Everyone has a photographic memory! Some people simply don't have film.
Everyone has a photographic memory! Some people simply don't have film.
Member since:22.10.2000
Reviews:425
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Wanting to watch a couple of films at the pictures when we arrive, the final choice was down to my wife – and she picked Chicago. A musical staring: Renee Zellweger, Richard Gere, and Katherine Zeta Jones.
The film surrounds the trial of Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger,), after she kills her lover – a furniture salesman who she is convinced is going to give her-her big break in show biz. Unfortunately for him-she shoots him several times after he tells her she was just a bit of ‘hot stuff’ and no guy would have turned her down.
She is put in prison where the ‘matron’ of the ward likes to be called ‘Mama’. Mama (Queen Latifah) is a rather well endowed lady and an extremely dubious prison warden.
Each scene is suitably accompanied with a jazzy song, which one of the stars belts out at the top of their voice.
Zeta-Jones and Zellweger are superb in their portrayal of their murderous characters. Gere though doesn’t particularly shine through, and his singing abilities leave a lot to be desired. Richard Gere plays a lawyer who charges $5000 per client, and has never lost a case. Queen Latifah also portrays her character excellently.
The songs are excellent and on the one occasion I found myself singing along – though this was soon controlled by a thump form the other half!
The film is a wonderful and light hearted look at the murderous scene of old Chicago. Plenty of music, and a few laughs make sure this film is one worth watching. It appeals to everyone, in as much: It’s a murder story, a love story (Roxie’s husband adores his wife), a story of friendship through trial.
Roxie is desperate to find stardom, and through her shooting her lover she manages to get on the front pages of the papers, much to the annoyance of Velma Kelly, who is soon put on the back burners by the tabloids and the lawyer (Kelly). It isn’t too long before a new face turns up at the prison, threatening to take the ‘fame’ away from Roxie, so she thinks quickly and collapses. “I hope the baby isn’t hurt” she declares as she comes around from the fake faint. The papers soon rally back around Roxie. She hits the headlines again, again to the annoyance of Zeta- Jones character.
Velma realises she has to do something to regain her fading success, so she tries to strike up a partnership with Roxie, which fails miserably.
Eventually, Roxie and Velma are both freed from prison, where they both realise they are yesterdays news. Velma gets an offer to do a duet with Roxie for $300 a week. As the film closes, you see the two do their first duet which is highly entertaining.
Overall:
I had seen a lot of rave reviews on this film, and rarely do I agree with those reviews. However on this occasion I agree fully with the glowing reviews of this film. The acting is great, the songs excellent, and the humour (though not loaded) is funny and not exaggerated. It successfully swings between prison and the stage with great panache. Richard Gere’s strip and singing could have been avoided-which might have added slightly to the film – though personally I think you’d be hard pushed to better it. Directed by: Rob Marshall: Produced by: Martin Richards: The film is certificate 12A and runs for about 2 hours.
Highly recommended.
Thanks for the read-Dave
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Music / Performing Arts, Comedy - Director: Trevor Nunn, Geoffrey Posner - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, Parental Guidance - Starring: Duncan Preston, Celia Imrie, Julie Walters, Victoria Wood, Jim Broadbent
Ithought it was excellent too, but Renee Zellweger's squeaky , whiny voice really irritated me! I agree with you about Richard Gere, but I was impressed with his tapdancing! Liz :)
Jan 30th, 2003
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