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| Source: rec.art.movies.reviews newsgroup | | Rating: 5
| Anyone who knows me knows that I adore this movie almost as much as I adore, say, "Pulp Fiction." Ever since I finally saw this, I could recite the movie, call the dances (I can't actually do them, 'cause I look like Ed Grimley when I do), and even do the cool walk in the beginning. But even though some might call this a "guilty pleasure," this is actually a very well-made film that could have been a shallow dance movie starring that guy from "Welcome Back, Kotter," but turns out to be a very intelligent character study that just happens to have some of the coolest dance scenes ever made. I know Gene Siskel will back me up on this one.
John Travolta, fresh off of "Kotter" and "Carrie," in the role that made him a superstar (and also spawned a stupid sequel I have yet to see), plays Tony Manero, a kind of dim Brooklynite who works in a paint store during the week, and on Saturday nights, goes out with his friends to the local disco place, the nicely named "2001 Odyssey," where he's a superstar since he takes up the dance floor whenever a cool tune comes on (usually a Bee Gees tune, who wrote about six tunes in a week for this flick).
One night, he sees a woman there (Donna Gorney), who is a great dancer and catches his attention. After he meets her, she turns out to be kind of feisty and a little too intelligent for him, but he persits. Meanwhile, his other partner (Donna Pescow), who has a big crush on him and begs him for sex constantly, is dumped by him cruelly so he can pursue a hopefully more than kosher relationship with Gorney. Also, his brother, who was a priest and the pride of the family, has quit the parish, and is moving on, shaming the family, and making Tony feel better.
Like all dance flicks, there's a big dance competition, and Tony and Gorney want to go and win. But this film is too intelligent, and ends in a kind of mature and shocking manner. Throughout the film, Tony matures (he's only 19), not only in intellect, but in just an all-around kind of way. Like Renton in "Trainspotting," he grows out of his friends, who are self-destructive and totally immature. I mean, these guys go onto the Brooklyn Bridge, dance on the sides, and pretend to fall to their death. A big melodramatic thing occurs later on, but it actually feels moving and shocking, instead of stupid and shallow.
Of course, the big thing to admire in this is the dance scenes, which are totally awesome. I mean, I usually don't get into big dance sequences, but I mean, I'm just all into the ones in this one. And, you also get to see John Travolta in his first Oscar-nominated role. He's an incredible actor and is just incredible, even if he has a Brooklyn accent. He creates a character with many levels, who actually seems more human than he would in a lesser film. Also look for great performances from Gorney and Pescow.
Also, look for a cameo from Fran Drescher (she has weird hair) as a chick who goes up to him, says a memorable line, and even gets to grab his ass, which she revels in even these days.
"Saturday Night Fever" is one of the most memorable and entertaining (not to mention addictive) films I've ever seen. It's not the most brilliant film, but it's certainly one of the more intelligent dance films.
By : Ted Prigge (http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Hills/8335/)
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| | Source: rec.art.movies.reviews newsgroup | | Rating: 0
| SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER [1977] A retro reveiw by: Richard Matich This film was not only made in the 1970s, it was the 1970s! Fresh from his stint as a high schooler in the tv sitcom "Welcome Back Kotter", John Travolta became both a household name and an idol to millions of adoring fans. Grease [1978] would rocket him into the stratisphere in the coming year. Long before Travolta was in Pulp Fiction, he was getting his first Oscar nomination for this film. The story is based on a magazine article on the New York night lives of some working class young people. The film hasTravolta as a guy that is tough, street smart, and "oh so much" the womens favorite on [and off] the dance floor. The dance moves had all of America talking back then. People would get their hair cut the way Travolta had it done for the movie. The clothes made the "disco look" out pace the "Annie Hall look" [women with neckties, vest and/or baggy chinos] of the same year. Discos became the hot destination for countless Americans [and even in other countries] all because of Saturday Night Fever. The soundtrack to the film won Grammys and set records for albulm sales for years to come. At one time it seemed as though everyone had that soundtrack! The story works well enough and it remains a cultural benchmark. It made a lot of people plenty of money at a time when the U.S. economy needed "anything" to get it going. Travolta & company helped the nation's finanial and emotional well being more so than did the Ford and Carter administrations combined! The power of film!!!
By : Richard Matich
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