Director: Rob Marshall
Year: 2002
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 1 hour, 53 minutes
A woman murders her lover when she discovers the fame and fortune he promised her was all a lie just to get her in bed. Now, she faces capital punishment and must stand trial, which her lawyer turns into a media circus.
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| "From what I hear, he's been burgling you three times a week for the past month." (Image Source) |
See! Murder isn't terrible, especially if the victim was doing things far worse like lying, being unfaithful, or popping their gum annoyingly! "Chicago" is directed by Rob Marshall, who would go on to direct other musicals like "Nine" and "Into the Woods." The film was written by Bill Condon and is adapted from the stage musical of the same name by Bob Fosse. It stars Rene Zellweger as Roxie Hart, a housewife who dreams of stardom as a Jazz singer. Her lover (Dominic West) has promised to use his connections in the business to help her get her start, but when she finds out he has been lying just to get her in bed, she guns him down in a fit of rage. Meanwhile, famous Chicago club singer Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones) has also been locked up for committing murder when she found her sister in bed with her husband. Once in prison, Roxie and Velma fight over the spotlight and for the attention of defense attorney Billy Flynn (Richard Gere), who has never lost a case.
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| "You want some advice, well here's a piece of advice from me to you, lay off the caramels." (Image Source) |
In modern Oscars history, it's not often that musicals win Best Picture. "Chicago" was the first musical to win this highest honor in 34 years, and the last musical to do so before this was "Oliver!" in 1968 (though that streak was broken for about 90 seconds in 2017 when "La La Land" was mistakenly announced the winner for that category). Though some people believe "Chicago" is not worthy of such praise, we personally think it is a fantastic movie full of tremendous acting, fabulous direction, and amazingly vibrant, colorful visuals and costumes. It is worth watching for the eye candy alone. It is also loaded with some terrific music, featuring songs like All that Jazz," "When You're Good to Mama," and "Mr. Cellophane," among many others. There are some enjoyable performances from Renee Zellweger, John C. Reilly, and Queen Latifah, who were all rightfully nominated for Academy Awards for their acting accomplishments. Also splendid is Catherine Zeta-Jones, who actually took home an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress and was very deserving of such an accolade. She and Zellweger have excellent chemistry with one another as they battle back and forth for a center stage place in the spotlight and vie for the love of their adoring fans. Zellweger and Zeta-Jones prove their talents over and over again here, and their performances impress the hell out of us each and every time we watch this film. The story is intriguing, provocative, and salacious. It's got an engaging message about the justice system and the circus of the media machine, and it's sure to keep you intrigued from start to finish in every aspect.
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| "I don't mean to toot my own horn, but if Jesus Christ lived in Chicago today, and he had come to me and he had five thousand dollars, let's just say things would have turned out differently." (Image Source) |
"Chicago" is a spectacle of the highest order, and boy do we love it. It is a super fun watch and will provide you with a wonderful viewing experience. If you are in any way fond of musicals, "Chicago" is a must-see.
My Rating: 8.5/10
BigJ's Rating: 8.5/10
IMDB's Rating: 7.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 85%
Do we recommend this movie: Yes!
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