All That Fosse December 28, 2007 - January 1, 2008
Like Preston Sturges, Bob Fosse blazed his way across the movies like a rocket in the night sky, and he burned brightly all the way. His dynamic choreography always seemed like more than mere choreography––Fosse transcended the idea of singing and dancing, and at his very best he achieved a kind of pure, joyfully vulgar, all-American poetry. Perhaps that’s why his musicals and his non-musicals seem to be all of a piece––the life-force flowed from Fosse right into his characters, whether they were dancing or simply working their way through the tawdriest side of show business, of which Fosse’s grasp was absolutely unparalleled. His five films as a director are a rich experience when seen together, augmented with a selection of his early work as a dancer and a choreographer, all in the best prints available. There’s a high quotient of upset, heartbreak and tragedy in Fosse’s work, but his energizing spirit pervades every frame of every one of his movies. A fitting way to kick off the new year.
