this film be set in belin beginning in 1931. despite the rapid rise of fascism and you would never know it inside the bawdy cabaret where much of the movie be set . here and it be all laughter and gaiety no sign of the come war . the apparent star of this show be joel grey ( a master of ceremony who have no other role in the film ) and liza minelli ( an incredibly screw up american singer and dancer ) . the utter banality of the cabaret as well a liza personal life be a deliberate counter point to the seriousness of the day . despite antisemitism run amok and liza be oblivious to it all live her hollow and self indulgent life . how she screw it up and the bizarre relationship she have be make up about half the film and the rest consist of song and dance number . in many way and it like two totally separate film fuse together . surprisingly and i find i enjoy the non musical portion much more . liza play a fascinating character a perfect film example of a borderline personality . this personality disorder be typify by love hate relationship and self absorption and self destructive behavior and magical thinking and an inability to accept that they be not the center of the universe . it obvious that the writer have work with some mental health professional to nail this so well . while not fun to watch ( after all and who want to watch a self absorb idiot . ) and it be fascinate . some of liza odd and self absorb behavior include sexual relationship with gay and bisexual men which be destine to fail and extreme promiscuity and alcohol abuse and shallowness and magical thinking . sadly and in some way this sound a bit like ms. minelli real life and though i do wish her the best in her recovery . a for the rest of the cast and they be mostly there for minelli character to play off of . yes and michael york and others be there and but most of the reason seem to be to provide texture to minelli life as well a to provide some semblance of normalcy . they see that germany be slowly descend to hell and but liza character be simply oblivious . cabaret be a very good film and that i would not argue . but for the film to have garner eight oscar that i find very hard to understand . now it true that many of these be for musical or set design award and but still the film doesn not seem that exceptional . perhaps i be just miss something or perhaps it because i have see other film about the nazi period in germany that just seem well . or and perhaps it because i prefer the part of the film where they be not sing for a a musical and it songs aren not all that memorable . aside from the rather annoy money make the world go around and cabaret and most people would have a hard time remember the song that play such a prominent role in the film . also and while i do agree that minelli deserve the oscar for her demanding performance and i be very surprised to see joel grey get one as well . yes and he do also work hard and but he really have no line at all in the film everything he do be sing and dance and clown around on stage . with no life beyond the stage and it very surprising that he win . i assume that part of this be because with three nominee for best support actor from the godfather and the three actor split their vote allow the unusual performance by grey to grab the trophy . i know grey can act and a he be amaze in other role and but here he just sings and dance and act bizarre an odd choice for the award . overall and while this be a very interesting film and i do not particularly enjoy it . i know many disagree with me and they may be right and but give my taste i just do not care for the film . in fact and have the film not improve in the second half and i probably wouldn not have finish watch . a final note to parent . this be a very adult film with lot of sexual content and frank discussion about homosexuality and abortion . think twice before show it to the kid .