"There are two things I don't like about you - your face. So why don't you shut both of them&qu...
"There are two things I don't like about you - your face. So why don't you shut both of them" Felicia (Priscilla Queen of the Desert)
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What a film! I read many reviews, and heard everyone talking about how ‘good’ and ‘brilliant’ and even their ‘ best film, but I just thought they were talking a load of shit! But, when I actually saw it for myself, I was shocked at its sheer marvellous.
I’d read a few reviews on it, but the storyline had not sunk in, and I only read very, very short reviews on it. So, I went to the cinema not knowing what was in store, which is how I like it. I love the feeling of not knowing who’s the nice character, and who’s the baddie. But, in actual fact, this film had no such thing. You didn’t like any characters, and that as one element of its sheer brilliance…
It was a very camp and glamorous film. All the dancing, the smoking so casually, the walking like Naomi Campbell, and, of course, the clothes! I certainly think of the catwalk next season will be 20’s clothes. It will come back after Chicago, because it was so good!
We’re are in a period where films and television rules our lives. It does! How do we fid out the news a.s.a.p? Where do we get fashion ideas from? A simple answer. And the wardrobe manager should’ve won a price for such a marvellous job. What satisfaction she must feel! And compared to Moulin Rouge, in my opinion, it wins in the fashion element! You wait; Naomi and Sophie will be traipsing down the catwalk in a Roxie Hart-type frock this time next season!
Well, back to the thing in hand. The suspense in the beginning of the movie was so weird. It certainly goes into the story straight away. In the first fifteen minutes, there’s two murders, a sex-scene, a dance routine and singing! It moves very fast, and you just want to carry on watching throughout!
It starts when we see Velma Kelly
– Catherine Zeta-Jones – walking out of cab, and we only see her feet. Oh yes, it’s one of those films that don’t let you see the main character/character’s face for a few scenes! We then see Roxie walking into her dressing room, hiding a gun, and washing blood off her hands in the sink…
She then runs to the stage and performs ‘All That Jazz’. It’s a perfect song, and the movie couldn’t begin better! We then see Roxie Hart – Renee Zellweger – watching her Velma with such admiration and some jealousy.
What you’ll find in the film is that a lot is a monologue of mostly Roxie’s dreams, but some other characters. Most of the performing is not true-life, but a dream of one of the characters, or to explain the scenes better to us. We then see Velma suddenly turning into Roxie, as one of her dreams are experienced in her!
We also, the see the police coming up to pick Velma Kelly, and she sees them and smirks, but finishes her performance, in such show business style! Then Roxie returns home with her, what we think at that time, lover.
When they return home, they make-love, and he keeps telling her during it that ‘I’ll make you a star!’ It’s pretty upsetting in a way because she’s so desperate to become a star, and became famous, she will do anything. We the seen her looking at a picture of her and her… husband…
Her lover gave her false dreams, by telling her he could make her famous in Chicago, but in actual fact he was lying, an after a few months of their affair, and a month after Velma was arrested, he tells Roxie this.
He gets very angry, and when he pushes her to the ground, she rises, and whilst he’s walking out the door, she shoots him three times. It’s really shocking, and even if you know it’s coming you will be shocked and sit with anticipation.
We, well at least I, started to feel sorry for Roxie, for two seconds, but then we get the real shock that all characters, really don’t care about anyone but themselves, as we see Roxie’s husband Amus Hart – John C Reilly – admits to killing an intruder…
But it’s not long before the truth comes out. Roxie has told her husband that she killed an intruder, but in actual fact that’s not true, and while Roxie’s imagining herself singing on stage, with words basically stating her husband’s a mug, the truth comes out, and Amus says he didn’t actually kill him, after he finds out they were having an affair. So, this is where the film begins…
Roxie goes to prison. The murderer prison, where, if you are found guilty, you are hanged. And guess whom Roxie’s in prison with? Oh yes, none other than Velma Kelly herself. A total bitch, who cares about no one other than herself?
The story is all about deceit, lust, infidelity, murder and wanting thinks out of your reach. It creates an awful picture of what Chicago was like in the 20’s, which is one full of dead bodies. All in all, around eight people are murdered in the film, and in the most evil ways.
