I just rewatched All That Jazz
, which is from top to finish a brilliant tour-de-force and self-fulfilling prophecy. The man had talent and major balls to stage his own life in this over-the-top fantasy. Roy Scheider was amazing and hateful and wonderful as Fosse's alter ego. What a movie.In today's world, everything seems like some sort of long audition.
Quintessential Fosse, "Big Spender" from Sweet Charity
(1969). The film is just OK - Shirley MacLaine, for me, is too cutesy to be a convincing dime a dance girl (cough, cough, prostitute). I guess it was the Pretty Woman of its time, except that no one bought it, as it flopped. But the musical numbers and Chita Rivera are of course, just great.
(1969). The film is just OK - Shirley MacLaine, for me, is too cutesy to be a convincing dime a dance girl (cough, cough, prostitute). I guess it was the Pretty Woman of its time, except that no one bought it, as it flopped. But the musical numbers and Chita Rivera are of course, just great.It's showtime, folks!
I love the film Cabaret, but seeing Alan Cumming with Natasha Richardson in the 1998 revival on Broadway was phenomenal, too. Although choreographed by Rob Marshall, Fosse's influence was everywhere. As it is on so much dance to this day.
Don't dance for the audience; dance for yourself.
Michael Jackson loved him, too. And obviously took lessons:
"His baldness was the reason that he wore hats, and was doubtless why he put hats on his dancers." He used gloves in his performances because he did not like his hands. — Wikipedia
I would never discriminate against someone's talent because they showed the poor taste to like me.
Fosse was more than a great dancer and choreographer, he was also a great director. Cabaret
(1972), Star 80
(1983), Liza with a Z: A Concert for Television
(a 1972 TV special which I still have fond memories of seeing), Lenny
(1974) and the aforementioned All That Jazz (1979). Quotes from imdb
