Yes Snoop! I agree, too bad he lost out against Dustin Hoffman in Kramer vs Kramer. He was good in that movie (he's always good), but I don't think it really stretched Hoffman's acting abilities. With Roy on the other hand, he was known for his 'everyman' roles, so it was certainly a brave move on his part to play this chauvinistic, flamboyant, workaholic choreographer. But I think his natural 'everman' appeal added depth to the character and showed showed a vulnerable side. You're right - best acting performance ever. And All That Jazz is criminally underrated, Bob Fosse really put all that he had into this film and it showed. I think it is a creatively genius film. I can't fault it.
When I try to descrive All That Jazz to someone (especially the lads at work) and saying this is one of my favourite films that look at me weird because it's a musical (kinda). But it's difficult to explain that the film breaks the 'fourth wall', and my colleuges (I work in a cinema) get even more confused when I tell them, "Imagine a musical with Roy Scheider from Jaws, with raw 70's nihilism a la 'Taxi Driver'.
And I'll check out Lenny, thanks man! Just watched the trailer it looks awesome.
A man who runs behind a car gets exhausted.
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gabby_bm
11 years ago
I have a hard time qualifying this film AS a musical. Musical numbers were a part of that mans job and in essence, his life. So naturally, musical numbers would be included in the film. But really, no part of the film breaks into song, telling part of the story or a character's feelings. Every musical number exists as part of his occupation or what he does in life. Unlike "West Side Story" for instance where they break into song at the drop of a hat, dancing and singing about policemen and Puerto Ricans.
Until the final number comes along which in essence IS a "break into song" kind of musical number. But it happens naturally because it embodies and encompasses his life's work, so naturally it would be in the context of a musical considering that was the essence of his life.
"De gustibus non disputandum est"
#3
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shieldsdraeger
8 years ago
While this film is less of a traditional "break into song" musical, it is a musical.
No part of the film ... tells part of the story or a character's feelings.
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This is way off the mark. The story IS Gideon's life and relationships. And many of
the songs DO express character's feelings.
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daughterofolaf
10 years ago
Dustin Hoffman in Kramer vs Kramer. He was good in that movie (he's always good), but I don't think it really stretched Hoffman's acting abilities.
That is precisely the point! You nailed it and this is exactly why Scheider deserved to win over Hoffman. I love Hoffman, but, like you stated above...his work in K vs K was absolutely not a stretch or a challenge based on everything else we had seen from him up to that point in his career. The academy has never been known for making a whole lot of right choices and this certainly falls under that category.
Kramer vs. Kramer really hosed a lot of other (more worthy) movies it was up against that particular year and while I do like the movie I cannot help but feel bummed that so many other films lost out to it in various categories.
It wasn't me who was murdered, was it?
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balthazar_bee
10 years ago
One of my favourite Scheider performances is in Naked Lunch, directed by David Cronenberg. Coincidentally, he had some pretty nasty things to say about Kramer vs. Kramer -- I wish I had the book in front of me -- something about it being a vile fantasy of a divorce, completely superficial and ultimately destructive.
I much prefer his version of Kramer vs. Kramer -- The Brood.
Back to Scheider. Last night I watched Blue Thunder again for the first time in a while -- apart from being ludicrously entertaining, we can thank our man Roy for adding gravity to some silly post-Watergate paranoia crossed with Rambo-style urban action sequences.
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thepartydjz
10 years ago
How ironic that Dustin Hoffman who had played "Lenny" another film by Bob Fosse, and the subject of the short film being directed by the lead (Roy) in All That Jazz, beats him out for the oscar.
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balthazar_bee
10 years ago
Ouch! Hadn't thought of that. Hoffman is often terrific, but of all the performances the Academy could've honoured...
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