Review #203: 'All That Jazz' (1979)

Bob Fosse was a dance choreographer, dancer, actor, director.... He directs here a fragmented, fantastical portrait of his life. The main focus is on a stage piece that Fosse is directing/choreographing, and this is littered with flash backs, and he seems to be guided by the ethereal Angelique (Jessica Lange), who is either simply an angel (as implied by her name), or some kind of guardian, who makes objective comments for his actions and desires. Fosse's alter-ego is Joe Gideon (Roy Scheider), who is a hard drinking, chain smoking "artist", moving towards collapse.

As we are privy to various flashes of his past, his womanising, and the consequences of these actions, we see him in the present, falling apart, his health deteriorating. Eventually he ends up in hospital, his loved ones around him, telling him essentially that they told him so. These sequences are played out in absolute fantasy. Song and dance numbers are played out by the people in his life in front of his hospital bed.

In a brilliant scene whilst Joe is in hospital sees a board of producers sitting around a table discussing the finances of the show whilst Gideon is under the knife getting open heart surgery. What is great about the scene is the obvious dichotomy of creation and money. The juxtaposition of the meeting and the surgery, seem to imply that the discussions involved money seem to literally rip out the heart and soul of creativity. The film also has a visual chapter-head for each sequence involving a montage of Gideons morning ritual of Dexedrine, aspirin, eye drops, followed by his catch phrase, "Show Time", as he looks into the mirror.

I'm not really much of a musical fan, but the fact that this focuses on an artist at breaking point, it's very 1970's downbeat attitude, and it's use of musical pieces placed firmly within fantasy, and dream context, makes it an endearing and exciting film. The closing number is particularly excellent, with its disco-like rendition (eulogy if you like) of The Everly Brothers' 'Bye Bye Love'. A fitting end to a seemingly incredible life, and a quite brilliant film. Bob Fosse did die shortly after the release of the film.


Directed by: Bob Fosse
Starring: Roy Scheider, Jessica Lange, Leland Palmer
Country: USA

Rating: ****

Marc Ivamy