Joe Gideon is at the top of the heap, one of the most successful directors and choreographers in musical theater. But he can feel his world slowly collapsing around him - his obsession with work has almost destroyed his personal life, and only his bottles of pills keep him going.
Some of it makes you wince, but a lot of it is great fun.
– Vincent Canby,
New York Times,
9 May 2005
fresh:
A self-important, egomaniacal, wonderfully choreographed, often compelling film which portrays the energetic life, and preoccupation with death, of a director-choreographer.
– Variety Staff,
Variety,
18 Jun 2008
rotten:
Almost every scene is excruciating (and a few are appalling), yet the film stirs an obscene fascination with its rapid, speed-freak cutting and passionate psychological striptease.
– Dave Kehr,
Chicago Reader,
12 Aug 2008
rotten:
Though Scheider is a wry, sensitive actor, he soon gets lost in the vulgar theatrics.