Movie Movie (1978)

Three movie genres of the 1930s, boxing films, World War I aviation dramas, and backstage Broadway musicals, are satirized using the same cast.

From memory: Nostalgic Hollywood spoof is lovingly assembled by an oldtime professional director; a bit uneven, but generally quite entertaining.

Halliwell**: "Unfortunately there weren't enough paying customers to appreciate the spoofs, which are pretty patchy anyway; but golden moments stay in the mind."

Maltin***: "Affectionate parody of 1930s double feature..."

All That Jazz (1979)

Director/choreographer Bob Fosse tells his own life story as he details the sordid life of Joe Gideon, a womanizing, drug-using dancer.

From memory: Egocentric smorgasbord offers its share of brilliant moments, but also some pretensions, bad humor and a disagreeable focus on death.

Halliwell***: "Self-indulgent, semi-autobiographical tragi-comic extravaganza complete with heart operations and a recurring angel of death. Flashes of brilliant talent make it a must for Fosse fans."

Maltin**1/2: "Director-choreographerFosse's own 8½ casts a self-indulgent and largely negative look at his life; great show biz moments and wonderful dancing are eventually buried in pretensions, and an interminable finale which leaves a bad taste for the whole film.But that opening number...is a wow!"