Star 80

1983

Action / Biography / Drama

7
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Rotten 69% · 16 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Upright 69% · 5K ratings
IMDb Rating 6.8/10 10 8739 8.7K

violent husband biography playboy fame vancouver centerfold

Plot summary

Paul Snider is a narcissistic, small time hustler who fancies himself a ladies man. His life changes when he meets Dorothy Stratten working behind the counter of a Dairy Queen. Under his guidance Dorothy grows to fame as a Playboy Playmate. But when Dorothy begins pursuing an acting career, the jealous Paul finds himself elbowed out of the picture by more famous men.

Director

Bob Fosse Photo
Bob Fosse

Top cast

Eric Roberts Photo
Eric Roberts as Paul
Roger Rees Photo
Roger Rees as Aram Nicholas
James Luisi Photo
James Luisi as Roy
Carroll Baker Photo
Carroll Baker as Dorothy's Mother
720p.WEB 1080p.WEB
949.62 MB
1280*720
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 43 min
Seeds 1
1.72 GB
1904*1072
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 43 min
Seeds 14

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by reelreviewsandrecommendations 8 / 10

A Shooting Star

Dorothy Stratten was on the road to superstardom. In 1979, the Vancouver-born model was made Playboy's Miss August, as well as appearing in episodes of 'Buck Rogers' and 'Fantasy Island'. In 1980, she played the lead role in the sci-fi flick 'Galaxina,' and was dubbed Playmate of the Year, a prestigious title that came with $200,000 in cash and gifts from the Playboy organization. On April 30th of that year she was a guest on 'The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson', further cementing her fame. By August 15th, she was dead.Bob Fosse's powerful biopic 'Star 80' tells the story of the murder of Dorothy Stratten, with the focus not on Stratten, but on her husband and murderer, Paul Snider. Based on Teresa Carpenter's article 'Death of a Playmate,' it chronicles Stratten's rise to fame and Snider's growing insecurities and obsessions. A small-time hustler with big ideas, Snider could not handle it when Stratten- not he- started making it big. When their relationship breaks down and she starts dating a Hollywood director, it's only a matter of time before his insanity turns to violence.An affecting, raw drama, it sheds light on a dangerous mind. Fosse's screenplay portrays Snider as psychotically obsessive and self-centred, exhibiting clear signs of sociopathy, such as a lack of empathy and a manipulative nature, while his insecurities fuel his need for control and validation. Unable to handle Stratten's rising fame, he views her success as a personal failure, deepening his sense of inadequacy. This toxic blend of envy, fear and possessiveness drives his descent into violent madness. The film starkly illustrates Snider's psychological unravelling, exposing the dangerous extremes one can go to in order to regain control.By contrast, Stratten's character represents innocence and vulnerability. Her meteoric rise to fame captivated many, but beneath the glamour, she remained grounded. Unlike Snider, Stratten's appeal was genuine, drawing people in with her natural warmth. She navigates Hollywood with wide-eyed optimism, unaware of the dark forces closing in around her. Her relationship with Snider starts as a fairytale, quickly turning into a nightmare as his insecurities and jealousy surface.The film juxtaposes Stratten's genuine desire for success and connection with Snider's pathological need for control. As Stratten's star rises, her inner strength and resilience become more apparent, making her untimely death all the more tragic. Her legacy is not just as a Playboy Playmate or an actress, but as a symbol of lost potential and the devastating impact of unchecked obsession.Snider is a case study in destructive behaviour, while Stratten embodies the tragic vulnerability of someone caught in the orbit of a dangerously unstable individual, underscoring the film's thematic exploration of toxic relationships, fame and control. It serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked obsession and the fragility of innocence in the face of exploitation. The film's atmosphere is imbued with a sense of impending doom, generating suspense while effectively drawing one into the tragic trajectory of Stratten's life.Fosse's direction, Alan Heim's editing and the screenplay's pacing ensure that even as the story navigates through flashbacks and present-day scenes, the tension never wanes. The film's visual and narrative style echoes Fosse's previous work, blending raw emotion with stark realism. Sven Nykvist's gritty cinematography lends proceedings the feel of a documentary, heightening the narrative's emotional impact.Furthermore, the meticulous production design further immerses viewers in the grubby reality of the characters' world. Fosse's Hollywood is a neon-lit, gaudy playground of excess, where innocence goes to die. In addition, Ralph Burns's soundtrack- making good use of songs by the likes of Rod Stewart and The Village People- amplifies the era's hedonistic vibe, adding another layer of depth to the film's atmosphere.Eric Roberts brings Snider to life with a chilling ease. He is both captivating and terrifying, yet also deeply human. His intensity and commitment to the role ensures that, while you don't empathize with Snider, you do understand him. With over 700 performances to his name, Roberts' tour-de-force work in 'Star 80' is one of the best.Mariel Hemingway shines as Stratten, capturing both her innocence and ambition. Her performance is nuanced, portraying Stratten not just as a victim, but as a multi-faceted person with dreams and vulnerabilities. She brings depth and life to the character, making her ultimate fate even more heartbreaking. Hemingway's subtlety in depicting Stratten's naivety and eventual realization of the danger she's in adds emotional weight to the film.In addition, Cliff Robertson does strong work as Hugh Hefner, playing the larger-than-life figure as a canny businessman with questionable morals. You're never quite sure what his end game is, or what he's really thinking. The character embodies the allure and pitfalls of fame; his interactions with Stratten highlighting the stark contrast between her innocence and the predatory nature of Hollywood.Further, David Clennon and Carroll Baker both impress greatly as a psychiatrist friend of Snider's named Geb and Stratten's mother, respectfully, underplaying it masterfully. Meanwhile, Roger Rees- in his film debut- does typically fine work as Aram Nichols, a director- based on Peter Bogdanovich- whom Stratten starts dating.Bob Fosse's 'Star 80' is a powerful biopic, detailing the dangers of obsession, as well as examining the intersections between fame and control. The film is a stark reminder of the darker side of Hollywood, where ambition can quickly turn toxic, and innocence is often a casualty. With raw performances and a gripping narrative, 'Star 80' leaves a lasting impact, urging viewers to consider the human cost behind Hollywood's glitz and glamour. It shows, above all else, that Stratten was a star, a shooting star that faded too soon; but, for a time, how she shone.
Reviewed by dungeonstudio 8 / 10

