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All That Jazz Review
By admin | August 13, 2009
All That Jazz Trailer
All That Jazz
Studio: 20TH CENTURY FOX
Genre: Musical
Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 1.85:1
Screen Format: Anamorphic - Enhanced for 16×9 viewing
Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Exposure: Color
Running Time: 123 minutes
Rating: Rated R
Release Year: 1979
COMMENTS
Without ALL THAT JAZZ, there never could have been CHICAGO. In this landmark 1979 musical, Bob Fosse’s semi-autobiographical self-portrait, personified by Roy Scheider’s Joe Gideon, remains a seminal landmark in the contemporary musical genre.
I’m not ashamed to admit that this is one of only a handful of films that I’ve been eagerly awaiting since the advent of DVD. Co-written and directed by Fosse, ALL THAT JAZZ sizzles to the beat of a driving soundtrack and contains amazingly real performances. The wry humor, some of it subtle, some of it obvious, provides the fabric that holds the film together.
With a wickedly biting script that’s frank, direct — and controversial still — ALL THAT JAZZ seamlessly blends comedy with tragedy, as our protagonist, Joe Gideon (in one of Roy Scheider’s finest performances on film), alternates between a recurring fantasy about death and the reality of his own near-death experiences. Driven by ego, Gideon pushes himself over the edge to an explosive climax, and we’re all along for the ride.
Jessica Lange (after receiving disasterous reviews playing second banana to Dino DeLaurentis’s KING KONG), appears as the Angel of Death (or Life, depending on your point of view), saving her career with a beguiling performance in ALL THAT JAZZ (only her second role in film).
ALL THAT JAZZ boasts one of the best character studies of a character that’s actually worth the effort of studying.
Also on the DVD, interviews with Roy Scheider, 5 Bob Fosse clips and theatrical trailer.
ALL THAT JAZZ streets August 19th, 2003, and if you know what’s good for you, you’d better add it to your collection. Just make sure the kiddies are put to bed. The “Air-otica” scene is still erotic enough — all these years later — to make the grownups break out in a sweat. Don’t be surprised if the person sitting next to you asks for a towel and a cigarette when the scene ends. Well, maybe not the cigarrette…
SYNOPSIS
Legendary Broadway dance choreographer, Joe Gideon (Roy Scheider) has a problem. He’s dying. Busy working on a film about the life of a comic (ala Lenny Bruce) while working on the choreography for a new commercial campaign for an airline, Gideon, who smokes too much, drinks too much and screws around too much, is about to receive his comeuppance.
His ex-wife and daughter still admire him, and his girlfriend (Ann Reinking) still loves him, but is growing increasingly despondent over his infidelities.
Through a series of flashbacks and fantasy discussions with his muse, the angel of death who will soon possess him, we see the story of Joe’s life unfold as we go on a journey to discover his past, present and destiny.
A work-a-holic, Gideon, who is unable to come to terms with his illness, continues to push himself to the breaking point in order to satisfy his obligations, but ultimately pays the price for his cavalier disregard for conventional living. But when the curtain falls on this character, you can be certain that the final act will close in style.
IMAGE
While the 2.0 surround track is (sigh) just adequate, the video quality is actually very, very good. Clean, but not devoid of grain, clarity is excellent and the colors are natural in appearance. Contrast balance and black level are also superb. But again, there’s probably more grain evident than you’re used to seeing in current film, but given the vintage, it’s wholly representative of what you would have seen in the theater during that era.
SOUND
The lack of a 5.1 sound mix (which this movie really would greatly benefit by) is somewhat mitigated by a scene-specific commentary, recorded in 2001 by Roy Scheider, however, it left me wanting for more. His comments are somewhat sparse, but very enlightening and wholly worthwhile, despite their relative brevity in relation to the overall length of the film. For example, the revelation that Richard Dreyfuss had originally been slated to play Joe Gideon. However, Dreyfuss didn’t care for Fosse and Fosse didn’t care for Dreyfuss — and the rest as they say, is history. Mr. Scheider provides some wonderful anecdotes that really enrichen the experience of owning this disc.
FEATURES
Scene access to 20 chapter breaks
Scene specific commentary by Roy Scheider
Alternate French mono soundtrack
Subtitles in English and Spanish
Interviews with Roy Scheider filmed during production
5 Bob Fosse clips showing him directing scenes from the film
Theatrical trailer.