DVD Movie Review: Saturday Night Fever

Saturday Night Fever's fashion and music may be in disco inferno but the atmosphere and story stay alive. I was not born in the 1970's and therefore never had an introduction to disco dancing. Regardless, the film is super cool and a great glimpse at an era that has gone the way of polyester Quiana shirts.

The story, underneath all of the sparkling glitter and bellbottoms, is about Tony Manero (John Travolta) finding out who he is and where he wants to go. The real answer is getting out of the city he has been in his entire life. Along the way, Tony must deal with racism, drugs, sex and winning a disco tournament. He decides to get a real dance partner, Stephanie, when he sees how good she is at dancing. They work together and eventually compete on the floor.

What really works wonders for this film is John Travolta. This is in the days before Battlefield Earth, when Travolta was actually a good actor and had an amazing amount of charisma. He makes Tony a fascinating and unforgettable character.

Director John Badham (Wargames, Short Circuit) displays a lot of creative ideas onscreen that only a movie from the 1970's can. The whole intro with John Travolta strutting down the street will give you an idea of what you're in for as far as experimentation goes. The cinematography along with Travolta's suave look makes this scene one of the best in that era of film. Badham ensures the audience feels they are literally with Tony in the disco clubs but also when he is doing his daily tasks or dealing with tragedies. He also knows when the film should be fun and when it needs to steer toward dramatic waters.

Sure, the film is dated but this does not damage it one bit. In fact, if anything, it helps those who never saw the 1970's get a chance to see it. The movie is a gritty and entertaining look at a culture sure to give you the "fever."

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