Review of Saturday Night Fever (1977) by Jonny P — 29 Nov 2013

"Saturday Night Fever" is an important film. Not because the story is particularly interesting or the characters are particularly deep, but because it chronicles the dance style and subculture of the 1970's.

It is a time machine that transports us to this vivid period in American history and allows us to experience a true piece of Americana. Unfortunately, the excessive strong language and rape-content ruined the film for me.

Admittedly, I did not live through this era so maybe the questionable content of this film is necessary to painting an accurate picture but from my modern perspective, it just seems like the writers were just trying to add some grit to make this dance film more macho.

Everything that is dance is great. Everything that isn't... isn't. I love the BeeGee's music and especially the disco arrangements of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony and Night on Bare Mountain and the dance sequences are stunning.

At a few points, you have to question whether it is legal for anybody onscreen to be a better dancer than John Travolta because he is just that impressive. In spite of its high points, the plot becomes tiresome when people bark like dogs in restaurants and there are awkward arguments around the dinner table.

It is as if I understand the statement that the writers were trying to make but there is too great of a schism between dance mania and pointless existence. The final few scenes sealed this film's fate for me as the movie undergoes a complete depart from the dance/love story and focus on drugs, rape, and a cheesy ending that portrays this serious subject matter in a way that merely turns into melodrama.