All That Jazz Review- By Michael J. Carlisle

Title: All That Jazz
Year: 1979
Director: Bob Fosse
Country: US
Language: English

Born on June 23, 1927 Bob Fosse was an American dancer, musical theatre choreographer, director, screenwriter, film director and actor. The man was incredibly gifted, having won 8 Tony Awards and winning the Academy Award for "Best Director" the same year The Godfather astounded the critics. Fosse's work was always provacative, innovative, entertaining and unbelievable. His works reflected the desire for sexual freedom that was being expressed across America and were huge successes as a result. His Pippin became the highest earning show in broadway history. 

Director/choreographer Bob Fosse tells his own life story as he details the sordid life of Joe Gideon (Roy Scheider), a womanizing, drug-using dancer.

 All That Jazz is one of the most self-indulgent movies ever made - but should be applauded for it. It gets much of its inspiration from Frederico Fellini's 8 1/2, without ever being a direct clone. Drawing on Fosse’s own experiences as a young dancer in burlesque houses, and his battles with overly facile composers and narrow-minded backers, the film is essentially about a man who is burning the candle on both ends. Even though it is contemplative and brooding, one can't help but get entrance by the heavily choreographed musical numbers which must have taken days to complete (Fosse was an absolute perfectionist and demanded the best out of his workers) 

For All That Jazz Fosse brings his own unique style of rhythmic, dance-like film editing. He never cuts on a beat, but rather instead he makes razor-sharp edits at the change of a dancer’s direction, or as an extension of his combination moves. He turns the art of the edit into its own form of choreography. The introduction to the character alone, which is less than 5 minutes, has about 15 cuts. All are important in understanding the poor state of his character, all are sophisticated and expressive. The movie's structure is somewhat tricky, and if given to the wrong Director could have been a mess, but Fosse handles it with ease. 

 Fosse's cinematic approach to the musical numbers are a highlight of the film. Never a passive observer, the camera participates in the action, moving with each dancer. It adds a degree of precision in choreography that is not achievable on stage. Far different from 60's musicals like The Sound of Music and West Side Story, Fosse film was as revolutionary as it was breathtaking. Praise it! 5/5

and expressive

and expressive