Go for It!

2011
Go for It!
3.7| 1h45m| PG-13| en| More Info
Released: 13 May 2011 Released
Producted By: Pantelion Films
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website: http://www.goforitmovie.com/
Synopsis

Carmen is a good student with a bad attitude who lives for dancing in the underground clubs of Chicago. She yearns to be 'somebody' but is afraid to believe in herself. Her immigrant Mexican, working-class parents want her to stay in school and get an education, so she attends junior college while working at a grocery store. Carmen's professor catches her performing one day in the neighborhood and challenges her to audition to a formal dance school in California. She gets into a fight with her chaotic family and runs away to her best friend Gina's place only to find out Gina's been getting beat up by her boyfriend. Meanwhile, Carmen's boyfriend, Jared wants her to commit and move in with him. Pulled apart in every direction, her dream of dancing fades. Can Carmen overcome her fears and take the biggest chance of her life, or will she succumb to her self-doubt?

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mrlasvegas2u I am not only a fan of dance movies, but also a dancer and a fellow independent filmmaker/producer/actor. I always go out and watch and support every independent filmmaker who makes a movie on dancing, because that is my passion. I have to say I was very disappointed by this movie. When I found out they spent over $2.4 million on this movie, I was very sad!!There are so many talented filmmakers who could have made this movie better for half the budget. I give the director credit for finishing a movie, and getting it distributed, but that doesn't mean anything when the people that financed this movie will never recover even half of their investments.I am not a hater. I wanted to love this movie, and I payed money to rent it from blockbuster. Here is my constructive feedback for the director: The DP work was horrible, he has no idea how to film a dance movie. Half the dance routines can't be seen properly, and isn't that the reason people go to watch dance movies?? I guess I can blame the editor or the director, but a DP should have guided the first time director. SECOND, the lighting is so horrible, it makes the whole experience unpleasant. Look, a dance movie is meant for a younger audience, bright lighting not only sets an upbeat fun mood, but it's better visually when we are trying to watch the dancing. I am sorry, nice effort on the directors part, but before you go out and spend that kind of money, please do the research, watch other successful movies in that genre. I am watching this movie as I am writing this, and I am so annoyed that I cannot even see the dancing clearly to enjoy this movie. The acting was not bad, which is a step up from most dance movies. Directing was OK, minus directing the dance scenes. I give the director credit for finishing a movie for sure, but her lack of experience clearly shows through out the movie. What I am saying is also clearly evident by the box office outcome.ALSO: Stop having friends write reviews. It's funny when someone compares this movie to Good Will Hunting. That's a joke right!!! This kind of stuff undermines the director's efforts and talent even more. Look, the fact is, she is work in progress, let her bloom. Don't fill her head with BS. A real criticism will make her a stronger and better filmmaker. Don't feed her ego with garbage. Sorry if this critique offends anyone, but I say it as I see it. I am very critical of my own work as well, and I'm always striving to learn and grow myself. Good luck to the director, and I hope you keep making movies and you keep getting better.
chrisbetta Before coming to Korea, someone recommended to see this movie and therefore I did. The plot is good because we can relate to this film on everyday life of a common people especially those who struggle to make a living. One thing good is, there is a moral lesson to the story, the choices we make to our life and that was conveyed in the story. Oftentimes, choices that we make in life make or breaks us. Friends that influence us, love us, envy us shape the way we think if we let them. Good to stand firm on what you believe in life especially if you are grounded properly. Bottom line is "you make your life." Hope people that will see it will look at it the way I see the movie. Warmest regards to the film maker. Also, good job and good luck on this movie.
afrotrek Carmen Marron had no previous experience in film except as a casual moviegoer. She didn't spend years learning and honing her craft, nor was she educated at UCLA's film school or Columbia College.Yet, with the financial assistance of her husband, she went on to direct "Go For It" a film that explores the lives of Carmen Salgado (Aimee Garcia), her best friend Gina (Gina Rodriguez), families and the influence of dance in their lives.With dance scenes choreographed by four different choreographers - Kristin Denehy, Alison Faulk, Ruth Inchaustegui and Rino Nakasone - "Go For It" gives us lively and varied dance with driving beats.The story is not unique, we've seen a version in just about every film of the genre.Carmen wants to dance with her hip hop troupe in her Logan Square (Chicago) neighborhood. Though not against her dancing, most in her family would rather her pursue an education, specifically her father who is a garbage collector.Her best friend Gina is in a toxic relationship with a ill tempered boy whose only interested is deviant sexual acts with her all while he chases other girls. It's a relationship that Carmen is against but Gina is determined to maintain because of her own low self esteem.In school, Carmen is under the watchful eye of her teacher Frank (Al Bandiero) who wants her to apply for a school in Los Angeles that teaches dance so she can get away from the hood. However, he has his own demons that continue to haunt him.As in most films of this nature, dance is Carmen's only release. She practices everyday after school in the park with the rest of the local dance troupe. Most of their performances are at a local underground club that offers of dance slams.In the middle of all this, she gets involved with a middle class white boy from Evanston who seems genuinely interested in her and consequently pulling her in a separate direction altogether.The theme is fairly close to films like "Flashdance" and "Footloose" with elements of "Dirty Dancing", "Step Up" and even "Saturday Night Live" tossed in.However, instead of sticking with middle of the road hip hop dance sequences, Ms Marron mixed the themes with the addition of Asian and Flamenco nuances. Combined with crack cinematography by Christian Sprenger "Go For It" delivers delightful dance scenes that entertain but don't overwhelm.More impressively - this is Carmen's first film...with no film background! "Go For It" is far from perfect in that it joins a growing list of dance slam films. Yet it is infinitely better than films developed by directors with extensive film backgrounds and training. Ms Marron proved to be a quick study with a stylish, entertaining film. Continue to go for it Carmen! - Geoffrey Burton
jgreene-17 I saw this film a couple of times. Yes, it is an often-told story of rags to riches and yes, another dance film. But what makes this film so unique is the story behind it. The filmmaker, Ms. Marron, raised all the capital herself to finance its production. She put together the actors, the crew, the musicians, the post people and worked tirelessly on her project. Then upon completion, she screened at festival after festival to rave reviews. The creme de la creme comes in the form of a major distributor, Lions Gate, who also believed in Ms. Marron's film. For a first time filmmaker to have this kind of success is rare, on par with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck and their Miramax breakthrough. So props to Ms. Marron for her hard won success! See this film and help support independent filmmaking!