All That Jazz [1979] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

Roy Scheider makes a brave and largely successful leap out of his usual romantic lead roles to step into Gideon's dancing pumps and supplies a plausible sketch of an extravagant, self-destructive, self-loathing creative dynamo, while Jessica Lange serves as a largely allegorical Muse, one of the various women that the philandering Gideon pursues (and usually abandons). Gideon's other romantic partners include Fosse's own protege (and a major keeper of his choreographic style since his death) Ann Reinking, whose leggy grace is seductive both "onstage" and off.

Fosse/Gideon's collision course with mortality, as well as his priapic obsession with the opposite sex, may offer insights into the libidinal core of the choreographer's dynamic, sexualised style of dance, but musical aficionados will be forgiven for fast-forwarding to cut out the self-analysis and focus on the music, period. At its best--as in the knockout opening, scored to George Benson's strutting version of "On Broadway", which fuses music, dance and dazzling camera work into a paean to Fosse's hoofer nation--All That Jazz offers a sequence of classic Fosse numbers--hard-edged, caustic and joyously physical. --Sam Sutherland

The plot, such as it is, revolves around a character assumed to be Fosse (played by Roy Scheider) and his attempts to put on a musical while he struggles for ideas, copes with his own deteriorating health and tries to maintain a relationship with his ex-wife and daughter. There are a lot of flashbacks to his earlier career as well as many dream sequences and hallucinations. It is fairly surreal at times, especially the ending, but it proceeds coherently enough to keep you interested and involved.

The dancing, as you would expect, is great although there aren't many numbers as such. I don't know if it is an accurate depiction of Fosse's life but he comes across as a bit of a tartar. The features are limited to a trailer and a couple of brief, making-of clips. Nothing much, to be honest.

All in all, I liked it a lot but don't expect it to be anything like a stage musical with a strong story or happy ending.


Best Dance / Musical I ever saw!   August 15, 2003
CjW (England)
11 out of 12 found this review helpful

Classic tongue in cheek musical razzmatazz of the stage musical scene. Roys classis cigarette in the shower and the musical deathbed scenes are brilliant and a pertinent anti-smoking jibe.

The raunchy dance scenes are a cut above any new muscial movies.
The production is brilliant and the phrase -"Bring on the dancing girls" (...) is now the common medical phrase used in my profession!

This is a classic film which so many have tried to emulate, mostly failing. It has to be seen to be believed - but you need some imagaination to see the plot; because it has a very clear message and good story line, not just an excuse to have girls dancing as in other movies.

Now converted to DVD for the popular market.
Get it and marvel.


Best musical / dance I ever saw   August 8, 2003
CjW (England)
8 out of 9 found this review helpful

Classic tongue in cheek musical razzmatazz of the stage musical scene. Roys classis cigarette in the shower and the musical deathbed scenes are brilliant and a pertinent anti-smoking jibe.

The raunchy dance scenes are a cut above any new muscial movies.
The production is brilliant and the phrase -"Bring on the dancing girls" before Roy dies is now the common medical phrase used in my profession!

This is a classic film which so many have tried to emulate, mostly failing. It has to be seen to be believed - but you need some imagaination to see the plot; because it has a very clear message and good story line, not just an excuse to have girls dancing as in other movies.

Needs to be converted to DVD for the popular market, but at this price the cassette is very affordable. Get it and marvel.

CjW


It's showtime folks!   October 19, 2002
17 out of 27 found this review helpful

‘All that Jazz’ is simply one of the best biographical films ever made, like Fellini’s ‘Amarcord’.Everything about this great movie is perfect: the story, the acting, the music and especially the choreography.
This movie is the best Bob Fosse film ever and also this is the performance of a lifetime from Roy Scheider.
23 years after I’m so glad that I could get this great movie in DVD format.