Review of Star 80 (1983) by Stuart K — 30 Jun 2009
Bob Fosse was a talented director, for all the theatre work he did, he only ever directed 5 feature films. This was the final film he directed before his untimely death in 1987, and it is a film which ends with death.
It is a dark film about the hardship of fame, and the seedier side of that lifestyle. It follows Paul Snider (a brilliant Eric Roberts), a pimp/hustler who deals with seedy entertainment in and around Vancouver.
One woman he comes across is Dorothy Stratten (Mariel Hemingway), a high school senior who Snider instantly see's as Playboy material, and eventually, Stratten becomes the August 1979 Playboy Playmate and ultimately Playboy Playmate of 1979, which opens the door to movies and the like.
Much to the chagrin of Snider, who is jealous of Stratten's new found fame, she is told by Hugh Hefner (Cliff Robertson) to dump Snider, and she starts an affair with film director Aram Nicholas (Roger Rees).
The story of Stratten's rise to fame and how it all ended is a tragic story, and it does make for a good film. Eric Roberts puts in a great performance as Snider, a seedy perv who won't let go of his one big discovery.
Hemingway plays Stratten with a naive beauty. For Fosse, it does make a good epitaph to his limited but perfect film career.
This review of Star 80 (1983) was written by Stuart K on 30 Jun 2009.
Star 80 has generally received positive reviews.
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