Year: 2002
Director: Rob Marshall
Country: US
Language: English
Based on a 1926 play by the same name, the original Broadway production of Chicago opened in 1975 at the 46th Street Theatre and ran for 936 performances until 1977. Bob Fosse choreographed the original production, and his style is strongly identified with the show. It was revived on Broadway in 1996, eventually gaining the record of the longest-running musical revival. It is also the longest-running American musical in Broadway history, and is the second longest-running show in Broadway history, behind Phantom of the Opera.
The plot revolves around murderesses Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta Jones) and Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger) who find themselves on death row together and fight for the fame that will keep them from the gallows in 1920s Chicago.
Centering on America's thrill-hungry, low-attention-span press and public; an attack on sensationalism that has been present in films as distant as the 30's, Fosse's influence style added a touch of predatory sex, outlandish sexuality and wild justice. The atheletic, exposed skin of the dancers provided a stark contrast to the cold callousness of the characters who claim they're innocent because "he had it coming". The picture maintains much of Fosse's original vision, but is different enough to warrant some points for originality.
The decision to use actors instead of legitimate dancers and singers has always perplexed me in regards to Hollywood musicals. At least Judy Garland (Wizard of Oz) and Liza Minnelli (Cabaret) had a tremendous amount of training before their first big production. Although perhaps criticizing the film for this aspect is in poor taste considering even Queen Latifah could belt out a great song. At the 2002 Academy Awards Chicago won 6 Oscars, which included "Best Picture", and frankly one could make a case that it deserved all of them. (I would have gone with The Pianist however)
For doing what Moulin Rouge couldn't a couple years before, which is making a competent engaging musical with actually good music, Chicago deserves great praise. Although the style has been seen before, the film is the best musical of the 21st Century so far (although it's not hard to stand out when your competition is Mama Mia). An underrated film that gets more slack than it deserves.
Praise it! 4/5
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