In this semi-autobiographical musical, written and directed by Bob Fosse, his alter-ego, Joe Gideon (Rob Scheider) is a chain-smoking, hard-drinking, workaholic choreographer, simultaneously directing a new Broadway musical 'NY/LA' and re-editing his over-budget and overdue film 'The Standup'. Fosse is also pretty harsh on Joe (and perhaps himself) by making Joe a serial womanizer. Joe's wife Audrey (Leland Palmer) had left him because of his repeated infidelity, and his present girlfriend Kate (Anne Reinking) soon discovers that he is bedding one of his dancers, Victoria (Deborah Geffner). The story starts realistically, but fantasy scenes where Joe chats with an angel (Jessica Lange) are used to fill in his background. As Joe's health deteriorates, the fantastic comes to the fore, culminating in rock opera-style performance of 'Bye Bye Love' by Scheider and Ben Vereen.
The film is like an hyperactive and edgy vaudeville show, entertaining, surprising and shocking us at the same time. Wonderful stuff.
5 out of 5 stars.
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