All That Jazz (1979) movie review - Sneak Previews with Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel

This is the original review of All That Jazz by Siskel & Ebert on "Sneak Previews" in 1979. All of the segments pertaining to the movie have been included.

[@johndelossantos7678]

Later in life, Ebert changed his mind on this movie and gave it a positive review, he even included it in his “Great Movies” list

[@reneedennis2011]

Wow!

[@ricardocantoral7672]

This is one of the reasons why I have an issue with film critics. Their review is based on a first impression. You have to give a film more than one chance.

[@johndelossantos7678]

Ricardo Cantoral sometimes a film is bad no matter how many times u watch it, sometimes it’s great every time, and sometimes opinions change

[@reneedennis2011]

@@johndelossantos7678 I agree.

[@michaelb9537]

Film Critics usually write about current films for the purpose of informing audiences if it’s worth it to see it in theaters. Most audiences only see a movie once in the theater. The critic reports based on the expectation of seeing it once.

[@alcd6333]

I tend to agree with Ebert more than Siskel on films, with some exceptions. This is one of them: I think "All that Jazz" tells an honest story about a director/choreographer who's very self-indulgent and self-destructive. And the dance sequences are amazing.

[@TaraColquitt]

Totally agree!👍🏼👍🏼

[@pandaeyes42]

Roger got this wrong. It's a stone cold masterpiece.

[@DannyCosmos]

Im so surprised. I thought he would love this. it was hard to follow? cmon Ebert...

[@kmetcalfe]

The editing, especially the sound editing, shows true genius. I would have loved for him to make another dozen films.

[@CaptainSpalding72]

Scheider is such a underrated gem of the great actors of the 70s. Forgotten almost

[@reneedennis2011]

I believe he was nominated for Best Actor for this movie.

[@CaptainSpalding72]

@@reneedennis2011 he was but ask anyone on street and his name wont be remembered as it should.

[@reneedennis2011]

@@CaptainSpalding72 That's true.

[@Jared_Wignall]

@@CaptainSpalding72 he’s best remembered as Chief Brody, which isn’t bad, but it’s sad most people wouldn’t recognize the name unless you told them what he’s best known for.

[@pedroper859]

sinceramente amigo, con el paso de los años casi todos los actores por mas famosos q fueran en su momento, son olvidados, apenas 2 o 3 actores de cada cuarto de siglo llega a resistir el paso del tiempo

[@DeanStrickson]

My mom took me to see this when I was 8. She was a bit of a weirdo.

[@lakecatspf4324]

70's kids roll call! Mom's hand covered my eyes for the open heart surgery scene. The sex and drugs however, passed the decency standards for that time.

[@tbee1575]

😆😆😆😆😆😆😆

[@therugburnz]

I think your mom made a good choice even though it would be more appropriate for a person over 12 year old. Unless of course you became a dancer.

[@alex-qd6of]

Saw it with my folks when I was 11. Blew my mind, in a good way.

[@flixsymmetry]

The film may have been disorganized but I appreciate the fact that Scheider can go from Jaws 2 to this and be recognized for his performance.

[@reneedennis2011]

He got an Oscar nomination for this.

[@palmereldritch7777]

It's actually a VERY organized movie, runs like clockwork.

[@kevinmcdonald6477]

Scheider is a somewhat under appreciated actor. He's been in some great, hugely successful films such as Jaws and The French Connection but he has also had roles in other not as noted films like Marathon Man, 52 Pick-Up and Blue Thunder to name just a few.

[@eargasm1072]

@@kevinmcdonald6477 Hard to believe not one of the three leads in "Jaws" were nominated for best actor....c'mon Hollywood, yes it's a movie about a killer shark, but Scheider, Dreyfuss and maybe especially Shaw were outstanding

[@kevinmcdonald6477]

@@eargasm1072 I completely agree. Especially Shaw. That is a legendary role that stands the test of time. Especially his account of the USS Indianapolis. Him not being nominated was a travesty.

[@mikefallopian3191]

The ending is the best 10 minutes ever put on film.

[@DannyCosmos]

the movie was ok.... but the end won me over. its a masterpiece.

[@raygordonteacheschess5501]

The greatest anti-smoking film ever made.

[@taylorlee5103]

I love All That Jazz. In the Criterion collection edition, there was an interview with the little girl who played the daughter, 40 years later. She was in her 50's. Mind blowing, especially after watching the movie. Criterion did a flawless job on the quality and sound of the movie. If not for the wardrobe, you think it was filmed recently.

[@Rob-sk1im]

This was a tremendous achievement in film where they blended some very interesting musical numbers with a glimpse of this highly respected choreographer as his life is coming to a slow painful end. As a youngster I got to see this in the theater and to this day I still regard it as my favorite film. Roy Scheider should have walked away with the best actor Oscar.

