The film industry certainly got it right when they named “Chicago” best picture, as well as giving the golden boy to Catherine Zeta-Jones for Best Supporting Actress. One can only hope that quality musicals like this one and “Moulin Rouge” will continue to be produced in Hollywood.
From the first number “All That Jazz” with Zeta-Jones, this movie had me hooked. It is only the truly good musicals that go beyond glitzy song and dance routines (which this film has it’s fair share of) to let the actors hone their craft.
The basic plot follows two lady murderers, Velma Kelly (Zeta-Jones) and Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger), through their rise to fame thanks largely to slick lawyer Billy Flynn (Richard Gere). “Chicago” is interesting in that it has traditional scenes spliced together with the musical numbers to show how Roxie’s trial has become a circus.
“Razzle Dazzle,” which is the song leading into the trial, literally has Flynn as the ringmaster in a sparkly suit.
“We Both Reached For the Gun” had to be the most spectacular number. This scene coincides with the press conference, in which Flynn convinces the reporters that Roxie was a sweet thing taken over by ‘jazz and liquor,’ and that is his basic defense for her crime. During the dance Flynn plays puppet master to the press, who are doing back flips on chairs, and ventriloquist to Roxie. Zellweger shined in this dance, with her moves looking precisely contrived and doll-like.
Although Renee Zellweger may have had the starring role, “Chicago” belonged to Catherine Zeta-Jones. With many of her other films being unoriginal or even forgettable (aside from “Traffic” and “High Fidelity”), she certainly proved herself with this film. Her presence, even on film, not to mention her voice made me wonder why this woman hadn’t skipped Hollywood and gone straight to Broadway. The fact that she thoroughly enjoyed making the movie really came across on screen.
Let me just warn you to be prepared for Queen Latifah when you view this movie for the first time, because she will blow you away. And it won’t just be her singing, which was spectacular, because her steamy dance “When You’re Good to Mama” will have you wondering what happened to the tom boy lady rapper from “Living Single.” She is absolutely unforgettable.
The unsung hero of this movie is John C. Reily as the lovable Amos Hart, Roxie’s husband. If Reily dressed as a hobo and singing about how invisible he is in “Mister Cellophane” didn’t make you love this guy, then seeing him pay Billy Flynn every cent that he has to take on his cheating wife’s case certainly will. I will admit that I got a little teary when he found out that Roxie was never pregnant, especially after he got so excited when Flynn convinced him that he was the father on the stand.
Yes, some Oscar winning movies can be dull and lackluster, but I assure you that you will get your money’s worth with this film. “Chicago” might just give some classic movie musicals a run for their money a few years down the road.
Rating: 5 stars