Cheap Star 80 (DVD) (Mariel Hemingway, Eric Roberts) (Bob Fosse) Price

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Customer Reviews of Star 80

Mariel Hemingway portrays Dorothy Stratten, famous model who marries a lunatic played by Eric Roberts. He will stop at nothing to dominate her life and career, and it all ends with tragic circumstances. The last 10 minutes are quite possibly the saddest scenes I have seen in a movie.

The Australian DVD is thankfully presented in its original widescreen presentation (and anamorphic too) unlike the American pan and scan version.

I'm surprised Mariel Hemingway's career didn't take off because she is an exceptional actress.

Not a great DVD but a great film
Okay since we are in the DVD forum, and we are supposed to be writing about the DVD, lets get that out of the way. If you are looking for neat features like audio commentary, deleted scenes and the like, you will not find them here. Only chapter selections on a pan and scan format. It did not include the pictures for the scene selections and that was a bit frustrating to navigate when I tried jumping into the miiddle of the film. So as far a DVD goes, thumbs down.

If however you are looking for a great film, you have hit the jackpot! Fosse's writing is amazing and is carried off by some excellent acting. Eric Roberts balances one challenging role. As the husband/manager living off his wifes fame and popularity, he comes across as a second rate Ike Turner. The man is a slime and you still manage to find some sympathy for him. Watching his behavior his fascinating, and we have seen his like in one form or another. One who portrays what he thinks a rich and glamourous life style is by spouting off ham-handed dialouge and wearing tacky clothes who doesent realize the joke is on him. When finally does, it ends with tragic results. I've not been a big fan of Roberts until this movie.

Hemingway is also very effective as the centerfold with the heart of gold. The contrast of her and Roberts works nicely. She may not be the smartest person but at least she knows who she is. Her flaw is that she tries to please everyone and that of course also leads tragically.

The only flaw to this film is it's production value. Many would argue that it was 1983 when the movie was made, but it still has the feel of a after school special. There really is no style to the film. Just point and shoot film. If Fosse was looking for a documentary syle, he succeeded better with "Lenny" which I also reccomend. "Star 80" is a good one!

a distinctive and disturbing film.
This is a highly original and unsettling film. Although Mariel Hemingway as Dorothy Stratten effectively conveys her innocence and vulnerability, it is Eric Roberts as Paul Snider, the seedy small time loser and user of women, who is the focus of this film. What Roberts does so effectively is to make clear to the viewer why his awareness that he is losing Dorothy to a big name director leads to him committing his horrible rape-murder-suicide. It is more than just losing a meal ticket; it is instead the total self-negation it represents to him as someone who is dominated by feelings of worthlessness and a corrosive mixture of inadequacy, insecurity and hatred towards those he perceives as successful, rich and powerful. It is Roberts's delineation of these aspects of his character that makes his terrible act seem like the inevitable outcome of the forces that drive him, and leaves the viewer experiencing a mixture of horror and pity, even though one feels revulsion towards him. Moreover, the supporting performances by Cliff Robertson and Carroll Baker are excellent.
A definite recommendation.