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Star 80

Star 80

Drama · 1983

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.

Movie details

Star 80

“The price of stardom was more than she bargained for.”

1983 Drama 1h 43m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.4 / 10

Community rating

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.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Star 80?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Bob Fosse

Written by

Bob Fosse

Mariel Hemingway

Mariel Hemingway

Dorothy Stratten

Eric Roberts

Eric Roberts

Paul Snider

Cliff Robertson

Cliff Robertson

Hugh Hefner

Carroll Baker

Carroll Baker

Dorothy's Mum

Roger Rees

Roger Rees

Aram Nicholas

David Clennon

David Clennon

Martin "Geb" Gebber

Josh Mostel

Josh Mostel

Private Detective

Court is in session

Put Star 80 on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.