Ranking the Films of Bob Fosse

Scene from All That Jazz

There have been few in the world of Broadway who has matched the massive talent (and ego) of Bob Fosse. While he's best known for reinventing theater, he also left behind an impressive filmography that saw him reinvent both the movie musical and typical drama by adding social commentary that was biting and manic. With the TV series Fosse/Verdon coming tomorrow to highlight his illustrious life, it only feels right to look back on such an odd career. The following is a ranking of his five features (and one live show) that he directed and often choreographed to better fit his vision. There hasn't been a choreographer (or director for that matter) like Fosse, and his work speaks for itself. So get out your jazz hands and dance along.

1. All That Jazz (1979)

For those who ever question the hubris and brilliance of Bob Fosse, all they really need to do is watch this pseudo-autobiographical story that turns a self-indulgent artist's life into an elaborate musical. Even his death is an elaborate dance number that is a sight to behold. It's fitting that Fosse's greatest cinematic achievement is an ode to himself, and it's a relief that it's nowhere near as off-putting as that would suggest. In its place is a film that is so immediate and dreamlike that it created "Fosse time" and would lead to a Palme d'Or win at Cannes as well as a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars. It's a movie musical like no other and the perfect evidence that Fosse was on another level. Movie musicals have never been this grandiose and powerful before nor would they ever get there again. Many can try to make a film like this, but all they will do is look ridiculous. 

2. Cabaret (1972)

With his second big screen outing, Fosse took the flaws of Sweet Charity and fine-tuned them into one of the most original and exciting World War II movies in history. While one wouldn't expect songs about money and a sexually androgynous orchestra to have a deeper meaning, the story of a performer named Sally Bowles (Liza Minnelli)  becomes the center of a tragic comedy about what happens when evil is allowed to run rampant. It isn't because of the ignorant following, but the belief that it will just... disappear. Add in an iconic performance by Joel Grey at the Master of Ceremonies, and you get a film that is ripe with energy and passion, capturing a manic editing approach that captures live performance in a way that's just as exciting as being there. This is a film that is a lot of fun but underneath has a lot of heartbreak and sorrow. No wonder it leads to Fosse's sole Oscar win for Best Director (the film may have won Best Picture if it wasn't for an underdog film called The Godfather). This is another pinnacle of why Fosse's work to the movie musical remains unsurpassed. There may be more enjoyable songbooks out there, but few have the energy and intent of Cabaret.

3. Star 80 (1983)

For a career as towering as Fosse, it's still strange that his farewell came in the form of one of the most disturbing, confrontational (and controversial) films of the 1980s. With a disturbingly powerful lead performance by Eric Roberts, the story of a Playboy model (Muriel Hemmingway) turns tragic as Roberts becomings hopelessly obsessed with leeching off of her fame. It becomes creepier when hearing Fosse's thoughts on the film, believing that the murderer reflected parts of himself. It's a film that has no choice but to be thought-provoking because it is the filmmaker's last film. It's unlike everything he did before, yet embodies his obsession with people clamoring for fame in disgusting ways. The film may be too uncomfortable for most, but along with impeccable editing, it was a Fosse vision of true crime through and through. It sticks with the audience no matter what. Whether that's a good or bad thing is subjective.

4. Liza with a Z (1972)

An argument could be made that this live concert film was test footage for what Fosse would bring to Cabaret that same year. With a medley from the stage show ending the show (including the iconic title song), it was a chance to see Liza Minnelli perform at the peak of her talent. Not only does she have a radiant voice, but Fosse's choreography shines through in dance numbers scattered throughout the film. It may clock in at a little under an hour and isn't necessarily the most ambitious thing Fosse has done (even on stage), but it does feel like the perfect tribute to what attracted him to Minnelli. She was a great performer who gave her all into every lavish setpiece. It's hard not to fall in love with her as her back-up dancers fill up the stage with Fosse's personality. It's one of a kind experience and a sign of what Fosse's stage shows could be like. It's more of a document than a film, but it still works because of the hard work of everyone involved, including EGOT Marvin Hamlisch as music coordinator.

5. Lenny (1974)

It seems like common sense why Fosse would be attracted to a figure like Lenny Bruce. The confrontational comedian pushed boundaries to the point that he got the government involved. What does it mean to have freedom of speech? Lenny is a unique film in his career in part because it is one of his few dramas but also because it's the most direct narrative of his career. With a great performance by Dustin Hoffman, he brings out a compelling story about what it meant to be a provocative artist in America. It may not be as uncomfortable as his later films, but it does feature plenty of style and heart that brings to life what could easily be a conventional story. It's worth it just to see Hoffman reenact Bruce's many routines, which were often upsetting and bizarre. Still, they helped to change how we see comedy and freedom and Fosse gets it better than most of us.

6. Sweet Charity (1969)

There's not a lot wrong about Fosse's directorial debut. In fact, "Big Spender" is definitely shot with an immediacy that makes the moment iconic. The style fits with the 60's style of the time and Shirley Maclaine gives her all in a fun performance. There's so much going on that works and it's the first time he plays with editing that pushes the music into surrealism. Still, this is more interesting as a testing grounds for what the auteur would explore in all of his later films. It's by no means a failure, but there's far more style than substance (which is still fun), and it's a compliment that everything he's done since has become more interesting and unique. This feels too conventional to be a Fosse joint, and yet it would still rank among another filmmaker's best. It's fun and flashy in all of the right ways, which is all that matters by the end.

BONUS!

Chicago (2002)

Yes, this is technically not a film that Fosse directed. He had been long dead by the time that this hit the big screen. Still, it is by heart a Fosse film in part because it's based on one of his Tony-nominated productions. Fosse himself was going to make it into a film but lost interest. Thankfully the person who ended up making it, Rob Marshall, gave the film an enthusiastic sheen and enough style to capture the satirical nature of Fosse's story of doing anything to get your name in the paper. Sure, it may at times play like subpar Cabaret, but everything about the film otherwise is a pure delight and brings forth the style and heart that defines the demented show. It's also the only Fosse-related film to win Best Picture at the Oscars, and for good reason. The "Cell Block Tango" sequence alone could've resurrected the movie musical genre for decades. While the film gets a bad rap, it's worth checking out because it's a great musical in a time when they aren't so common. It's not quite Fosse-great, but it's the next best thing.

What is your favorite Bob Fosse film?