Within days Roxie realises that Velma is bribing Big Momma - Queen Latifah - the friendly warden in the prison, and Roxie’s idolism goes down from there. The high publicity trial if Velma Kelly is then put down to the bottom, and there’s a new murderer in town who everyone’s talking about – Roxie Hart.
Roxie employs the expensive lawyer – Billy Flynn – Richard Gere – and he proves that anyone, no matter how guilty, can get away with murder. His evil ideas are shocking but enjoyable to watch. Velma begins to get jealous, and bad things turn worse…
**ALL IN ALL: **
All in all, this film is a classic. It won 8 awards in the Oscars last month, including best supporting actress for playing the evil Velma Kelly. Catherine does a marvellous accent in the film, and certainly deserved her award. Her dancing and singing was spectacular, and you could so tell that she was the one who worked the hardest for her role.
Renee Zellweger plays her part well, but I think she was too innocent and sweet looking to play the part. I think someone along the lines of a young Sharon Stone. Roxie just didn’t give us that bitchy look well enough. But, she certainly did do well, and performed well also.
Richard Gere was only in half of the film, and was funny o watch. The casting chose a perfect actor here, to play a perfect part. He danced and sang well, and I enjoyed watching him make a fool of himself!
John C Reilly was the only character that you had some pity for. Roxie treated him awful, and he was basically treated awfully, and mis-leaded throughout the film. He played his part well, and sang a song that was performed well by him.
You often find that films are a certain topic, e.g. Drama or Comedy, but sometimes you find films that are a comedy/drama. Well, Chicago breaks ALL the rules as in all it’s a Musical, Drama, Black Comedy and a thriller all rapped up in one. And it is so well.
I think the writers wanted us to watch and laugh. I haven’t seen it in the West End or Broadway, but I think they were aiming for a bit of a mockery of it, making it a black comedy, and making some scenes over-acted. I did laugh as well, as I could just imagine Claire Sweeney with her horse-teeth, in the courtroom!!
This was the first modern musical I’ve seen. Obviously there’s Marry Poppins, Chitty Chitty, but this was so exciting to watch, and I’m so looking forward to watch it again. The dancing and singing is not how you imagine in either. It’s nothing like a musical in a way, but a film with people singing – and no, they aren’t the same thing.
This is the first Musical I’ve seen, but it certainly won’t be the last. A brilliant film, with a good cast, which will go down in history as a classic, and it certainly deserves it!
Certificate – 12A
Running time – around 2hours.
Catherine Zeta Jones – Velma Kelly, performed four times in the film.
Richard Gere – Billy Flynn, performed twice/three times in the film.
Renee Zellweger – Roxie Hart, performed six times in the film.
John C Reilly – Amus Hart, performed twice in the film.
Momma – Queen Latifah, performed twice in the film.
Songs include:
‘All That Jazz’ ‘Roxie’ ‘I Can’t Do It Alone.’ ‘When You’re Good To Mamma.’ And all the other Chicago classics!
Buy the soundtrack from CDWOW for a mere £8,99!
Written By: Matt Roberts.
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Production Year: 1999 - Music / Performing Arts - Original Language: English - Classification: Exempt - Starring: Donny Osmond, Joan Collins, Richard Attenborough
ooooohhhhhh great op.... i am at a toss up to see this movie... not sure if i am anti catherine zeta-jones... or just anti-chicago for not having bebe neuwirth in the velma kelly role...hehe... take care... 'peaches n beans'
JJane 06.04.2003 08:19
I shall avoid this like the plague until I have a copy on DVD. It's been on the stage in London for some years now, so it's good to see it made into a "film".
Adapted from the long-running stage version, this big-screenChicagois a non-stop singing ... more
and dancing extravaganza that may well herald the welcome revival of the film musical. When the part-time lover of wannabe star Roxie (Renee Zellweger) is murdered...
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![Chicago [DVD] [2003]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/79224345.jpg "Chicago [DVD] [2003]")
Apr 5th, 2003
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