May 28, 2007
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A couple of weeks ago I purchased a DVD of the 1979 Bob Fosse film, “All That Jazz”. And I must have watched it at least half a dozen times since then.
I remember seeing it when it first came out, I must’ve been about fourteen at the time. I remember NOT GETTING IT. I guess the themes were just too mature for a young Scottish boarding school attendee.
But now that I am older and wiser… Wow.
The film, in simple terms, is about the death of a high-living Broadway choreographer, roughly based on Bob Fosse’s own life. Though obviously Fosse wasn’t dying when he made the film, he could still see the Devil looming from afar, getting all ready to claim his due [Fosse died suddenly eight years later, on a park bench in New York].
And as now I’m getting older, the themes really hit home with me. Mortality. Aaaargh. You realize that you’re not going to live forever. You realize the “creative” path you embarked on does have its dark side. You realize you could’ve taken better care of yourself. You realize you could’ve made some better choices with your career.
This film captures these paradoxes perfectly. And yet the film is so utterly brilliant, sharp and sexy at the same time…
Anyway, I now consider this one of my favorite films of all time. Wonderful.
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I agree — pure rhythm and soul.
Good to know!
Sadly, I admit I have never seen “All That Jazz”. Last night I watched Rocky Balboa (very deep, sexy and “meaty” (wink-wink). OK, Sly isn’t the next Lord Byron…
Of course I know who Bob Fosse was and picked a couple of his quotes from imdb.com:
“Live like you’ll die tomorrow, work like you don’t need the money, and dance like nobody’s watching.“
“I would never discriminate against someone’s talent because they showed the poor taste to like me.“
I will add “All That Jazz” to my queue on Netflix.
Grabbing her feather boa, dance shoes and false eye-lashes. —RKR
can I plug a fave?
Girl in the Cafe — Bill Nighy and Kelly McDonald. Written by Richard Curtis. Music by Damien Rice and Sigur Ros — a beautiful brilliant movie. It works on so many levels for so many reasons but mostly because of Bill Nighy. He is freakin awesome.
Anyone seen that movie make sense of the ending? Did the G8 decide to end world hunger or not?
Bob Fosse was a genius. A tortured one. Roy Scheider is unforgettable in that role.
Speaking of old dance movies, I caught Saturday Night Fever on TV the other night.
You’re right, these things take on whole new meaning at our age. I only appreciated it for entertainment when I was a kid. The dancing did seem terribly corny to me now but the ending made sense.
Hell, Creatives have never had it better — imagine life when you had to live in an unheated Garret and drink Absinthe
Thanks for the reminder about “Jazz” — I haven’t seen it since college (awhile back, let’s say). I remember being overwhelmed by it and not getting it. Time to give it another go, I think. Thanks for the nudge.
All That Jazz is one of my favorites of all time, too. Bob Fosse outdid himself with it.
I just finished watching All THAT JAZZ. Great movie.
“His brilliance was faster than life”.
Thanks! —RKR