Rating: Summary: A cultural institution of one Review: When this movie debuted in 1977, few could have predicted the meteoric rise of Travolta's career or the eventual summarization of an entire decade (although produced in the later half) from this one motion picture. This film tells the story of a working class Italian American youth who has big dreams in urban America and finds escape in the disco scene. The lights and over-the-top fashions enable an otherwise average young man to become somebody special in the disco scene. Few TV Actors (his principal reputation at the time of filming), let alone teen heartthrobs at that, can make such a culturally impacting film which stays riveting twenty five years after it's debut. Through this release, Travolta made a seamless transition from "Teen Idol" to "Superstar". What could have ended up being a hastily slapped-together bubblegum project thankfully turned out to be a product that is honest and complex on so many levels. The angst and yearning are clearly genuine and keep the viewer glued to Tony's ongoing quest to find and define himself. Certainly, the filming and the costume are horribly dated by modern standards, but the script remains captivating . Many successors have tried to replicate the plot, with various degrees of success and failure, but this is cinematic achievement unparalleled. Although the movie does have some scenes which may be viewed as potentially sexist today, it is important to remember that efforts against sexual assault and domestic violence were just gaining momentum around this time, and many other institutions in society exhibited the same laid-back attitude towards something now universally recognized as evil. In this respect, the film is a reflection of the times in which it was produced.
Rating: Summary: The 70's never looked so cool!! Review: Saturday Night Fever is the coolest disco movie to date. Who can resist the polyester look and the high heeled platform shoes....and John Travolta dancing to Night Fever. Tony Manero played by John Travolta is a normal everyday guy who works in a paint shop but by night he is the king of disco. He spends weekend nights at 2001 Oddessy where he is worshiped for his amazing dancing and cool looks. Him and his mates walk in and the crowds move apart to let him them through. His dancing is the coolest thing - it makes the girls crazy and the guys envious. One day he meets a woman...who has such a unique dancing talent he becomes totally in love with her. Enter Stephanie played by Karen Lynn Gorney. She has experienced a lot more of life than Tony - she has worked in the heart of New York and some what considers herself better than him. She constantly goes on about the age difference and how they are years apart, yet it seams she's only a year older. She changes Tony's life forever and soon becomes drawn in by him. This movie is about the days when the nights were alive with the sound of disco and you could strut down the street and look so damn cool. This movie has such presence and really makes you feel like your there with them. Brooklyn in the 1970's has never looked so good.
Rating: Summary: Where Disco Was Invented! Review: This was the movie that fueled the disco movement. The new style disco music was begun with the release of "Saturday Night Fever".John Travolta dominates the show with his disco dancing steps. The Bee Gees became the dominant disco band through this movie.All in all an exciting movie that swept America off of it's feet.Disco would dominate the world of music after this movie was released. To say this movie was a trend setter would be a proper term. Buy this movie and plug into the excitement that Travolta gave the world.This would have to be considered a movie classic. You will not be dissapointed.
Rating: Summary: Disappointing! Review: My friends and I rented this for some light entertainment. Far from the case! This film presents really disturbing views of women -- including a scene where gang rape is completely trivialized. Keep away from the kids, unless you've got a good hand with the fast forward button.
Rating: Summary: Not Kind to Women Review: SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER was a very popular "R" rated film with young audiences made in 1977. It featured John Travolta as Tony Manero who lived in Brooklyn and spent his weekends at a local disco with his buddies. It was very popular at the time and reflected the time and place somewhat accurately but was criticized for its use of foul language and its depiction of young women as sex objects. Even though the film was realistic in part it was giving the wrong message to all the young people indicating that certain types of amoral behavior was a reality and was acceptable. For that reason the film was re-edited and reissued in an alternate "PG" rated version.
Rating: Summary: A Period Piece Review: "Saturday Night Fever" started out as a low budget film by legendary John Badham and ended up being an unforgettable period piece nominated for Oscars and selling more soundtrack albums in history. A tale of a paint shop guy who blows his money on the weekends to become a local legend on the disco floor, John Travolta nailed the role dead on. Although gritty with language and scenes that some might consider offensive, it is a true life tale of the mid seventies in New York City. Some call it the revival of the movie musical, but it's much more than that. Ultimately a story of one man's growth into adulthood through misled love and the confusion of youth, this freinds and family story rings true to the bone. Fueled with the dance beat of that generation and climaxed with the writing and singing skills of the Bee Gees, this movie is a classic representation of the times.
Rating: Summary: Timeless classic Review: The movie and soundtrack is still great after all these years. I can't wait for this movie to appear on DVD.
