Film: "Chicago" (2002)

[Bob Pr.]

Shown in the monthly "Cinema Studies" section of KU's Endacott Society.

"Chicago" (2002) 113 min., PG-13, Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Musical.
Stars: Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah,
John C. Reilly. Plot: Velma (Zeta-Jones), a dancing, singing star in an act with
her sister, is on murderer's row after shooting her sister and Velma's lover when she
caught them doing an exercise not part of their act. Roxie (Zellweger) is a wannabe
star and cheats on her husband (Reilly) when an acquaintance (in order to bed her)
promises to get her into show business. When Roxie finds out he's deceived her, she
shoots him and also goes to Murderer's Row where Mama (Latifah) is in charge. Billy
(Gere) is the manipulating lawyer who represents Velma and Roxie in their trials.
Won 6 Oscars out of 13 nominations: Chicago (2002) - Awards
IMDb raters score it 7.2 stars (of 10) Chicago (2002) - IMDb
92% of Rotten Tomatoes top critics rate it "ripe" (not rotten) Chicago - Rotten Tomatoes
Roger Ebert rates it 3.5 of 4 stars: Chicago :: rogerebert.com :: Reviews
Trailer: Chicago Trailer - IMDb

A very adult, irreverent & cynical musical set in 1920s era Chicago that
makes fun of the press & news media, attorneys & the legal/court process,
fidelity & monogamy, and probably several other things.

Zellweger plays a talented but not very bright young woman (Roxie) who VERY
much wants to be a dancing, singing star in the '20s Chicago night clubs. Periodic-
ally, as the narrative unfolds, Roxie transposes many scenes she's seeing to a
singing, dancing musical version in her mind's eye--and the film brings us along
to view her visions.

GREAT cast, many great numbers (possibly my favorite is Gere as a puppeteer
with Zellweger on his lap)--or maybe Queen Latifah singing "When You Take
Care of Mama"--or many others.

My vote: 10+ of 10 stars.