I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can

R

1982

1 hr. 45 min.

Drama

List

33%

6 Reviews

Tomatometer

53%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

A TV documentary filmmaker (Jill Clayburgh) breaks her Valium addiction, with no help from her lover (Nicol Williamson).

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michael s

Outstanding movie! We CAN overcome. Great acting!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

This film's star turns are JC & GP - and Nicol Williamson - as a film, unfortunately, it becomes a necessary fast forward through the book - read the book.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

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Audience Member

TV producer Barbara Gordon finds out you can't quit Benzodiazepiness cold turkey.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

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Audience Member

Good performance by Clayburgh makes this a decent movie.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

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Audience Member

I like this film, it made me feel quite sane

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

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Audience Member

I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can (dir. Jack Hofsiss, 1982) At times, unintentionally hilarious while at some points, deeply and profoundly sick, I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can takes a fairly conventional Lifetime movie plot of "drugs are bad" and stretches it into a full-length feature, sacrificing several fine actors in the process. Among those in the field of carnage are Geraldine Page who manages what she can with a somewhat compelling dying poetess, the subject of the main character documentary maker's current piece and a young Dianne Wiest who almost seems to be acting in a different film as her psychiatrist in a mental ward later on in the film. Jill Clayburgh turns in an uneven, showboaty portrayal which, at the time, she must've thought would earn her an Academy Award nomination (her flapping and flailing on the beach during a seizure was a particular high point). Barbara Gordon has few layers and Clayburgh's performance doesn't manange to fill in the gaps in the script when it comes to answering the questions of who this woman is and why she has descended into madness. And it's based on a true story! And it's based on a true story! A 1979 autobiography, to be precise. It's not like there was no available research on what drove this woman to a life of drug addiction. It's the creepy (perhaps, accidentally vile) performance of Scottish actor Nichol Williamson as Clayburgh's alcoholic, manipulative and psychotic boyfriend at the black heart of this spectacle. He decides that his girlfriend's withdrawal from Valium is the perfect time to began beating the shit out of her in addition to keeping her imprisoned in her own home. Truly some of the most disturbing scenes of domestic violence I've ever encountered on film. Only for the strongest of constitutions.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

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Jack Hofsiss

Director

Jill Clayburgh

Barbara Gordon

Nicol Williamson

Derek Bauer

Dianne Wiest

Julie Addison

Joe Pesci

Roger

Geraldine Page

Jean Scott Martin

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Bob Thomas

Associated Press

Clayburgh has become the leading portrayer of the troubled modern woman, and once more she is totally persuasive. The trouble lies in the David Rabe script

Oct 22, 2018

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Molly Haskell

Vogue

If Clayburgh and Page don't come up with at least Academy Award nominations for their roles in I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can, there is no justice in Oscarland.

Feb 27, 2020

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Lori Hoffman

Atlantic City Weekly

Rated: 3/5

Mar 9, 2006

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Aug 11, 2005

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Christopher Null

Filmcritic.com

there's more than a little barely veiled hero worship here

Rated: 3/5

Jun 26, 2005

Full Review

Scott Weinberg

DVDTalk.com

I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can hasn't exactly aged all that well. And that's me being kind.

Rated: 2/5

Jun 20, 2005

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Synopsis

A TV documentary filmmaker (Jill Clayburgh) breaks her Valium addiction, with no help from her lover (Nicol Williamson).

Director: Jack Hofsiss
Executive Producer: David Rabe
Screenwriter: David Rabe
Production Co: Paramount Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 5, 2014

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