All That Jazz (1979)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Jim H

  
  A philandering, chain-smoking choreographer struggles with heart problems, both real and figurative, as he attempts to mount another Broadway hit. What an amazing film! Bob Fosse's <i>All That Jazz</i> is everything that <i>8 1/2</i> and by extension… More
  A philandering, chain-smoking choreographer struggles with heart problems, both real and figurative, as he attempts to mount another Broadway hit. What an amazing film! Bob Fosse's <i>All That Jazz</i> is everything that <i>8 1/2</i> and by extension <i>Nine</i> wish they were. It is about both show business and mortality, fucking around and fidelity, and addiction and love. We see this in Joe Gideon's attempts to rev himself up for the life he's chosen for himself like a car that won't turn over. He understands that all of his choices have amounted to his unhappiness but feels powerless to change anything. And the producers who calculate profit off of his potential death and scoff at the artistry of his choreography serve as an unwelcome reminder that for many it's more about the business than the show. I think my favorite scene is the dance that Gideon's daughter and girlfriend do for him before they serve him dinner. The choreography and their interaction with him are so charming as to melt this cold cynic's heart. More to the point, I thought, "Why is it that those who are most loved realize it the least?" Then I saw the reaction shots, showing Gideon laughing uproariously. He does realize it, but nothing can re-direct his life's course, which sets up the truly tragic but fitting ending. Bob Fosse's remarkable choreography is all over <i>All That Jazz</i>, and this is the film to disprove those who think that dancing isn't a truly effective form of artistic communication. Additionally, Roy Scheider's performance is fantastic; who knew that the dude from <i>Jaws</i> could sing and dance? Overall, this is one of the best musicals ever made, full of fantastic numbers, great acting, and a substantive story.

• Morgan S

  
  The last 45 minutes or so of this show were very very good. The last 15 minutes FANTASIC! I loved it...If you love broadway, showbusiness, choreography ect. You will love this movie!

• Tsubaki S

  
  One of the few musicals i can tolerate, and even like.

• Tim S

  
  Really liked this movie a lot more than I thought I would. I think it was the editing that some might find annoying but I thought it was perfect for the story. Roy Scheider is great, but I was really impressed by the dancers and their naturalistic performances.

• Mark H

  
  Vulgar, decadent, autobiographical musical about Bob Fosse. Interestingly, the portrait is not flattering despite being written, directed, even choreographed by Fosse himself. There is real self -loathing here as the film challenges the viewer to care for the main character.… More
  Vulgar, decadent, autobiographical musical about Bob Fosse. Interestingly, the portrait is not flattering despite being written, directed, even choreographed by Fosse himself. There is real self -loathing here as the film challenges the viewer to care for the main character. He's morally repellent and downright unpleasant. Joe Gideon's constant daily routine is Vivaldi, Visine, Alka-Seltzer, Dexedrine and sex. He juggles multiple women, including a wife and girlfriend as his health deteriorates. Overly affected and self indulgent fantasy sequences in which he flirts with the angel of death are intercut with graphic scenes of real open heart surgery. Even the dance numbers feel overwrought. AirRotica, one of his most flamboyant, tries to be so aggressively erotic, it's actually humorous. Shockingly overrated, it was nominated for Nine Academy Awards. Roy Scheider has a real presence in the leading role. As for the rest? I just didn't get it.

• jay n

  
  Roy Scheider gives a good performance of a basically unlikable person and most of the dancing is very good but the overall tone and feeling of the film is off putting.

• danny d

  
  although held back by an unothodox style and pacing of the music, the film excelled in enough areas so as to not only balance it out but to overcome the flaws to make for a very good movie. the commentary on death in the final act was obviously the strength and scheider gave a great… More
  although held back by an unothodox style and pacing of the music, the film excelled in enough areas so as to not only balance it out but to overcome the flaws to make for a very good movie. the commentary on death in the final act was obviously the strength and scheider gave a great performance.

