Watch White Nights For Free

hyped garbage

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

A stroke of misfortune brought back a Soviet defector Nikolai "Kolya" Rodchenko (Mikhail Baryshnikov) back to his homeland and gets introduced to an American defector Raymond Greenwood (Gregory Hines) to keep him in a "leash" while they are in Leningrad, a city where the sun doesn't set especially in summer.Both the male leads embodies the contradiction that's always a marvel to watch in a ballet, gracefulness and ruggedness in equal measure, and a soundtrack that includes "Say You, Say Me" and "Separate Lives", both songs could put a grown man into tears as you try to reminisce the story of the film itself. The dance sequence well captured by Mr. Hackford, enjoyable and captivating in equal measure. The climactic scene is just an engrossing cinematic treat. The female counterparts (Isabella Rossellini and Helen Mirren) both radiant and glowing, their beauty is just easy on the eyes. The Cold War may have long since ended but the film transcends that particular point in history because of the superb narrative that's embedded in the story. --B-plus--

I don't know how it is that I've never seen this movie especially since my daughter was a tap dancer for 12 years and we were both such huge fans of Gregory Hines. The dancing is superb by both Mikhail and Gregory. The acting a little stiff especially by MB. Predictable but for me, the dancing and the music make the movie. The plot is ridiculous. It's too bad that Gregory Hines wasn't bigger during the 80's and 90's, it's a shame that dancing didn't make a comeback in films the way it should have. Loved the background music, loved the sole dance scene by Hines, loved the duet by both of them, HATED the opening sequence, everything I always hated about "modern" dance. Still worth seeing, if only for the dancing and the somewhat factual USSR defection problems. Seems so long ago now that artists and others actually had to "escape" a country. But the question still begs to be asked: If Raymond needed to leave the U.S. why in the H*** would he end up in freaking Siberia vs. all the other European countries he could have moved to??

The two giant and opposing nations of the Cold War, Russia and the United States of America, are represented through the protagonists of "White Nights". Gregory Hines and Mikhail Baryshnikov are two superb dancers who act in the film, and delight the viewer through artistic communication. The emotion evoked by their performances is unparalleled; feelings of despair, frustration, anger and desire for freedom are all present in their body-language. The title of the film refers to a natural occurrence, present in northern Russia: The White Nights are a phenomenon which lasts a few weeks between Spring and Summer. During this time, there is light for most the night; after sunset and during twilight, it looks white and clear... a white night. This film is truly worth watching, I own it and am glad. Not only does it possess a grand artistic value, but also a great story from a historical period in which one's life was completely controlled by political agreements. It is in this Orwellian society, that human values arise and struggle for survival... do not miss it!

I don't have much to add to the wonderful commentaries already made, except that the dancing in this movie is spectacular. Hines is a fantastic actor and dancer. Baryshnikov is absolutely sublime in both his dance scenes and the raw emotion he shows in his desperation to return to American soil. He actually defected in real life, which was obviously a valuable experience to draw from in this movie. I love one of his lines: "I am still Russian, I am just not Soviet." Even though the cold was is (supposedly) over, this movie makes an excellent historic piece, as well as a wonderful dance movie. I can watch it over and over again, and still find it enjoyable.