All That Jazz

Bob Fosse was een van Broadway se grootste koreograwe - die wenner van sewe Tony awards in 'n ry (onder meer "Chicago").Met niks meer om te bereik nie, het Fosse oor-ge-cross na movies - as koreograaf vir "West Side Story". Alles waaraan hy geraak het het skynbaar in goud verander - teen 1972 het hy Hollywood oorwin, met 'n Oscar as regisseur vir Liza Minelli se "Cabaret".En toe, in 1979 het hy hierdie weird, unieke movie gemaak. Teen hierdie tyd het Fosse begin glo dat die lewe sonder 'n gehoor en 'n soundtrack onmoontlik is - hy het sy eie lewe (starring Roy Scheider) gedoen as 'n dansproduksie - maar in 'n hartseer, selfverwytende toon.Die hoogtepunt daarvan is die laaste sekwens, waar die sterwende "Joe Gideon" in 'n hospitaalbed in sy laaste beswyming gaan. Alleen saam met hom, in hierdie oomblik, is die stil, wagtende figuur van die dood (Jessica Lange) en sy kamer se televisiestel, waar Ben Vereen, as 'n talkshow host aankondig:

Folks, what can I tell you about my next guest. This cat allowed himself to be adored, but not loved. And his success in show business was matched by failure in his personal relationship bag, now that's where he really bombed. And he came to believe that work, show business, love, his whole life, even himself and all that jazz was bullshit. He became numero uno gameplayer. Uh, to the point where he didn't know where the games ended and the reality began. Like to this cat, the only reality... is death, man.Ladies and gentlemen, let me lay on you, a so-so entertainer, not much of a humanitarian, and this cat was never nobody's friend. In his finalappearance on the great stage of life, uh, you can applaud if you want to, Mr. Joe Gideon!!"En dan, met die ou Country liedjie - "Bye, bye life / bye, bye happiness / hello loneliness / I think I'm gonna die" - dans Fosse een laaste keer onder die kollig in, en uit die wereld uit.