The Complexity Of Simplicity

I have to hand it to Bob Fosse for immortalizing not only Dorothy Stratten, but Lenny Bruce as well. (In Bob's other great movie 'Lenny' with Dustin Hoffman) What is it about these two people that attracted the intense attention of a choreographer like Fosse? In a word, I'd say it was 'rhythm'. Both these people went 'out of sync' with their otherwise preordained lives. Lenny decided to 'go blue' with his comedic material, and become the whipping boy for 'free speech'. While Dorothy was humble about her beauty, but saw the empowering opportunities it could give her. And interesting that Lenny was praised by the public for his comedic boldness, but hated by 'the system' of righteous puritanical authorities and outlets. Whereas Dorothy was scrutinized for her Playboy posing, but in her defense of it, 'the system' of entertainment pros and directors saw great potential in her. And as soon as the public realized 'Hey, these people are dancing to a different beat - but they're good at it' - they're sadly removed from the chorus line. And interesting that Lenny began to take himself and his charges way too seriously, while Dorothy and her rising success wasn't taken seriously enough by herself. Had Lenny been a little more 'laissez-faire' with the charges and controversy he caused, he may have lived a long and successful life? Had Dorothy taken heed to Hef's and others advice that she'd be better off without Paul, she too may have had a long and successful life? Either way, I don't think either died in vane. And again, kudos to Bob for putting these otherwise less than favorable and forgettable people as the unwitting pioneers that they were. Not that Lenny Bruce single handed made comedy 'sleazy'. Or that Dorothy Stratten innocently made pornography 'respectable'. But there are those today that would ignorantly say 'they got what they deserved'. And it's the grace of these two movies of Bob's to show how ultimately wrong they really are.
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