• Derek D

  
  After years of battling drugs dealers, murderers and sharks, Roy Scheider really shines in this dark musical based on the life of Bob Fosse, who was previously involved in Cabaret, Chicago and Damn Yankees. The ending of this movie (with Ben Vereen) is one of favorite endings.

• Michael G

  
  I kind of had a 3-star attitude about All That Jazz throughout most of the movie. I don't like musicals but seeing as how this one was darker and more character-driven I was able to get past my own bias. Roy Scheider was great and Ann Reinking was cute as all hell. Once the… More
  I kind of had a 3-star attitude about All That Jazz throughout most of the movie. I don't like musicals but seeing as how this one was darker and more character-driven I was able to get past my own bias. Roy Scheider was great and Ann Reinking was cute as all hell. Once the inevitable kicked in about 2/3 of the way through and the extended (as in often too long) musical and dance numbers kicked in I started losing interest. The hospital scene with the old woman on her death bed left me speechless. And Jessica Lange is a foxy Angel of Death. In the end I liked All That Jazz, but I probably don't need to see it again.

• Jennifer X

  
  Incredibly over-the-top and really typifies the area where reality meets illusion. The style takes some getting accustomed to but the dance numbers (oh wow, oh god wow) are really something. Oh mann Anne Reinking.

• Ken S

  
  Fosse's most personal and flamboyant work. One of my all time favorite films.

• Byron B

  
  The word phantasmagoria in the synopsis here is a good description of this odd picture. Not an autobiography, but Scheider plays a thinly veiled version of Fosse himself. I couldn't really identify or connect with anybody or anything in this strange movie. The music and dance… More
  The word phantasmagoria in the synopsis here is a good description of this odd picture. Not an autobiography, but Scheider plays a thinly veiled version of Fosse himself. I couldn't really identify or connect with anybody or anything in this strange movie. The music and dance wasn't all that impressive and I couldn't find any solid meaning to hook me to the story.

• Alec B

  
  Underated in my opinion, Roy Scheider is great as a musical choreographer who is increadibly talented but his life is imploding around him.

• ashley h

  
  Dancing was good but thats about it

• Brian R

  
  "Lenny" is my fav Bob Fosse film but "All That Jazz" is the best film Fosse has ever made. It is based on his own life when he was editing his film "Lenny" while also preparing for a Broadway musical. Roy Scheider plays the Bob Fosse character Joe Giddeon… More
  "Lenny" is my fav Bob Fosse film but "All That Jazz" is the best film Fosse has ever made. It is based on his own life when he was editing his film "Lenny" while also preparing for a Broadway musical. Roy Scheider plays the Bob Fosse character Joe Giddeon who is a chain smoking, drug, promiscious, workaholic. Giddeon cares a lot about his dancers and even feels guilty for not being a good father and a terrible womanizer. The best scene imo is the erotic ballet sequence performed by Giddeon's cast. The cast undresses half nakedly while performing difficult orgy dance routines that makes one of the penny pinchers exec quoting "There goes the family audience". It's quite clear that ballet all comes down to emulating sex. Dancers work so hard in order to keep their bodies fit, it's maddening. By the time these dancers reach their mid 30's they're done or if a dancer breaks their achillies tendon. Very Crucial. "All That Jazz" is also funny and never dated. The music scores blends and fits in well with the picture and Roy Scheider easily gives one of his best performances. I've watched a bit of dance picture lately but not as good as this. Fosse is the perfect director for this story and each time I witness the sweaty Giddeon, Fosse sends chills along my spine because again it's basically looking at Fosse and his flaws. This is a great film. I liked this a lot.

• Dimitris S

  
  A gloriously made film.It's deliciously subjective and ravishingly demented.Ecstatically shown!Well,I guess those word combinations dashing all the way remind me those weird metrical dance moves,especially the parade of death near the end.

• alan j

  
  visionary tale...excellent storytelling..acting is first rate..one of scheider's best roles...entertaining musical thats not a musical..rather a depiction of the non-stop life of bob fosse and his spiral downward...memorable and timeless!

Read all 17 featured audience ratings