg: “Yabba Dabba Don’t!”
- 5/10/2024
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me – What Happened to this Horror Movie?
- 5/8/2024
- by Adam Walton
- JoBlo.com
Fans Rate All Batman Actors From Worst to Best
- 5/6/2024
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Fiction Horizon
Fans Rank All Batman Actors From Worst to Best
- 5/6/2024
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Comic Basics
Bruce Timm: One of the Best Dcau Batman Films of the Last Decade Didn’t Choose Kevin Conroy for “Marketing reasons”
- 5/4/2024
- by Santanu Roy
- FandomWire
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.
More to explore
Box Office: ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ Makes $6.6 Million in Previews
- 5/10/2024
- by Jordan Moreau
- Variety - Film News
‘Red, White & Royal Blue’ Sequel in the Works, With Nicholas Galitzine and Taylor Zakhar Perez Returning
- 5/10/2024
- by Adam B. Vary
- Variety - Film News
‘Fantastic Four’ Casts Ralph Ineson as Galactus (Exclusive)
- 5/9/2024
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
‘The Bear’ Season 3 Releases Teaser, Premiere Date
- 5/9/2024
- by Christy Piña
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
‘Pam & Tommy’ Stars Sebastian Stan, Lily James Reteam for ‘Let The Evil Go West’ Horror Thriller
- 5/9/2024
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
‘Law & Order’ Bidding Farewell to Camryn Manheim
- 5/10/2024
- by Lesley Goldberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Frank Grillo Joins ‘Peacemaker’ Season 2 as Rick Flag Sr.
- 5/10/2024
- by Jordan Moreau
- Variety - TV News
‘Red, White & Royal Blue’ Sequel in the Works, With Nicholas Galitzine and Taylor Zakhar Perez Returning
- 5/10/2024
- by Adam B. Vary
- Variety - Film News
Marvel’s ‘The Fantastic Four’ Adds ‘The Witch’ Star Ralph Ineson as Galactus
- 5/9/2024
- by Katcy Stephan, Angelique Jackson and Adam B. Vary
- Variety - Film News
Justin and Hailey Bieber Expecting First Child
- 5/9/2024
- by Chris Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Olivia Wilde, Gregg Araki Team On Black Bear Thriller ‘I Want Your Sex’
- 5/9/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Tatiana Maslany & Rossif Sutherland To Star In ‘Keeper’, The Next Film From ‘Longlegs’ Director Osgood Perkins; Neon Pre-Buys U.S. Rights & Will Launch Int’l Sales At Cannes
- 5/9/2024
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
MTV Documentary Films Acquires U.S. Rights to Sundance #MeToo Doc ‘Black Box Diaries’ (Exclusive)
- 5/9/2024
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety - Film News
Melanie Lynskey, Robyn Malcolm to Lead ‘Pike River’ Thriller About New Zealand Mining Disaster, Signature Launching Sales in Cannes (Exclusive)
- 5/9/2024
- by Alex Ritman
- Variety Film + TV
‘The Sheriff’: Milo Gibson, Mark Dacascos, Tom Berenger & More Cast In Josh Tessier Crime Thriller
- 5/9/2024
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
Easterseals Disability Film Challenge Announces 2024 Winners
- 5/10/2024
- by Pat Saperstein
- Variety - Film News
Box Office: ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ Makes $6.6 Million in Previews
- 5/10/2024
- by Jordan Moreau
- Variety - Film News
‘Red, White & Royal Blue’ Sequel in the Works, With Nicholas Galitzine and Taylor Zakhar Perez Returning
- 5/10/2024
- by Adam B. Vary
- Variety - Film News
Marvel’s ‘The Fantastic Four’ Adds ‘The Witch’ Star Ralph Ineson as Galactus
- 5/9/2024
- by Katcy Stephan, Angelique Jackson and Adam B. Vary
- Variety - Film News
Olivia Wilde, Gregg Araki Team On Black Bear Thriller ‘I Want Your Sex’
- 5/9/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
‘Law & Order’ Bidding Farewell to Camryn Manheim
- 5/10/2024
- by Lesley Goldberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
‘The Bachelor,’ ‘American Idol’ Among Seven Unscripted Renewals at ABC
- 5/10/2024
- by Rick Porter
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
‘The Conners’ Renewed for Seventh and Final Season at ABC, ‘Not Dead Yet’ Canceled
- 5/10/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety - TV News
Frank Grillo Joins ‘Peacemaker’ Season 2 as Rick Flag Sr.
- 5/10/2024
- by Jordan Moreau
- Variety - TV News
‘Shogun’ Nears Season 2 Renewal at FX as Star Hiroyuki Sanada Signs Deal to Return
- 5/10/2024
- by Ethan Shanfeld
- Variety - TV News