“Ballet 422” follows Justin Peck, as he takes command as a choreographer for the New York City Ballet. The documentary runs a smidge short, but I feel it’s necessary to keep the focus on the build to the creation of the ballet. One thing I didn’t dig was not being told what music was being used. I liked listening to the film, but I hate having to wait forever to find out basic info.
Jody Lee Lipes has crafted a documentary that feels retro in feel, but captures a timely sense of the arts that needs to be seen on film. If you’re not a fan of ballet, then I recommend sitting this one out. While it’s an amazing portrayal of the work that ballet requires, it’s not going to make new fans out of the unwashed masses. The Blu-Ray comes with a commentary, featurettes, deleted scenes and a trailer as the special features. The 1080p transfer is sharp for a documentary, plus the DTS-HD 5.1 master audio track keeps the ballet action alive.
Release Date: 5/26/15