All That Jazz
No, not the song, but I love that, too.
I watched the movie All That Jazz last night as I was slogging my way through 8 miles on the treadmill. I still love it. Actually, I don't know that I loved it when I first saw it 20-some years ago. It's very much what I think of as a "70s movie" - minimalist, not very linear, and kind of... scuzzy. The kind of movie that made me feel very dumb and clueless as a kid, because I could see I was missing something, but I didn't have the experience necessary to correctly identify and interpret the subtext. I couldn't understand, say, why Joe Gideon's ex-wife was so mad at him after the Air-Rotica debut, when she said it was the best thing he'd done yet. It's also one big sprawling narcissistic mess of a genius film. It's everything I ever thought being on Broadway would be - which I am told it was at the time, pre-corporatization. The opening number - hundreds of people auditioning for Joe Gideon (Bob Fosse's avatar), all set to "On Broadway" - guh. Also, who else gets to direct and film their own eulogy and funeral, and do it in such a way that lets you know that he knew he was a royal asshole, and yet still makes you love (or, at least respect) him? I have to admire that kind of chutzpah.
I love Fosse's work and style. One of the best dates Z ever took me on was to see the touring production of Fosse (we ate at Table Of Contents beforehand, and went back to his place later). If I could choose my life, I'd be a dancer in Fosse productions (I'd like to be a dancer anyway, but that ain't gonna happen). It's precise and sexy and celebratory. Fosse's obsession with perfection comes through, and you know he was awful to work for, but you came out on the other side changed, better, more. That's what I want.
"Live like you'll die tomorrow, work like you don't need the money, and dance like nobody's watching." - Bob Fosse
Side note: Ann Reinking was in an episode of a show titled "The CBS Festival of Lively Arts for Young People". Wow. That's a title and a half. It sounds like the Queen named it. "Charles, we need something to entertain the youth so that they do not realize how bad the world is right now. Let us put on a festival!" "All right mumsy, but what shall we call it?" "Let us see. It should be lively. Yes. The young people like lively things. The Festival of Lively?" "Close, mumsy, but we ought to tell them that this is highbrow, not the free love they seem to be so excited about." "Oh, yes. Hmmm. The Festival of Lively Arts For Young People! Yes, I do believe that is the ticket!" "That sounds perfect, mumsy. But what is this about me marrying a brood mare and not Camilla?"
I watched the movie All That Jazz last night as I was slogging my way through 8 miles on the treadmill. I still love it. Actually, I don't know that I loved it when I first saw it 20-some years ago. It's very much what I think of as a "70s movie" - minimalist, not very linear, and kind of... scuzzy. The kind of movie that made me feel very dumb and clueless as a kid, because I could see I was missing something, but I didn't have the experience necessary to correctly identify and interpret the subtext. I couldn't understand, say, why Joe Gideon's ex-wife was so mad at him after the Air-Rotica debut, when she said it was the best thing he'd done yet. It's also one big sprawling narcissistic mess of a genius film. It's everything I ever thought being on Broadway would be - which I am told it was at the time, pre-corporatization. The opening number - hundreds of people auditioning for Joe Gideon (Bob Fosse's avatar), all set to "On Broadway" - guh. Also, who else gets to direct and film their own eulogy and funeral, and do it in such a way that lets you know that he knew he was a royal asshole, and yet still makes you love (or, at least respect) him? I have to admire that kind of chutzpah.
I love Fosse's work and style. One of the best dates Z ever took me on was to see the touring production of Fosse (we ate at Table Of Contents beforehand, and went back to his place later). If I could choose my life, I'd be a dancer in Fosse productions (I'd like to be a dancer anyway, but that ain't gonna happen). It's precise and sexy and celebratory. Fosse's obsession with perfection comes through, and you know he was awful to work for, but you came out on the other side changed, better, more. That's what I want.
"Live like you'll die tomorrow, work like you don't need the money, and dance like nobody's watching." - Bob Fosse
Side note: Ann Reinking was in an episode of a show titled "The CBS Festival of Lively Arts for Young People". Wow. That's a title and a half. It sounds like the Queen named it. "Charles, we need something to entertain the youth so that they do not realize how bad the world is right now. Let us put on a festival!" "All right mumsy, but what shall we call it?" "Let us see. It should be lively. Yes. The young people like lively things. The Festival of Lively?" "Close, mumsy, but we ought to tell them that this is highbrow, not the free love they seem to be so excited about." "Oh, yes. Hmmm. The Festival of Lively Arts For Young People! Yes, I do believe that is the ticket!" "That sounds perfect, mumsy. But what is this about me marrying a brood mare and not Camilla?"