Movie
Review | Chicago
Reviewed by: Brian
Orndorf
It’s 1920s Chicago, and all meek Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger)
wants is to be a jazz star like her idol, Velma Kelly (Catherine
Zeta-Jones). But when a furniture salesman cheats Roxie out of a
chance at stardom, she shoots him dead, and is sent to prison to await
trial. It’s in the slammer that she meets Velma, who is serving time
for killing her sister and husband, and also looking for a way out of
her case. The only man in town who can do this is Billy Flynn (Richard
Gere), a greedy, smooth-talking lawyer, who has never lost a case, and
can get anybody off for $5000. Flynn takes Roxie under his wing, with
Roxie finding the attention she craves from the public and media with
her ever increasingly lunatic murder trial.
“Chicago” is masterful entertainment. It’s the type of film
that leaps onto your lap, and won’t leave until you smile. A screen
version of the Fred Ebb, John Kander, and Bob Fosse musical,
“Chicago” belongs right on the big screen, where its trademarked
shade of red can burn the brightest, and the shimmer of the sequins
can be seen for miles. Of course the topical cult of celebrity tale
fits right in with today’s world as well, but that’s just an
excuse for some cinematic singing and dancing, which builds on the
audience approval of 2001’s “Moulin Rouge!,” and takes it to a
superior level, with this heated, smoky, and heightened return to the
jazz clubs and streets of a long ago, glitzy Chicago.
The film is directed by Rob Marshall, who made his debut with the
1999 television musical “Annie.” Since Marshall is no stranger to
musicals, his skills are much needed in “Chicago” to bring this
tricky lust fest to life. Marshall completely nails it, finding such
enchantment in the dark crevices and throbbing neon of this journey
into sin. “Chicago” being Marshall’s big screen debut is just
the icing on the cake, as the filmmaking is so confident here, that I
fear Marshall won’t even be able to achieve this level of competency
again in his career.
The stroke of genius in this interpretation of “Chicago” is
screenwriter Bill Condon (Oscar winner for “Gods and Monsters”)
taking all the sweat, indulgence, song, and jazz, and placing it
exclusively in the head of Roxie. This dismisses an unfair, but common
complaint of implausibility in movie musicals, and also opens up the
film to revel in the song and dance numbers, as they are limited only
by the scope of Roxie’s imagination. Within these boundaries,
Marshall mixes the routines with bits of Fosse’s substantial
original set dressing and with the more minimalist approach taken by
the recent revival. It works brilliantly, and the musical numbers
(choreographed by Ann Reinking) burn the screen down with their power,
even without taking into account the sexual influence on some of the
visuals. They’re so heated, I needed a cigarette when the film was
over. The authority of the stage easily transfers to the screen, as
Marshall makes very careful choices not to glam up this version with
unneeded fire and brimstone. Things are left as they were, and the
film is aces for it.
At first glance, the casting for the film seems a bit odd. After
all, Renee Zellweger as Roxie Hart? Seems like a fish on a bicycle.
Yet Zellweger is the ideal choice for this role, as she can easily
nail both the crisp faux-virginal dew of Roxie, and the frenzied,
publicity-craving murderess the character truly is. Singing and
dancing also come naturally to Zellweger, as she sports a lovely
voice. Catherine Zeta-Jones has the more demanding part of Velma
Kelly, as so many people fondly remember Bebe Neuwirth in the role on
Broadway. Neuwirth is missed, but Zeta-Jones fulfills her duties like
a pro, using her delightfully full-bodied voice to wrap around her
numbers. She’s just fantastic, and the real highlight of the film is
when Velma and Roxie finally get a chance to perform together.
Richard Gere is another story, as I was never quite taken with his
vocal talents. He’s fine in the role of Billy Flynn, as it adheres
to a certain level of arrogance that Gere has never shied away from.
Still, the role requires Gere to be the most animated he’s ever been
in his life, and there’s fun to be had in that. To see him tap
dance, or belt out a solo is odd, but “Chicago” is a huge about
face for the actor, and it’s a kick to see Gere enjoy himself again.
“Chicago” is a delight from start to finish. It is one of the
best stage to film translations in history, and an appreciated blast
of nicotine and gin-stained air in the normally stuffy Oscar season.
Grade: 10/10
COMMENTS
Date/Time of Posting: Dec 26 2002 / 13:09:42
Name = Katherine
Where = editor@modamag.com
Comments = I agree 100%, WONDERFUL movie. I'd go with a 9/10 rating.
All the actors are really terrific. The costumes are a bit much...or
shall I say little,
but this is really a great film to catch.
Date/Time of Posting: Dec 27 2002 / 14:25:49
IP Address: 205.188.209.176
name = Jay
comments = I also agree. The film is a great adaptattion of the
Broadway musical. The real gem of this movie is Catherine Zeta Jones.
