Rize DVD Review:

Any attention Rize received was for the incredible dancing which was created by a group of youth in Los Angeles as an alternative to gang lifestyles. Although the dancing is undeniably captivating to watch, this isn’t what is at the true heart of the film. The hope which fills the kids when they dance is what ensures that there is a truly great story to tell with Rize. It’s the kind of story that could very easily be turned into a feature film with a star-studded cast, basically ruining the heart of the story. The documentary is great because of how real the people are.

Rize follows the journey of a specialized group of inner city youth that have created an art form to have something to belong to besides gangs. Surrounded by drug addiction, violence, and crime these kids have found something to help them escape their surroundings, and in many ways it helps them to express their frustration. The dance looks somewhat tribal and angry but when the kids start to talk about their passion for the dancing it is apparent that it is not a negative thing.

The dance form started as a party clown in the neighborhood became popular for his dance style. From that he started a dance school and suddenly there were kids everywhere in clown painting. Then there was another group that decided wearing clown painting wasn’t for them, so they became a rival dance group. Competition came forward as it often does in things as these, but it still remains un-violent and hopeful.

The DVD is filled with all sorts of little perks. Some of them are basically just fluff to make the special features look fuller but there are also some really good extras as well. As many special features as there are, it seems strange that the menu for the DVD is so simple. It is just a still frame, which is not a bad thing, but definitely more simple than most DVDs are these days. Most of the special features are short and simple. There is a DVD introduction, cast and crew insights, and a few other quick features in which David LaChapelle and the dancers sit around and talk about how they feel. It’s powerful and real, just like the film. These features probably all could have been combined into one instead of spread into numerous ones, but I suppose the effect is the same.

There is also footage from a Q&A that was done at the Tribeca Film Festival. Some of the information begins to repeat, but it is still a good addition to the extras. There is also deleted scenes, dance moves by specific dancers, and a photo gallery. There is also a commentary track by LaChapelle which gives even more insight. This is a man who truly believed in what he was doing and cared about his subjects. It comes through in the film, and even more so on the DVD.



Ryan Izay