All That Jazz is a semi-autobiographical film about director, choreographer, and dancer Bob Fosse. Fosse was a Chicago native who used tour with vaudeville groups until he made it to Broadway. As a choreographer, he was well known for his sexualized movements and penchant for fishnets and bowler hats. The movie stars Roy Schneider as Joe Gideon cum Bob Fosse-- a chain-smoking tyrant of a choreographer with an ego as huge a his sexual appetite for women. Roy Schneider does a great job of assuming the sinewy characteristics of a life-long dancer.

Bob Fosse co-wrote and directed All That Jazz. ATJ gives us a peek inside the genius of Fosse. It is a fantastical story told as part musical, docudrama, and camp. (When Joe Gideon's alter-ego leans in beside the real Gideon, in bed after heart surgery, and whispers "cue hospital hallucination, you know, finally, that this is no ordinary flick.) Fosse skewers not only the financiers of Broadway musicals and the women he bedded, he also sticks it to himself the hardest. Gideon is such a jerk that when he is faced with a heart attack from years of drinking, screwing and pill-popping, you can't decide if you want him to live or die.

All that Jazz is a movie that requires concentration with the quick cuts from Joe's present to his past and into his imagination. There are also several viewings of Joe's daily routine (The routine consists of Joe popping a pill, using eye drops, taking a shower, shaking the pain out of his wrist, and then facing himself in the mirror to utter "Show time."). At first, the repetitions come off as annoying but eventually you realize it is a comparison of learning a dance. You repeat and repeat and repeat until you get it right. (And once it hits the stage, you repeat and repeat and repeat for 8 shows a week.) The theme of repetition and perfection come up in the film often.

Joe is working on a film project that is overdue to the movie company ( in real life it is a version of Bob Fosse's biographical film Lenny based on the life of comedian Lenny Bruce). He relentlessly watches the draft over and over again finding every flaw but never finding what good is in it. From every dance that is rehearsed ad nauseum to the parade of women that come in and out of Joe's life, his mere existence is about repetition until perfection but he never finds it. This movie, however, is as close to perfect as a bio-pic can get (witty, sexy, good music, great dancing, excellent acting).

All that Jazz also takes me back to the late 70s and early 80s when Broadway musicals seemed to having a revival in NYC. I fondly remember seeing commercials on television for Evita, Dreamgirls, A Chorus Line, Annie, La Cage Aux Folles and other favorites. I also remember hearing songs from those musicals played on the radio--re-edited and discofied for everyone. All that Jazz and Cabaret melded into one for me as kid. Life, theater, and the movies were just one big song and dance routine.

This is Bob Fosse at his best. This is a semi autobiographical movie. Fosse was mounting the musical "Chicago" starring ex wife Gwen Verdon and finishing the film "Lenny" and had a mild coronary.

In this film director Joe Gideon (Roy Scheider) is mounting a new musical starring is ex wife (Leland Palmer) despite the fact she is too old for the role. At the same time, he is editing a film called "The Standup" (Cliff Gorman). Like Fosse, Gideon is a womanizer who lives on uppers, downers, Alka Setlzer and cigarettes. He lives with his star dancer (Ann Reinking - who is considered the quintessential Fosse dancer) and daughter. During the rehearsals, he has a heart attack. This begins a series of fantasy sequences and flashbacks all hosted by the Angel of Death (Jessica Lange in the comeback role of the 80's). This later proceeds into the final sequence which is hosted by Fosse alumni Ben Vereen.

This film has many layers to it including a fascinating behind the scenes look at the mounting of a musical and look at the editing of a film. The "Take Off with Us" number is truly spectacular. For most of the cast, this is their finest performances. The technical side is the best. Tony Walton proves that he is the best set and costume designer with his fantasy sequences. Alan Heim needs to be credited with creating the music video with his cutting edge film editing.

If you to see a master class in film making this is the one to watch.

DVD EXTRAS:

Commentary by Roy Scheider (Did not listen to this)

Interviews with Roy Scheider - very good.

Filming clips with Bob Fosse - very good

The reason I bought the CD is that I really wanted to review the stages a person moves through when dealing with the loss of a loved one as well as the loss of their own life. The dancing, singing, and love story illustrate these stages as a celebration rather than a tragedy. I believe that the CD gives an excellent education on a taboo subject.