NEW All That Jazz (DVD)

XXXXX

"To be on the wire is life. The rest is waiting."

The above is said by the main character, Joe Gideon (Roy Scheider), in this movie.

This movie is a semi-autobiographical fantasy based on the life and career of dance man, Bob Fosse (he was also a choreographer, director, screenwriter, and actor). Fosse directed, co-wrote, and was choreographer for this movie.

We follow Gideon's (Fosse's alter ego) life where at this point in his life he starts each day with Vivaldi, Visine, Alka-Seltzer, and Dexedrine (a prescription upper). Gideon has to start each day like this because he is a chain-smoker, a womanizer who cheats on his wife, drinker, takes drugs, and is a workaholic on the road to self-destruction.

This is a movie you either love or hate. For me, I found the dancing frenzied, the dialogue piercing, the photography superb, and the acting first-rate. (Actor Roy Scheider gives a brilliant performance.) This is a great-looking film with some humorous parts that sometimes is not easy to watch.

There are ten song and dance numbers in this movie. Don't worry!! These pieces are integral to the movie, are short and sweet, and in a word are...fantastic. I especially enjoyed these songs (accompanied by dance):

"On Broadway," "Everything Old is New Again," and "Bye-Bye Life" (part of the lyrics is given in this review's title).

In 2001, the U.S. Library of Congress deemed this film "culturally significant" and thus selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry.

As well, this movie won four Academy Awards.

Finally, the DVD itself (the one released in 2007) is perfect in picture and sound quality. It has eight extras including a "Musical Machine" (that's why this DVD is called the "Special Music Edition").

In conclusion, this is a movie like no other movie I've seen and proves that "there's no business like show business!!"

(1979; 2 hr; wide screen; 20 scenes)

<<Stephen Pletko, London, Ontario, Canada>>

XXXXX

"All That Jazz" is a semi-autobiographical recounting of Bob Fosse's life. Directed by the master himself, the film follows Broadway producer, Joe Gideon (Roy Scheider)as he spirals into an oblivion of drug addiction, alcoholism and womanizing while preparing to launch his greatest show yet. Joe is ably pushed to the edge of the great beyond by the lovely Angel of Death (Jessica Lange)who eventually gets her wish. This is perhaps the only time in my viewing experience that a musical film has given me chills. The entire plot functions on the mental anguish of its protagonist and his inevitable demise and the final few moments are truly unsettling.
So is FOX's DVD transfer quality; the image suffers from dated - often muddy - colors, washed out and pasty flesh tones, weak blacks, an excessive amount of film grain and various age related artifacts that generally detract from the visual experience. Edge enhancement and pixelization are big problems in certain scenes but others appear to be free of their frustrating inclusion. The soundtrack is Stereo Surround, well balanced though, on occasion, strident.
EXTRAS: An interview with Scheider while he was making the film that is needlessly divided into chapter stops that don't matter. Ditto for several snippets of Fosse at work on the set. The theatrical trailer is also included.
BOTTOM LINE: If you simply can't live without this film - as I could not (for its brilliant story telling vision and disconcerted charm)then I recommend it highly. The transfer, however, will disappoint - especially for a film of seventies vintage!

ALL THAT JAZZ is a phastasmagoria of memories passing through Bob Fosse's mind as he dies of heart failure. Most of his memories are of his choreography, simply the most spectacular showcase of sexy modern dance on film. Like no other choreographer, Fosse composes his frames for the camera instead of the stage. A must-see for lovers of Terpsechore, graphic design, and photography.

After her plodding performance as a warrior maiden alongside CONAN, 6-foot, statuesque Sendahl Bergman bring life to her stage in her proper profession as a stellar dancer.

A producer remarks at the celebration of body beauty, "There goes the family audience." Definitely not your usual Busby musical comedy.