It may be Roxie's story, but Catherine Zeta Jones' Velma shines like a
star. The camera loves her and she sings and dances like a real
pro.
Date/Time of Posting: Jan 08 2003 / 14:56:20
IP Address: 62.30.42.51
name = Linzi
Email = linziannehunter@lineone.net
comments = surprisingly brilliant,much better than I expected it to
be. I went with 2 free tickets for a preview showing. I am glad I did
it was fantastic.
Date/Time of Posting: Jan 12 2003 / 07:11:33
IP Address: 67.192.147.148
From = worthington75@msn.com
comments = did richard gere really tap dance in the courtroom scene?
Reply: Yes! It was all Richard... He was originally nervous
about the fact that he had to tap dance, since he had no experience in
that department, but the director won him over and got him an amazing
trainer. Richard did well, didn't he? - Editor
Date/Time of Posting: Jan 16 2003
/ 05:08:10
IP Address: 203.51.204.95
name = Lauren
Email = cowspotgirl@hotmail.com
comments = I haven't seen the movie as yet, as I live in Australia,
but I have 2 weeks to go and am dying to see it. You review has
even upped the anticipation for me
Date/Time of Posting: Jan 31 2003 / 20:17:26
IP Address: 161.184.192.2
name = Kate
Email = tcardinal2000@msn.ca
comments = I think the movie is great i watched the commercial on tv
it was cool.
Date/Time of Posting: Feb 22 2003 / 06:54:18
IP Address: 202.81.160.14
name = Mary
comments = Yup! I am so glad that you have the same view as I do about
the movie. I've seen it a number of times already and everytime I did,
a feeling of excitement never seemed to wash down from my chest. I
guess that's because I'm really such a big fan of Catherine Zeta-Jones
- and add the fact that I'm such a sucker for musicals. :) The actors
played their roles very well; it was as if they WERE the characters
they were portraying themselves (although I have to admit that seing
Mr. Gere dance and sing is a little, well, weird). The direction...
The music... The costumes... The over-all story... Everything's just
so GREAT! A perfect 10!
Date/Time of Posting: Feb 22 2003 / 08:46:08
IP Address: 138.88.143.54
name = Kelly
Email = danfreek22@yahoo.com
comments = I really liked this movie a lot. The songs were great.
Date/Time of Posting: Feb 24 2003 / 11:11:32
IP Address: 195.92.67.76
name = Charlotte
comments = this film was amazing took my breath away i loved every
minute. Its good that you can go to your local cinema and experience
the west ends without going into the city. amazing!!!
Date/Time of Posting: Feb 20 2003 / 10:27:41
IP Address: 195.93.34.9
name = emily
comments = its a briliant movie everyone should see it its a thing you
would either like it or hate it.
Date/Time of Posting: Mar 22 2003 / 17:23:36
IP Address: 61.61.122.114
name = Dan bloom
Email = danbloom@reporters.net
Question = Yeah, how did the character of Velma finally get out
of jail? movie never tells us how?
Answer = Sure it does. You just weren't paying close enough
attention! But I'll
forgive you this time around because it really was a tricky scene. So
here's what happens: Gere pulls a trick. He plants the diary for Velma
to find...Velma believes it to be legitimate & turns it over to
the prosecutor who in return promises to give her an "out
of jail pass." Gere shows in court that the diary is in fact fake
& makes it look like the prosecutor purposely forged the diary.
Meanwhile, the deal has already been done with
Velma & Gere gets two birds out with the same stone. Gotta love
that!
-- Katherine-the-resident-movie-guru (editor)
Follow-up Question = Hi, Now I see! Yeah, it happened so fast.
But didn't the warden lady find it first, not Velma? So you mean,
Billy planted it so that Warden could find it, and then pass it on to
Velma or what? Still confused in Taiwan.
Follow-up Answer = No, the Warden was in on the whole thing.
She passed it on to Velma. Billy & the warden were the only ones
in on the con. Fun, no?
Follow-up Question = Thanks for your help on this. I NOW
understand the
entire movie, but one question: did Gere and Renee Z really do ALL
their singing and dancing? The credits said there were body doubles
for them. For what? Is that Hollywoodese for a white lie of somebody
else doing some of the singing? Their voices were so good, it makes me
wonder! Do you know?
Follow-up Answer = I know that Gere &
Rene did all the singing AND Gere did do the tap dance scene on his
own... When the camera gets set up, all the testing gets done with
body doubles so that the actors can rest, since their 'talent' isn't
actually needed at that point. They are also used for shots where the
face of the actors cannot be seen anyways & there is no acting
involved -- so something like a long shot (technical term) of a person
walking down the street, or running. Body doubles are used in pretty
much ALL movies, if budget allows.
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