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All That Jazz (1979)
Director: Bob Fosse
Writers: Robert Alan Aurthur, Bob Fosse
Stars: Roy Scheider, Jessica Lange, Leland Palmer
Genre: Surreal Drama, Musical


Legendary director & choreographer Bob Fosse tells his own life story in the entertainment business. We're treated to the details of his rather sorted life, as played by fictional character Joe Gideon (Roy Scheider). Joe Gideon is Bob Fosse and he's a lout...a womanizing, pill popping, boozing, egotistical talent and one helluva of a dancer & choreographer. Through surreal images and imaginative dance scenes we learn of the toll that Bob Fosse's life style takes on his health.

All That Jazz is quite different in it's style and the dance numbers were amazing. The story premise of a hard drinking-pill popping-womanizing producer who sees his life (or what it could have been) flash before his eyes is an intriguing concept.


The inter-cutting of the 'woman in white' scenes (played by Jessica Lange) without any explanation at first as to what was going on made for an ecliptic montage of disembodied scenes, until...I figured out that was him in the some type of afterlife looking back at his own life.

Latter in the film, Joe Gideon is watching a review of his latest movie and the movie reviewer, Leslie Perry says

How do I rate this? On the first viewing it's confusing but with a second viewing my opinion went way up! As I knew what to expect and so could set back, relax and enjoy the surreal images and amazing Bob Fosse dance numbers.