[@SRV2013]

This movie becomes more and more frightening the older I get.

[@anthonythompson9741]

The real Fosse died at age 60, not too many years after this film was made! Of a heart attack. In a hospital.

[@SRV2013]

@@anthonythompson9741 I'm 61.

[@chalkbunt81]

@@SRV2013 , tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock...

[@SRV2013]

@@chalkbunt81 Goes for all of us, friend.

[@chalkbunt81]

@@SRV2013 , touche.

[@ft9303]

The way Skitsel foreshadowed 80s movies in the last week of the 70s showed how much he knew about cinema!

[@AmperSand666]

Amazing movie! I watched it first time about 35 years ago and many times since then, never got bored. I consider it Roy Scheider's best performance. Thanks for sharing!

[@eargasm1072]

I think the primary concept of All That Jazz is the dichotomy of being a creative artist yet self-destructive as an individual simultaneously

[@MikeSmith74653]

It's kind of noticed that the movie was inspired by Fosse's heart attack from overworking on BOTH "Lenny" and "Chicago" at the same time (In fact, the title is inspired by the song from "Chicago")!!!

[@danmseattle975]

Roy Scheider was robbed at the Academy Awards- I can't believe Dustin Hoffman won Best Actor for Kramer Vs. Kramer instead!

[@SRV2013]

What about Apocalypse Now getting beaten by that same forgettable movie.

[@steveconn]

Nah, Scheider works hard but Hoffman really burrowed in on the pain of a divorced father. His reaction at the end when Streep says she's not taking Billy alone deserved the Oscar.

[@Portugal2025]

Ooh that’s a toughie. While I agree Roy was amazing, Dustin absolutely nailed it. Makes me nostalgic for an era when good movies were made

[@SUperStanisz]

Hoffman was great playing Hoffman. Scheider played against stereotype.

[@randywhite3947]

steve conn nope Scheider went against type and put on one of the best performances of all time in all that jazz, Hoffman should have won for the graduate and Midnight Cowboy

[@StevenTorrey]

In 1979, a movie ticket cost $2.52. Ann Reinking passed away Dec 12, 2020 at age 71.

[@steelionx9255]

You know damn well that has nothing to do with anything! I'm giving your comment thumbs down and screw those who gave it thumbs up!

[@StevenTorrey]

@@steelionx9255 Well, bless you!

[@Jared_Wignall]

This is an incredible film from beginning to end and is my favorite musical as having it be about someone within the entertainment world, the singing and dancing doesn’t really come out of nowhere, especially when Joe Gideon has serious health problems and death looms over him, we see him hallucinate at times which also works with the various singing and dancing moments that aren’t in specific relation to the musical he’s making. And considering Bob Fosse experienced very similar circumstances while making Chicago and editing Lenny, that autobiographical aspect makes the film even more interesting to me. Roy Scheider should have won the Academy Award for this film, defiantly his best performance.

[@maskedmarvyl4774]

Roger: "I thought it was self-indulgent and chaotically organized". You've just described every actor's life in the world....

[@steelionx9255]

Absolute bs!

[@jeffkoons001]

clearly fosse meant to do a film that was linear and even tempered

[@alphabetaxenonzzzcat]

I only saw this film a few years ago. I had been a big fan of Fosse’s Cabaret, and was not disappointed with this film. Great performance from Roy, and that end sequence just blew my mind, for one thing - I didn’t know what the hell was going. This film took risks - it’s great, and it’s a shame that Fosse was taken from us too young.

[@johnmaritato3587]

I loved this movie, loved the structure, the story, the editing. Saw it several times when it was first released.

[@michaelfitzmichael3226]

bro, you look like Joe Gideon!

[@jeffkoons001]

one of the all time great masterpieces of world cinema and Ebert is like "I like the dancing" -- ????!!!!!!

[@memonk11]

Does nobody understand? Joe Gideon is flirting with death the entire film. I hope when I go death looks as good as Jessica Lange. And man, Ebert didn't understand a thing about this film.

[@pokerchip1231]

All that jazz is maybe the best movie i've ever seen. It is that good

[@bobthebear1246]

It's such a great film. Who knew that Roy Scheider could be a great song and dance man?? He absolutely deserved his Oscar® nomination for Best Actor.

[@rohanmarkjay]

All that Jazz is one of the best movies of 1979. I rarely disagree with Roger Ebert but I am in total agreement with Gene siskel. That said both these guys are great movie reviewers. All that Jazz is a deep philosophical movie about life. The fears that Roy Scheider character has are the same most movie goers have about life and death, great acting from him and from the black actor Ben Vreen. Take away all the dancing and choreagraphy and what you have is a meditation on life and going to the great beyond after life. Maybe fellinis movie was better but this was one of the best American moves of 1979 in terms of being thought provoking. The late Roy Scheider was excellent in this movie like he is in all his movies.