Rating: Summary: Much more than polyester and platform shoes Review: Having not lived through disco-mania in the late seventies, I was shocked to find out that, beneath the polyester and the disco balls and the thick Brooklyn-Guido accents and the all too slick music, "Saturday Night Fever" is really an entertaining and deft social commentary. Sure, it smacks of amateur hour at times, but that's also the source of its kick. Reflection on this story reveal it has much in common with a movie twenty-years its junior, a movie I love: "Good Will Hunting". Nihilistic brutal youth wreak havoc in their working class neighbourhoods during the day, work their jobs a bit, and then go out partying at night. One of them is blessed with a certain prodigious talent (imagine mathematics and disco dancing, both sharpened to their highest degree of skill, as prodigious talents) that he doesn't know how to exploit. A tumultuous time, and meeting a girl above his class, allows the prodigy to question the direction of his life, and his ensuing decision leaves his friends behind. Turns out I shouldn't have been so shocked at liking this movie after all. Director John Badham, on what was obviously a shoestring budget, makes the most of what he's been given. There's a great kinetic energy roaming through the film, even in those scenes not set in the dance club. Witness Tony's opening march to glory (or, rather, back to the paint store where he works). You can tell this guy's up for better things. He even pulls off the quieter scenes, such as the several tormented attempts by the Manero family to have a civilized supper together. But since Dad is out of work, and Mom is broken up over her son's recent decision to leave the priesthood, you just know that the fireworks are set to fly. These are simple scenes, but very affecting. I think most of my preconceived notions about the movie (and -- what I thought was -- its relative lack of merit) stemmed from my unabashed hatred for John Travolta. I despise his current persona: Overpaid, undertalented, bloated action STAR. I loved everything about "Pulp Fiction" except his performance. To my mind, he's only been effective onscreen exactly once in the nineties, as the loan shark turned film producer in "Get Shorty". So these are my biases, plain and simple. Now hear this: I loved him in this movie! Sure, he's got that cheesy Vinnie Barbarino accent, and you can't help but laugh at his clownish clothes. But that's looking at things the wrong way. Put away your twenty-first century eyes, and remember that in his time, Tony Manero defined a certain popular style. Travolta, bless his heart, does convey heaps of charisma. He's never been a finely tuned actor, but he sure embodies this character. Tony is the kind of guy who (to greatly paraphrase Yogi Berra) nobody likes because he's so popular. He's really a despicable dude, although a lot of the animosity he generates comes because he is so young (and is thus easily overlooked). He's a thug, who bullies his friends, his boss, and even his mother, although he always feels bad about it afterwards (a conscience!). But when he enters the Odyssey 2001 disco club, the sea of dancers (in the words of his brother Frank, the recent ex-priest) "parts like he was Moses". His first entrance is a very appealing moment, the lion entering his den. Tony is most at home on the dance floor, where he can control almost any situation. Travolta, and this is not saying anything new, was a wonderful dancer. Lean and tall, he moves with grace and power and conviction. He's beautiful to watch. The prodigy in polyester (at one point, the bartender half-jokingly calls him "Nureyev"). In order for the movie to work, the audience must be incapable of taking their eyes off of Tony. Travolta pulls this off with aplomb. The rest of the cast is not as successful. Whilst the film is aiming for a documentary feel in it's portrayal of grubby Brooklyn, many of the actors appear to be aiming for caricatures of the neighbourhood's inhabitants. Tony's buddies are particularly gruesome offenders. Even their walks appear overdone and mannered. The slutty girls in the club fare no better. Barry Miller -- as the chatterbox father-to-be Bobby C -- does the best job of the supporting players (although he's not nearly as affecting here as he was as Raul Garcia/Ralph Garcy in "Fame"). His paranoia and need for acceptance is intense. He also gets to play probably the most emotional scene in the film, and does a fine job (although he's not around to see the consequences of his actions). Karen Lynn Gorney (as Stephanie) walks a tightrope between realism and parody. Just enough of the former saves her performance as the girl from the neighbourhood trying to impress the boys from back home with tales of her celebrity-saturated Manhattan job. But as the old saying goes, you can take the girl out of Brooklyn but you can't take Brooklyn out of the girl. Stephanie tries her best, but can't help regressing back into thick Brooklynese (one hilarious moment has her catching herself in the middle of saying "innerestin", and then repeatedly trying to train her tongue to pronounce it properly as "interesting"; Tony, sharp tack that he is, sees through her vain attempt at prosperity). I expected to giggle uncontrollably through "Saturday Night Fever". At times I did. But mostly I found myself watching a fun and furious film about one man's search for his true lot in life. Or maybe just a better hairdryer. Whatever' a good time is had by all.
Rating: Summary: No Denying It --- He Sure Can Dance!! Review: This is one of those "woven into the fabric of America" motion pictures that is hard to dislike. No matter what you think of the rest of the movie, almost anyone would agree that the dance scenes are worthy of "A-1" status! I've always thought it had a pretty decent story line as well, with Travolta proving he can do more than just dance. Looking forward to getting this on DVD! The legendary soundtrack in Dolby 5.1 is sure to knock your socks off!! The late film critic Gene Siskel always said this was one of his all-time favorite films. Gene, I would have to concur!
Rating: Summary: serious films Review: This film is from a little before my time, and just as I always thought Rocky was a boxing movie (it's not, it's a love story--if it was a boxing movie, he would have won at the end...) I thought this was a cute little dancing movie. Who hasn't seen the image of John Travolta in that form-fitting white suit? I was surprised upon first seeing it to find how wrong I was. This serious and dark film if far more realistic about urban teenagers than most "modern" movies coming out today. Except for the style of music, things haven't changed that much for a lot of teens today in Bay Ridge, and other places like it. Roger Ebert's review of the film (I think in honor of Gene Siskel) is great, with the one exception that no one seems to have told him that the Verrazano Bridge actually leads from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, into Staten Island, not Manhattan, as he suggests... Overall, a powerful and engaging movie. Well worth watching.
|