It is common to end up forgiving the most thorny and even reprehensible aspects of an artistic personality when he has offered an important creative work -and some mediocre one has also received defense from certain sectors, but there the shots go the other way-. We are accustomed since the same tendency of the biopics about this class of figures end up whitening out most of the dark elements and they try to emphasize the triumphant part, the one that brings them closer to eternal glory.
But it doesn’t always have to be that way. the biopic too It can serve to deal with both aspects, from the most glorious in the creative as the most murky in the personal. Bob Fosse knows that well, he opened up on the channel doing the autobiographical and masterful ‘All That Jazz (Begins the show)’. Although even there certain aspects were left that have ended up duly rescued in the later and more recent ‘Fosse / Verdon’, available on Disney +.
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Obviously, the miniseries produced by Lin-Manuel Miranda and other relevant names of recent Broadway such as Thomas Kail (‘Hamilton’) or Steven Levenson (‘Dear Evan Hansen’) brings us closer to the figure of Fosse, as well as his sentimental partner and Creative Gwen Verdon. Both are masterfully performed. by two delivered Sam Rockwell and Michelle Williams respectively.
‘Fosse/Verdon’ not only investigates the complex relationship maintained by both artists, but also offers the tough but honest behind-the-scenes look that exposes the dark side of the show. That ungrateful world to which he wanted to give himself in search of the affection that he never had and she wanted to pour out her passion, even though her recognition would be elusive.
The series has a lot to comment on and reflect on recognition. Throughout the eight episodes lasting close to 50 minutes we see the painstaking process, full of passion but also stormy momentswhich led him to become one of the most important theater and musical film directors of all time and she became one of the best dancers to ever grace the Broadway stage.
‘Fosse/Verdon’: dancing close
It is not only in the recognition of genius. The miniseries leaves details about how Fosse has almost always ended up hogging the spotlight and taking credit for the work they both did. And how sometimes this relationship was quite ungratefulas shown by the period when he decided to jump into the movies but did not have Verdon in two of his big projects, despite having shown that he could do them in theater.
It continues to fall into certain conventions of biographical fiction, especially in narration – even though it may seem otherwise with its jumps in the timeline. However, it uses those conventions sensibly and effectively, making a well-developed portrayal of its characters that are driven beautifully by Rockwell and Williams.
Its exquisiteness and its details for coffee lovers -both musical lovers and classic film enthusiasts- make it a very redeemable series.
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