Movie Review

Chicago

The movie musical has revamped itself. It is no longer about cheery and upbeat songs as much as it's passionate and stirring songs filled with emotions like jealousy and anger.

Moulin Rouge was able to change the "My Fair Lady" conception last year with its stunning display of song and visual art, but Chicago kills that perception once and for all. This movie proves that a movie musical cannot only be emotional, but it can also take on an actual plot and make it compelling. Chicago is based on the Broadway play, directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse, about murder and fame and how one usually leads to the other in this crazy society. Think of O.J Simpson and the Menendez Brothers and you should have a pretty good idea of what this movie is trying to say. A high profile murder usually leads to front-page publicity and the spotlight is a very powerful thing.

Just ask Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger), a star struck dreamer who stares in awe at the famous Chicago night club performers like Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta Jones) and knows she wants a part of that life. But her dreams are what make her na?ve, as she believes in a guy who says he can get her on stage but in actuality is just looking for a night in the sack. Once Roxie finds out the guy is nothing but a liar, she shoots him and tries to blame it on her husband Amos (John C. Reilly).

Only she ends up taking the blame and going to prison for it. Scared out of her mind, she tries to find comfort in her idol, Velma Kelly, who is in prison for killing her cheating husband only to get the cold brush-off. So instead, Roxie decides to follow in Velma?s lead. She hires a high-profile lawyer named Billy Flynn (Richard Gere) and suddenly her image is being changed. Billy transforms her from a murderer to the girl you would want to take home to meet mom. The transformation garners her massive media exposure and before she knows it, she is edging Velma right off the front-page and into the obituaries. But Roxie discovers that front-page news is tough to keep up, especially when another higher profile case claims Billy's interest.

The script by Bill Condon one of the best and most persuasive of the year. One of the strongest elements of the script is his use of metaphors. His ideas of the lawyer as the puppeteer and the courtroom as more of a three-ring circus are both funny ideas. In these star cases, the courtroom is no longer a place of justice, it's about how well that star can perform for the judge and jury. But the real joys of watching Chicago are the dazzling and spectacular song and dance numbers. The cast is a gifted lot of musical talent and director Rob Marshall's vibrant and sexy choreography should guarantee him an Oscar nomination. Marshall also does a great job of staging these song and dance numbers, actually letting his characters jump on to some mythical stage in their own imagination in order to convey their personalities, ideas, and aspirations. No one just bursts into song here, which makes the film feel more realistic.

As I said before, the cast has a great set of pipes, but they also turn in performances that rank among the best of the year. Zellweger captures Roxie's determination and vulnerability. The character is ready to go to any lengths to become a huge celebrity, but somehow we love her anyway. Catherine Zeta-Jones on the other hand turns into the year?s sexiest performance. She captures a woman born to rule the spotlight. Richard Gere is as slick as they come, conveying a manipulator in every sense of the word. Other cast members include Queen Latifah (as a prison warden) and John C. Reilly as Roxie's under-appreciated husband, are also perfect. They all blend in perfectly with the fantastic set and costume design.

Chicago is as spectacular and intelligent a film as they come. The thought-provoking plot combined with the catchy jazz tunes make this a film experience not to be missed. You won't be able to get enough of "all that jazz."

Craig's Grade: A

A	10.9%
B	41.8%
C	31.8%
D	15.3%
F	0.3%