Star 80

In 1978 Vancouver, Dorothy Stratten (Mariel Hemingway) is a teenager working at a Dairy Queen. She falls under the influence of narcissist scheming con-man Paul Snider (Eric Roberts). He takes Polaroids of her nude and sends them to Playboy. Hugh Hefner (Cliff Robertson) is taken with her and she rises to be the centerfold in the August '79 issue. As she gains more success, his possessiveness drives him mad with jealousy.

While Hemingway is the title character, this is Eric Roberts' movie. She is very capable as an innocent. He is doing the heavy lifting. He makes this a difficult watch. It's uncomfortable and disturbing not in a fun way. He is super creepy without any rooting interest. Legendary choreographer Bob Fosse steps out to direct this. He has a very intriguing list of directing work and shows that he is drawn to edgy material. This is not for everyone and I suggest a long shower to wash away the Eric Roberts of it all.

Whitin this shockingly beautiful docudrama there is a performance by Eric Roberts that goes beyond anything we had ever seen an actor do on screen. He explodes in front of our eyes. Fearless, horrible, pathetic, sad but above all truthful. With the kind of truth we're not use to deal with. I was horrified because I understood it, like James Mason in Lolita. I'm not sympathising with him but I'm understanding him. The counterpart to Roberts's human monster is not Mariel Hemigway's beautiful Dorothy Stratten but Carroll Baker as Dorothy's mother. We can tell by looking into her face that she knows. She knows,she senses, she fears to be right because there is so little she can do. Carroll Baker's superb portrayal represents us. We dread what she dreads and like her, we're impotent to the unavoidable. Star 80 is a masterpiece. Like all of Bob Fosse's work, nothing is casual. The puzzle that he presents us with, connects the dots in a twisted, although immediately recognisable, pattern, leading inexorably to the most excruciating domestic tragedy. From Othelo to O J Simpson. Our every day horror served cold as a shattering work of art.

An excellent film. Fosse's direction is flawless as he takes us inside the world of a controller who loses his grip and power. Mariel is wonderful as Dorothy Statton. Eric Robert's performance is of Oscar Caliber quality -- his portrayal haunts you and you can see his weakness -- you hate him, but a part of you can almost feel sorry for him until his real intentions are suddenly realized. This film was very well-done and deserves to be seen. This was Fosse's last film and it deserves to be seen. From the first frame, one is drawn into a spiraling cycle of destruction. Mariel's performance is perfect as she creates the naive young girl who as she changes into a more wordly woman who wants to explore life and all the possibilities which are opening for her. Much like A Star Is Born, this account of one Hollywood partner gaining fame as another falls. Not for the squeamish.

I already had previous knowledge of Dorothy Stratten and her creeper husband, Paul Snider. Going into this film, I knew ultimately how it would end. This was a very disturbing film. Poor Dorothy, some innocent kid plucked out of Dairy Queen by Paul Snider, a low-rent pimp and promoter. He tried to make himself look and act cool, but he just came across as creepy and desperate. He desperately wanted to be part of a higher class of people, aka, richer people, but most people saw through him for what he really was--except for tragic Dorothy. Snider saw how naive, young and innocent she was and preyed upon her.

Despite everyone warning Dorothy, Snider is able to emotionally manipulate her into staying with him. She owed it to him for discovering her. Hugh Hefner gives Dorothy her big break after making her the August Playmate of the Month in 1979. He tries to warn her about her husband. I also get the sense that Hefner tried to protect her from Snider by not inviting him to the Mansion. Apparently Hefner did not like Cliff Robertson's portrayal of him in this film. I didn't really see what there was to object about. Robertson's portrayal was fine and even empathetic. It didn't seem over the top in the least.

I thought Mariel Hemingway did an excellent job as Dorothy. She was able to bring the right level of naivete and sexiness to the part. I liked how her Dorothy evolved from a shy, conservative teenager to a more assertive young woman with a promising career ahead of her (albeit, a Playmate's career I imagine, doesn't last a lifetime). Dorothy was learning to stand-up to her husband, but unfortunately, her caring nature proved tragic in the end.

It's probably not something I would want to see twice.

Eric Roberts was clearly the `STAR' of Star 80. His performance as the self proclaimed Gods gift to Women character Paul Snider is really what makes this film. He makes the viewer take an instant dislike to him from his opening scene and carries it all the way through. Mariel Heminways portrayal of the ill fated Playboy Playmate Dorothy Stratten is maybe lukewarm marginal. Cliff Robertson is cast as Hugh Hefner but somehow doesn't seem right for the role.

Sadly this was in fact a true tragic story. See it for no other reason than Eric Roberts superb portrayal of the seven letter word usually considered vulgar meaning a stupid, incompetent or detestable person boyfriend/husband/manager of Dorothy Stratten. Vastly superior to the alternate version 1981's Death of A Centerfold.