cabaret boast big song and big idea and and big actor yet it felt long and dull and and convolute to say the least . edge on the historical and but focus mainly on a squabble of young love and the muddled theme of originality and independence and and sexual revolution seem to take backstage for overact and choppy editing and and a twisty story that beg for more but desire nothing . in the oscar world of the godfather vs. cabaret and the obvious winner be coppola film but how do cabaret even get in the running . a it take me nearly three viewing to conquer this behemoth and one have to question the 1972 value and and whether this musical stand up next to the others nearly 40 year later . in this reviewer opinion and it be an obvious no and but argument will apparently follow . if discuss this film around the cinematic water cooler and there would be no doubt joel grey would be discuss . his portrayal and as small a it be and a the infamous master of ceremony have yet to be repeat in any film to date . in various moment cabaret felt like it be direct by terry gilliam and complete with the flash and darkness subsequent in his feature . joel grey bring it to the table and and will forever be a frightening and yet influential image in my mind . he make the nearly 2 hour redeemable . the excitement in his swagger couple with his level of pizazz completely overshadow his co star minnelli whenever the two share the screen . his performance alone and the transformation itself and be what make cabaret worth a view . it be he and minnelli duet of money make the world go round that save this film from utter obliteration . it be reminiscent of a modern day moulin rouge and but it be the surround story without surround character that cause the pain know a cabaret . one must also applaud bob fosse for his direction and for without him and these dark scene film with grey would have just be as bland a the story . fosse take this flimsy story of three character that we be emotionally void for and and pull in some great song and dance number to buffer the pain that be sure to follow . his work on lenny be outstanding and and while this do not speak a greatly and you could see his influence on the script and final edit . to bookend the positive and one must also ask where do cabaret fail . without waste page of word and cabaret fail because of the sloppy editing and the poorly developed historical slant and and due to the massive disappointment from the actor . this could have be a memorable song and dance root with historical symbolism esquire film and but instead fell flat thanks mainly to the horrible nature of liza minnelli . her flat voice match well with her disassociated character and which carry no emotion and flaunt no value and yet try to win our heart . she sing decently and but i just couldn not stand behind her a a central focus . her entire relationship with michael york be flippant . do she love him . do she love money . what be her true background . what do she want from life . mix these unanswered question with the uncomfortable hint of sexuality between york and minnelli and and you have nearly 90 % of this movie . from minnelli undefined character and to the passive aggressive york duel jobbing a both language educator and african safari supporter and there just isn not a character you can stand behind . a we get close to the middle of the film and our writer seem to realize this and the extremely vague maximilian be introduce a a man who enjoy the company of both minnelli and york . for cabaret to work and there need strong character for u to follow one that be define and yet complex and not just jump from emotion to emotion . how do minnelli win an oscar for this mess . outside the of intermittent use of grey and our writer jay presson allen try to incorporate what be happen in germany at the time with the nazi movement and with the chaos of a cabaret show . in theory and this would be a great idea but it fail because of again and the lack of focus with our character . in one scene we be trouble by york disagreement with one of minnelli haphazard choice ( a big decision that be diminish by choice ) and in the next and we be dissect the idea of a german jew . it just do not flow well together . in another scene and we be force to listen to a young nazi soldier sing a ballad that evoke sing from everyone and our character just drive away . for me and to best summarize this film would be one of the final scene between york and minnelli a she take him to the train station . she leave by merely wave her hand and demonstrate her care for the character and ours as well . when this film be over and i take it out of my player and walk away wave unemotionally . cabaret failed because there be nothing for the audience to hold onto . when the breakout actor be someone that do not speak but merely sing that should speak about how the film a a whole turn out . overall and both with presentation and delivery and cabaret fail . minnelli act and eye tell a different story and and portray a character that just do not fit for a feature film . what be attempt a original just felt stale after the first several scene . fosse direction and grey performance be the only two save quality of this film and a the flakey york do his best a a love interest . the dual sexual role be just too abash for both the actor and the viewer . i be eager to witness this film and but nearly 40 year later and this film have not hold up . bravo to small part and big director and boo to those that think minnelli can carry her weight a an oscar win actress . wave eagerly a you leave this review grade represent ½ out of .