[@austinthomas9068]

The greatest musical ever !!!

[@scarletcoffee]

8:06 “Self indulgent” better describes Roger Ebert lmao

[@nancyiverson7771]

Best Movie for me still over 40 years later!

[@joegideon8461]

We'll start re-cutting Monday morning.

[@DannyCosmos]

quit smoking first.

[@johnsax1445]

That film was a Maasterpiece, warts and all

[@TTM9691]

Ebert misses another one....let's see, he pans "A Clockwork Orange" , "Raising Arizona", and virtually the entire canon of David Lynch, INCLUDING "The Elephant Man"....and gives "Eyes Wide Shut" and "Blood And Wine" thumbs up. Love watching these guys, but never once took their reviews seriously!

[@jackson5056]

Uh… Eyes Wide Shut is a masterpiece.

[@TTM9691]

@@jackson5056 No it isn't, and you wouldn't know, Jäckson.

[@DannyCosmos]

I agree with ebert alot but he was way off with all that jazz...

[@TTM9691]

@@DannyCosmos WAY off. Totally agree. He missed lots of movies. I love both of those guys, but I would never send my ships to war on anything either of them said, they both missed the boat way too many times on some of the greatest movies of their times (and championed stuff that hasn't aged as well).

[@jeh3692]

Eyes Wide Shut sucked.

[@Chris-y1c8x]

I’ve watched this film a bunch of times bc it’s not just a musical it’s an experience and perspective on a man’s life and his self destruction. Roy Scheider shines in his role and he should have won the Oscar. I highly recommend this film

[@polyglot12]

It was a great film from a great time for film. Wonder what Siskel would think of film now with all the "robots" in film?

[@erasedmemories2457]

This movie is such a masterpiece... The last minutes and the overall downward spiral vibe is crazy! its like the perfect hybrid of Style marries substance.

[@razorbackfilms]

I didn’t see it I was in high school then maybe a jr. but, I saw it on vhs. I liked it. I wish that it would come back at a revival like fathom did with sweet charity and cabaret

[@kellywittmann1893]

Even Gene's favorable opinion was rather hedged... Amazing that neither recognized it as the masterpiece it is.

[@DannyCosmos]

Very Rare Siskel W and very rare Ebert L

[@ph43draaa]

Common Siskel W

[@palmereldritch7777]

Actually Otto e Mezzo / All That Jazz are pretty even. And Stardust memories comes a close 3rd..... it's just a really good template for an autobiogrhapical fantasy of your life.

[@jeh3692]

I'll watch Roy Scheider in anything.

[@OuterGalaxyLounge]

The film was a worthy failure that elicits the same mixed feeling in me as it did Gene and Roger and the audiences. I think my own review at the time probably reflected this. I would respect it more today for being gritty and adult in ways films refuse to be anymore, but I did, as Roger mentions, recognize its complete steal from the Fellini playbook, very specifically 8 1/2. It was fashionably dark with the typical kind of pretension that occurs when filmmakers like Fosse build a successful track record then become introspective and self-centered to a fault. But, it was a pretty daring turn for Scheider, and even kind of sexy in parts. It might have some relevance now, too, as a window into the kind of casting-couch mentality in show-biz that has now fallen under scrutiny.

[@jackal59]

I'm surprised that Roger didn't use the word that really fits, which is "derivative."

[@robertwiegman1]

Roy Scheider's performance keeps it all together, since he keeps the Joe Gideon character appealing enough we stay interested in what happens with his new show. It is though a when it all comes down to it a dark satirical take on the old mgm let's put on a successful show movie. Unbelievably creative for sure.

[@randywhite3947]

Nah it’s a Fucking Masterpiece

[@rinwesley3092]

Ebert is so wrong on this.

[@danabarry81]

Yes one of the few times I disagreed with him. Glad he later changed his mind…

[@DannyCosmos]

@@danabarry81 changed his mind on all that jazz?

[@mikesilva3868]

Good movie 😊

[@ariplatt8192]

It’s a great great film.

[@fattymcfatso1083]

It's amazing how many time Ebert gets it wrong.

[@annielane5621]

I tried to watch this movie on H.B.O. I remember thinking " this movie is shit" I was like 10. I liked E.T.😂

[@ragingbull2271]

Watch it again like I did. It's a masterpiece!

[@kevinmcdonald6477]

It certainly wasn't intended for 10 year olds. Being an adult you may like it although it is a bit of a peculiarity. It is undeniable that Roy Scheider was impressive .

[@brianshoman1723]

This just doesn't relate to a stage or movie director , every person alive can relate to it when they realize that they are in the latter days of their lives and they reflect on their own accomplishments and what that affected in their personal relationships

[@DannyCosmos]

I didn’t like most of it but it won me over in the last act. And the ending was great

[@johnsax1445]

As he has been before, the Fat Guy was wrong. This movie was Epic

[@gsdlmj3450]

Once again, rack up the W for Gene.

