The Company is a 2003 film about the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago. It was released on December 26, 2003 in the United States and around the world in the first half of 2004. The movie was directed by Robert Altman and stars Neve Campbell, who also co-wrote and co-produced the film. The movie also stars Malcolm McDowell as the ballet company's artistic director, a character based on Gerald Arpino.
The Company is composed of stories gathered from the dancers, choreographers, and staff of the Joffrey Ballet. Most of the roles are played by company members. While a small subplot relates a love story between Campbell's character and a character played by James Franco, most of the movie focuses on the company as a whole, without any real star or linear plot. The many company stories woven together express the dedication and hard work that dancers must put in to their art, although they are seldom rewarded with fame or fortune.
The Company was an idea of Campbell's for a long time – she began her career as a ballet dancer, having been a student at Canada's National Ballet School. Altman was reportedly reluctant to direct it but later agreed.
Where beggars take cheques and children steal credit cards
from the pockets of wrecks in the middle of the road.
I came to in my future and that was just yesterday,
unsure of my past and that's a knot in my gut.
You buy me a drink then you think that you've got the right
to crawl in my head and rifle my soul.
You tell me I'm free and want me to compromise
to sell out my dreams you say you'll make it worthwhile.
Oh, boys would you drink to me now
here on the hill, half way up, half way down
You tell me I'm drunk the you sit back and smug a while
convinced that you're right that you're still in command of your senses.
I laugh at your superior attitude
your insincere plattitudes make me throw up.
Oh, boys would you drink to me now
here on the hill, half way up, half way down
Oh, boys would you drink to me now
here on the hill, half way up, half way down
Oh for the company born to the company
live for the company until I die.
The sooner you realise that I'm perfectly happy
if I'm left to decide the company I choose
The company I choose is solidly singular
totally trustworthy, straight and sincere
polished, experienced, witty and charming
so why don't you push off, this company's my own.
Oh, boys would you drink to me now
here on the hill, half way up, half way down
Oh, boys would you drink to me now
here on the hill, half way up, half way down
Oh for the company, dream of the company
live for the company until I die.
Oh for the company, dream of the company
drink to the company until we die
until we die
Where beggars take cheques and children steal credit cards
From the pockets of wrecks that lie in the road
I came to in my future that was just yesterday
Unsure of my past, that's a knot in my gut
You buy me a drink then you think that you've got the right
To crawl in my head and rifle my soul
You tell me I'm free then you want me to compromise
To sell out my dreams you say you'll make it worthwhile
Oh, boys would you drink to me now
Here on the hill, halfway up, halfway down
You tell me I'm drunk then you sit back and smug a while
Convinced that you're right that you're still in command
Of your senses. I laugh at your superior attitude
Your insincere platitudes they make me throw up
The sooner you realise I'm perfectly happy
If I'm left to decide the company I choose
Oh, boys would you drink to me now
Here on the hill, halfway up, halfway down
Oh, boys would you drink to me now
Here on the hill, halfway up, halfway down
Oh for the company born to the company
Live for the company until I die
The sooner you realise I'm perfectly happy
If I'm left to decide the company I choose
The company I choose is solidly singular
Totally trustworthy, straight and sincere
Polished, experienced, witty and charming
So why don't you push off, this company's my own
Oh, boys would you drink to me now
Here on the hill, halfway up, halfway down
Oh, boys would you drink to me now
Here on the hill, halfway up, halfway down
Oh for the company, dream of the company
Live for the company until I die
Oh for the company, dream of the company
Drink to the company until we die
Until we die
breaking hearts, breaking bones
breaking into your home
breaking arms, breaking legs
follow orders, breaking heads
meet me at the usual place
no a hundred yards down the road
just following orders kid
I just do as I'm told so
scream if you wanna
I'm the only one that's gonna hear
beg if you wanna
I'm the only one that's gonna hear
cry if you wanna
I'm the only one that's gonna hear
and I promise I won't tell
walk into the boss' mansion
make his funeral closed casket
except for me and you
not a dry eye in the room
but the tears won't be sincere now
these bullets justify the end
hope the company is with me
Where beggars take cheques and children steal credit cards
from the pockets of wrecks that lie the road.
I came to in my future and that was just yesterday,
unsure of my past that's a knot in my gut.
You buy me a drink then you think that you've got the right
to crawl in my head and rifle my soul.
You tell me I'm free then you want me to compromise
to sell out my dreams you say you'll make it worthwhile.
Oh, boys would you drink to me now
here on the hill, half way up, half way down
Oh, boys would you drink to me now
here on the hill, half way up, half way down
You tell me I'm drunk then you stand back and smug a while
convinced that you're right that you're still in command of your senses.
I laugh at your superior attitude
your insincere platitudes make me throw up.
The sooner you realize I'm perfectly happy
if I'm left to decide the company I choose.
Oh, boys would you drink to me now
here on the hill, half way up, half way down
Oh for the company born to the company
live for the company until I die.
The sooner you realize I'm perfectly happy
if I'm left to decide the company I choose
The company I choose is solidly singular
totally trustworthy, straight and sincere
polished, experienced, witty and charming
so why don't you push off, this company's my own.
Oh, boys will you drink to me now
here on the hill, half way up, half way down
Oh, boys will you drink to me now
here on the hill, half way up, half way down
Oh for the company, dream of the company
live for the company until I die.
Oh for the company, dream of the company
drink to the company until we die
until we die
THE COMPANY
© Electric Babylon Music Author: M.M.
He thought well maybe that’s the good life, when you don’t even
wonder why anymore, he used to feel like he was the company’s wife,
and since realized he’s the company’s whore, he thinks well it’s not so
bad as he closes the door of the company car, the benefits are good
and it really pays, the back nine on Fridays maybe come in under par,
and he doesn’t have to shave on Saturdays.
A little job here a big job there you know your our man, the company
needs you so bad we know you understand, the opportunity for growth
is so strong and you’re a big part of our plan, doors always open let us
know if you need a hand, that’s the kind of lip service; yuck you have
to wipe up the drool, dedicate your life to building a bigger stronger
enemy, and he may be the company’s whore but he’s never been their
fool, he just listens to what he supposed to hear and stares at what
he’s not supposed to see.
He’s worked for the company twenty two years now and done a better
job than most, never really done anything to be proud of but he has no
shame on his resume, showed up everyday dying for a while dead for
years now he feels like the ghost, just do what you have to do; put the
stitches in the wound of another day.
Well he’s fifty six years old now but his mortgage is much younger, the
economy’s cooling off a bit Bill were going to have to make some cuts,
and you just don’t seem to have that drive like you used to you just
don’t seem to have that hunger, his stats are fifth best out of eight
younger men but you can’t argue with the company they just kick your
ifs ands and buts.
The company took the best years of my life from me, now there just
going to leave me here to bleed, god damn the company.