Post by klep on Nov 15, 2015 13:14:50 GMT -6
MOVIE OF THE WEEK: All That Jazz
All That Jazz is semi-autobiographical. Bob Fosse’s life in the years before making the film was much like his alter-ego Joe Gideon’s. He was trying to assemble a film while working on a major stage production, and he had similar problems with women, substance abuse, and even had the same open-heart surgery. The film served as a way for him to both work through these issues and contemplate his own mortality.
As Gideon (played magnificently by Roy Scheider) is spiraling down, we get to explore his thought processes by virtue of conversations he has with an angelic observer (played by Jessica Lange). In these scenes he displays remarkable self-awareness even as he maintains his ego. He’s not a good person and he knows it, but he can’t figure out how to be anything else. He’s a perfectionist workaholic and the mix of girls, booze, cigarettes, and speed that get him through the day are killing him. But unlike other similar films where the “hero” gets his moment of truth and gives it all up, the triumph that Joe Gideon achieves is his acceptance that the only natural consequence of his life choices is his death. There’s no deathbed confession, just a celebration of what he has achieved and a fond farewell.
It’s a true masterpiece, with the confessional scenes mixed in with the real life scenes and a number of excellent dance numbers (including a joyous performance to Everything Old Is New Again). I think my favorite scene though is the readthrough of the musical Gideon is preparing. It starts off well, and everyone is laughing (presumably it’s a comedy, we never find out that much about it), but the sound fades out. We’re stuck in Gideon’s head, and Gideon can’t bear to hear the readthrough. He’s certain it will collapse at any moment. All we can hear is his breathing, him fiddling with a pencil, him desperately hoping that the readthrough will end so he can get back to fixing it and be done with his embarrassment.
What is your favorite moment? Are there any other semi-autobiographical films that work as powerfully as this one does?
OUR NEXT MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 11/16: Ed Wood
A number of truly excellent films once again were on the block, but Ed Wood blew the rest out of the water. Remember when Tim Burton made good movies? Well you’ll be reminded next week when we talk about this film.
All That Jazz is semi-autobiographical. Bob Fosse’s life in the years before making the film was much like his alter-ego Joe Gideon’s. He was trying to assemble a film while working on a major stage production, and he had similar problems with women, substance abuse, and even had the same open-heart surgery. The film served as a way for him to both work through these issues and contemplate his own mortality.
As Gideon (played magnificently by Roy Scheider) is spiraling down, we get to explore his thought processes by virtue of conversations he has with an angelic observer (played by Jessica Lange). In these scenes he displays remarkable self-awareness even as he maintains his ego. He’s not a good person and he knows it, but he can’t figure out how to be anything else. He’s a perfectionist workaholic and the mix of girls, booze, cigarettes, and speed that get him through the day are killing him. But unlike other similar films where the “hero” gets his moment of truth and gives it all up, the triumph that Joe Gideon achieves is his acceptance that the only natural consequence of his life choices is his death. There’s no deathbed confession, just a celebration of what he has achieved and a fond farewell.
It’s a true masterpiece, with the confessional scenes mixed in with the real life scenes and a number of excellent dance numbers (including a joyous performance to Everything Old Is New Again). I think my favorite scene though is the readthrough of the musical Gideon is preparing. It starts off well, and everyone is laughing (presumably it’s a comedy, we never find out that much about it), but the sound fades out. We’re stuck in Gideon’s head, and Gideon can’t bear to hear the readthrough. He’s certain it will collapse at any moment. All we can hear is his breathing, him fiddling with a pencil, him desperately hoping that the readthrough will end so he can get back to fixing it and be done with his embarrassment.
What is your favorite moment? Are there any other semi-autobiographical films that work as powerfully as this one does?
OUR NEXT MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 11/16: Ed Wood
A number of truly excellent films once again were on the block, but Ed Wood blew the rest out of the water. Remember when Tim Burton made good movies? Well you’ll be reminded next week when we talk about this film.