Thank you for all your lovely comments. I'm taking an extended break from Ciao due to pressures from...
Thank you for all your lovely comments. I'm taking an extended break from Ciao due to pressures from work and home. Feel free to drop me from your COT if you're feeling neglected. You're all great writers and I'm gonna miss you! xxxx
Member since:14.05.2003
Reviews:54
Members who trust:25
'The best thing since Moulin Rouge' was one reviewer's opinion of the eagerly awaited big-screen version of the hit play Chicago. Since I had not enjoyed any part of Moulin Rouge, and the film's costar was my personal nemesis Catherine Zeta-Jones, this pretty much failed to inspire me. However, after watching the trailer for Chicago, my mind was almost changed. A bevvy of Oscar and Bafta nominations and a self-confessed soft-spot for Renee Zellwegger persuaded me to pay my four pounds fifty and I ended up squashed in between a bunch of friends, with only my trusty coke as protection.
I went in expecting nothing more than good entertainment, nice songs and pretty outfits, and that is exactly what I got. I had no expectations of highbrow cinema, despite the best picture nominations, and so therefore wasn't disappointed by the showy array of music and dancing, and 'razzle-dazzle'.
The songs were good (my particular favourite being the slinky, all-girl number 'cell block tango' performed by Catherine Zeta-Jones et al), the outfits unsurprisingly sparkly and revealing, and the whole thing was like a big party that made up for the weak plot. It was very obvious that the whole cast had a ball making this film, and I had a ball watching it. Zeta-Jones was pretty, if a little showy and uninspiring, and Zellwegger was excellent and charismatic, if too thin. Even richard gere impressed in his tights, managing to retain the majority of his dignity while making a complete fool of himself in aforesaid tights and a variety of camp outfits.
That said, I'm not sure that this film would be bearable for a second time. There are only so many times you can hear the songs and watch the dancing without feeling like it was getting old. The plot is secondary, and a repeat run-through may only emphasize its weaknesses. There is no unexpected twist and its as predictable as a romantic comedy, and not even the performances and singing could make up for this more than once.
Still, it is a pretty enjoyable yarn, and a good way to spend an afternoon. If you haven't seen it and don't like either predictable romantic comedies or musicals, this is one to miss. If you enjoyed Moulin Rouge, this is for you. If you have seen it, then I'll let you make up your own mind.
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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
Jun 17th, 2003
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