[@GroovyShelly]

I generally agreed with Roger more than Gene. In this one, Roger was very wrong.

[@OysterPir8]

Gene was right. Roger was wrong.

[@chiedu90069]

Yes. Yes. Roger's review shocked me. This is one of the best movies of the 70s, one of the best show biz movies, and one of my favorite movies period. It's so brutally honest about Joe's brilliance, but also his vanity, and his cruelty. I'm surprised how small-minded Roger's review is. The line about the woman saying she didn't want to see open house surgery in a holiday movie is beyond ridiculous.

[@jacob8949]

@@chiedu90069 Thankfully he later changed his mind and called it a masterpiece

[@christinacascadilla4473]

It’s a great movie. Elbert is weird.

[@wotdoesthisbuttondo]

Shame they didn't rip it for having a misleading title that looked like a promise of nothing but great performances by the worlds best jazz musicians.

[@linneab8317]

Siskel got it right. Never saw Fellini so, I can't say if ATJ is a rip-off.

[@ricardocantoral7672]

I say it doesn't matter unless the film is bad. Body Heat is a total rip-off of Double Indemnity but it's still a work of genius.

[@brettrosen8628]

I like this movie 🎥🍿🍿🎥

[@peaceandlove544]

Kubrik liked it

[@anthonyscully2998]

Fosse made a European style film that went over Ebert's head

[@anthonyscully2998]

Ebert is a conservative film critic who was put off by the surgery scene and possibly by the nudity in the film

[@ricardocantoral7672]

Odd statement considering the fact that he called it on being rip off on one his favorite films, 8 1/2.

[@chalkbunt81]

The main problem with the movie was too much Vereen.

[@CaptainSpalding72]

Heart attack killed Fosse.

[@reneedennis2011]

Yup.

[@CaptainSpalding72]

I agree with Roger. The demons of his life were confusing and unsympathetic.

[@Polyglot_English]

I like how the four eyes basically says 'I'm too stupid to understand this movie that's why I don't like'

[@philhatfield8905]

I agree with both of them on "All That Jazz." I have it my DVD collection, and while I think it is a very good movie, I do find that the 'dream sequences' are more than a little annoying; they interrupt the flow of the story.

[@DannyCosmos]

yup that dancing orgy scene is weird af... but the movie won me over in the last act. that last muical number and how it ends is amazing.

[@mauriceortiz8817]

Roger Ebert was so wrong

[@DannyCosmos]

Rare Ebert L

[@Portugal2025]

Doesn’t age well but Roy Scheider is amazing

[@reneedennis2011]

I agree.

[@randywhite3947]

Nope both are you are wrong this film aged pretty good and is a Masterpiece

[@Portugal2025]

I enjoyed the film when I saw it and for my money Roy Scheider deserved Best Actor because he was larger than life. ATJ is highly entertaining _does it translate as well to this generation- not sure. Maybe it doesn’t have to

[@williamstevenson8518]

I think that it's a bit of a disappointment that Ben Vereen completely steals the show at the end of this movie. It would be better if Roy Scheider - who's great for the first ninety minutes - did something awesome during the final number. I also think that if this movie came out today most of the criticism would be directed at the way the main character completely takes advantage of so many women. Even his own daughter.

[@weemadangus1834]

Ben Vereen is a train dancer and Roy isn't. His daughter is a great dancer. She was a talent.

[@CaptainSpalding72]

I admire the film, but I dont like it and will likely never watch again.

[@randywhite3947]

Well you’re missing out on a Masterpiece then watch it again and see if you like it

[@CaptainSpalding72]

@@randywhite3947 I've seen. Not exactly re-watchable. Roy Schieder has got to be the most underrated actor of the 70s. The top five males of the era. 1. Dustin Hoffman 2. Gene hackman 3. Clint Eastwood 4. Paul Newman/Warren Beatty 5. Roy schieder.

[@randywhite3947]

Sal Paradise nah it’s rewatch able and that has to be one of the worst top fives ever I love Newman but he wasn’t a top five actor of the 70s even Redford had a better decade then him. Where’s Nicholson,DeNiro,Pacino,and Jon voight?

[@randywhite3947]

Sal Paradise also Clint was good in the 70s but sure as hell not top five

[@CaptainSpalding72]

@@randywhite3947 yes he is. Dirty harry alone is iconic

[@jime6688]

I've seen it and felt much the way Roger did.

[@samuelstephens6163]

All That Jazz looks awful, disproportionately garish and silly.

[@randywhite3947]

Nah it’s a masterpiece

[@gregr6254]

These guys can't sing.