Every Little Step 2008

Ben Mankiewicz, At the Movies: I cared enormously about all of these kids auditioning. Read more

Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: You can't judge A Chorus Line by its film version; it's one of the lousiest movie musicals ever. But you can assess the stage original's influence by the wonderful new documentary Every Little Step. Read more

J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader: Their history of the show, studded with clips from Bennett's original audiotapes, adds a fascinating subtext: in chronicling Broadway, A Chorus Line changed it forever. Read more

Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times: A riveting documentary from James D. Stern and Adam Del Deo. Read more

Jonathan F. Richards, Film.com: It's all up there on the screen in this impassioned, exhilarating documentary. They want to dance for you. It's what they did for love. Read more

Ruth Hessey, MovieTime, ABC Radio National: I was thrilled and moved by Every Little Step, despite the abundance of bad dancing pouring out of reality television these days, because it's about the real thing, and offers marvellous insights into of the process of creating a Broadway hit. Read more

Nathan Rabin, AV Club: It's a huge improvement over the Attenborough film; given the film's non-fiction roots, it seems poetically apt that a documentary take is much more satisfying and engaging than the Hollywood treatment. Read more

Kerry Lengel, Arizona Republic: It instills an appreciation for the tremendous amount of work and passion that the performers put into their craft. Read more

Wesley Morris, Boston Globe: [An] engrossing backstage documentary -- OK, pre-backstage. Read more

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: It's a can't-miss effort that knows how to please. Read more

Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post: Every Little Step is a feat of editing and sound design. Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: A movie as layered and enthralling as its subject. Read more

Connie Ogle, Miami Herald: A moving, passionate tribute to determination and heart, whatever you might choose to do in your life. Read more

Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger: It's impossible not to get caught up in their struggles. This is the real American Idol, except there's no packaged tour, no People cover, no guaranteed record-deal on the end -- just the chance to do eight shows a week. Read more

Bob Mondello, NPR: A briskly self-aware, thoroughly stage-struck portrait ... of a show that itself is a stage-struck theatrical portrait. Read more

Kyle Smith, New York Post: Every Little Step shows only this: It hurts to flunk an audition, and it's nice to get hired. Everything it has to say about Broadway was said better in Bob Fosse's movie All That Jazz -- in its opening five minutes. Read more

Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: Every Little Step is a terrific documentary history lesson about how Michael Bennett rounded up a bunch of New York singing, acting dancers, interviewed them and found out what they 'did for love,' back in January of 1974. Read more

Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer: The exuberant documentary Every Little Step revisits the genesis of the landmark show about the gestation and delivery of a Broadway musical. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: We should be kneeling on concrete to remind ourselves what dues these artists pay. Read more

Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: Tracing A Chorus Line from its creation in 1974 by Michael Bennett and his dancers to its 2006 Broadway revival, Every Little Step is a thrilling combination of documentary and musical dazzler. Read more

Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com: Like show-business culture itself, A Chorus Line traffics in both cloying sentimentality and Darwinian ruthlessness, qualities that James D. Stern and Adam Del Deo's highly addictive behind-the-scenes documentary Every Little Step captures in abundance. Read more

David Wiegand, San Francisco Chronicle: The film is as much about the creation of the original show back in 1975 and the genius of the late Michael Bennett, who masterminded it, as it is about the newer version. Read more

Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune: They want the recognition we all want, and the film persuades you that almost every one of them deserves it. Read more

Calvin Wilson, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Every Little Step never rises above being a very good showbiz documentary. But it's an engaging tribute to a groundbreaking musical. Read more

Stephen Cole, Globe and Mail: Every Little Step is an uncommonly tender and observant documentary. Read more

Linda Barnard, Toronto Star: Fans of choreographer Michael Bennett's blockbuster, which broke new ground when it opened in 1975, will find much to love here. Read more

Keith Uhlich, Time Out: Read more

Robert Koehler, Variety: Life imitates art imitating life in James D. Stern and Adam Del Deo's heartfelt doc, Every Little Step, tracking the audition process of director Bob Avian's 2006 Broadway revival of A Chorus Line. Read more

Jesse Oxfeld, Village Voice: A singular sensation, filled with behind-the-scenes backstory and archival clips of Bennett himself dancing, gorgeously. Read more

Peter Marks, Washington Post: Some of the documentary's best moments capture the expressions of Avian and his assistants as they are caught unawares by an unexpectedly powerful audition. Read more