"Chicago" the musical.....my review

I don't even know how to begin expressing the feelings I have for this film, I simply have to say I loved it! This film has succeeded on every possible level I dreamed of,and a few more to my pleasant surprise. I work in the film industry and get to see a lot of films that are praised to the roof,and usually are just ****. Chicago could have gone wrong in so many ways,and for many reasons. The road this project has taken has lasted more than 20 years,including the death of it's creator (Bob Fosse) cast and director changes and so on. It's truly a miracle that this film was ever made.

I saw it last night at the Zeigfeld theatre (the most beautiful movie house in New York) which was crawling with fags and fagguettes It was truly like a circuit party from hell. Once the lights went down,the cruising ceased,and the the place was at attention.

The film takes place in a roaring 1920's Chicago,ruled by liquor,Jazz, sleazy tabloid journalism,and a few good murders for good measure. Having seen the Broadway version twice a few years ago,I new the premise,and all the songs heart. Catherine Zeta Jones plays Velma Kelly,a huge caberet star busted for the doulble murder of her sister and husband. The three of them did an act together. She caught the two of them doing #17 (the spread eagle) and rest was history. Catherine Zeta Jones is nothing short of a revelation,from the moment she walks into the club and takes the stage to sing "All that Jazz" she owns the role. I have always liked her,but never felt she really lived up to her potential in a film. She sings and dances,like she's been doing it all her life. She blew me away. Renee Zellwegger plays Roxie Hart,a girl who desperately wants to be a star like her idol Velma,but she's trapped in a loveless marriage to a loser (wonderfully played by John C Reilly),she cheats on him with a guy who promises to introduce her to some producers and promoters,when he finally confesses that ir=t was all a sham just to screw her,she flips out and shoots his lying ***. Her chump of a husband initially takes the blame in order to protect her,but blows it when he can't keep his story straight. Roxie ends up in the slammer right alongside Velma. Renee Zellwegger is amazing in her multi layed performance of Roxie. She is alternately desperate,earnest,feisty,catty,and sexy. She's also a heluva singer. Who knew. In jail Roxie and Velma are taken under the "wing" of Mama Morton (she runs the place) played with great sass by Queen Latifah (I hope she wins the Globe,and an Oscar nod). Mama helps Roxie get the best lawyer a crime can buy,Billy Flynn played by Richard Gere. Damn! he's one of the few men who seems to get hotter with age. I love that grey hair,and he can sing and tap dance as well. He eventually gets both Roxie and Velma off,in scheme too bizarre to explain here. Velma and Roxie forge a reluctant bond (they hate each other) and go on to become huge media stars. Go figure.

The musical numbers in Chicago are amazing,and the credit must be given to Directoer Rob Marshall,who is a veteran Broadway director. The coreography by Ann Reinking (she played Roxie Hart on Broadway) was sexy as hell. Catherine and Renee worked their [censored]

off big time. The supporting cast,some of whom were from the broadway show added immeasurably to the films strenghs. Singer Mya even popped in for a cameo as a prisoner convicted of killing her husband over "artistic differences". Lucy Liu also makes a brief appearance as an heiress who kills her beau (and his two bedmates). It was also great to see the great broadway star Chita Rivera make an all to brief appearance (she played the original Velma Kelly in the 1970's) After every usical number the theater broke out into applause. I have'nt seen that since Evita.

There is absolutely no redeeming message in this film (unless you believe that crime does pay ). It's just pure enjoyment,and if there is one,it's that we should be more cynical,which I think is a great thing in many ways. Roxie and Velma are two Dames who want fame so bad,they go to extremes to get it. The irony of Chicago is that getting away with murder in the movies is not so far removed from what can and does happen in the real world.

I know a lot of people have been saying that the musical was reborn with "Moulin Rouge",which I loved btw,but next to Chicago,it's nothing more than a beautiful 2 hour music video,like most of Baz Lurhman's films. I really think Chicago is the true rebirth of the classic american musical.

I know many will find this post long winded and tedious,but I just had to express some of my feelings about this film,and I actually left out a lot
All I have to say is please check this film out if you love musicals,or just want to see a great film.

#1 solitaire

#2 Dr. Tynan

#3 zencat

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#5 Dr. Tynan