Review of Cabaret (1993) by Danny R — 06 Aug 2011
A masterpiece. One of the most brilliant musical ever made and certainty the definitive version of Sally Bowles, the original character in Christopher Isherwood's 1939 book about the life in pre-World War II Berlin.
The late great Bob Fosse's unique and inspired film version of the legendary Broadway musical hit, won him an Academy Award for his masterfully direction which is flawless, and Liza Minnelli playing Sally Bowles, a flamboyant American singer and dancer, who's life is fueled by drink and one night stands, delivers the performance of her career which won her a Academy Award for Best Actress for her unforgettable bravura turn, she is the catalyst that enlivens this classic motion picture by her gifts of dramatic acting, and she becomes bigger than than life when belting out songs with her glorious voice, Joel Grey won a Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his dazzling performance as the smirking androgynous Master of Ceremonies at the Kit Kat Klub, he is the personification of a decadence beyond good and evil, and he steals every scene he appears in.
Michael York delivers a superlative performance as Brian Roberts, a young handsome bisexual Englishman who studied at Cambridge and hopes to become a teacher he befriends Sally, and they become roommates and special friends, excellent supporting performances by Helum Griem, Marisa Berenson, Fritz Wepper, Kathryn Doby, George Hartmann and Estrongo Nachama.
Bob Fosse's exquisitely choreographed musical stage numbers are fabulously kinky and bathed in eroticism and gleeful decadence. The film's handling of the political material during Hitler's rise to power is done with great style and integrity, thanks to Jay Presson Allen's splendid screenplay, there is remarkable cinematography by Geoffrey Unsworth, and a wonderful and haunting score by John Kander.
A thought-provoking cinematic work of pure genius. Winner of 8 Academy Awards including Best Director: Bob Fosse, Best Actress: Liza Minnelli, Best Supporting Actor: Joel Grey, Best Art Direction-Set Decoration: Rolf Zehetbauer, Hans Jurgen Kiebach, Herbert Strabel, Best Cinematography: Geoffrey Unsworth, Best Film Editing: David Bretherton, Best Music, Scoring Original Song Score and/or Adaptation: David Hildyard.
Highly Recommended.
This review of Cabaret (1993) was written by Danny R on 06 Aug 2011.
Cabaret has generally received very positive reviews.
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