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Chicago (Full Screen Edition) Customer Reviews (70 - 72 of 120 Reviews)

Great Film!
"Chicago" is one of the greatest musical films I have ever seen! If there is anyone who hasn't seen the movie, here is a synopsis. "A starry-eyed would-be star discovers just how far the notion that "there's no such thing as bad publicity" can go in this screen adaptation of the hit Broadway musical Chicago, originally directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse. In the mid-'20s, Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger) is a small-time chorus dancer married to a well-meaning dunderhead named Amos (John C. Reilly). Roxie is having an affair on the side with Fred Casley (Dominic West), a smooth talker who insists he can make her a star. However, Fred strings Roxie along a bit too far for his own good, and when she realizes that his promises are empty, she becomes enraged and murders Fred in cold blood. Roxie soon finds herself behind bars alongside Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones), a sexy vaudeville star who used to perform with her sister until Velma discovered that her sister had been sleeping with her husband. Velma shot them both dead, and, after scheming prison matron "Mama" Morton hooks Velma up with hotshot lawyer Billy Flynn (Richard Gere), Velma becomes the new Queen of the scandal sheets. Roxie is just shrewd enough to realize that her poor fortune could also bring her fame, so she convinces Amos to also hire Flynn. Soon Flynn is splashing Roxie's story -- or, more accurately, a highly melodramatic revision of Roxy's story -- all over the gutter press, and Roxy and Velma are soon battling neck-to-neck over who can win greater fame through the headlines. A project that had been moving from studio to studio since the musical opened on Broadway in 1973, Chicago also features guest appearances by Lucy Liu and Christine Baranski." -Blockbuster.com

Musical Lovers Must See Chicago
Do you enjoy musicals? This is the only question you need to ask yourself before deciding to see Chicago. If the answer is yes---then you must make sure you view this movie first on a large screen. A dvd or video version should be your second choice. Director Rob Marshall has put together a fast paced comedic musical that is utterly fantastic. The songs are of top notch quality. There's rarely a momentary pause in the action. Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renee Zellweger, Richard Gere, and others normally thought of as serious thespians perform splendidly in atypical singing and dancing roles. One, though, gets the distinct impression that these actors were thrilled to accept the challenge to get back to their early roots. Most of their characters are scoundrels, liars, and back stabbing slime balls. They are also very funny and endearing.

Two pre-World War II ambitious women entertainers, Velma Kelly (Zeta-Jones) and Roxie Hart (Zellweger) have murdered their lovers. Gere portrays the sleezeball attorney Billy Flynn who is committed to the proposition that anyone willing to pay his $5,000 fee should not pay for their crimes. Moreover, he hopes to exploit their notoriety to help them professionally. Flynn believes it's only appropriate to turn a murder charge into a wise career move. To put it mildly, he does nothing to uphold the honor and moral uprightness of the legal profession. Could William Shakespeare have been thinking of a Billy Flynn when urging that all attorneys in Henry VI be put to death? The only nice guy is the cuckolded Amos Hart (John C. Reilly) who is too dumb and naive to realize that everybody is playing him for a fool. Queen Latifah is wonderful as the manipulative jailer. Christine Baranski, Lucy Liu, and Taye Diggs also deserve honorable mention. Chicago most definitely earns five stars.

One of the best movies EVER!
As a musical theater purist, I was concerned that a movie musical with 3 of Hollywoods A list stars would be a hinderance rather than a help in the "revival" of the genre. I must say that I was blown away by the sheer genius and excellence of the film.
Catherine Zeta-Jones' Velma was equal to, if not better than Bebe Neuwerth's ( Brodway revival). Her beautiful voice and masterful dance skill is worthy of the great white way. A Tony may have been a more appropriate award as opposed to her much deserved Oscar. Although Rene Zellwegers voice was a little shaky in the begining she brought out a tough side in Roxy that was not there in neither the original nor the revival stage versions. Then my biggest fear, Richard Gere as Billy Flinn, was in a word perfect. You can't ask for a better fit, and what a shocker to see that wonderful tapdance!
With great costumes,Fosse-like choreography, expert lighting and singing (by many broadway veterans in the chours as extras) this dark comedy shines. Also with great cameos and supporting performances by the great Chita Rivera ( original broadway cast),John C. Reily (oscar nominated),Lucy Liu, and Christine Baranski this film shines as one of the greatest ever made, not just as a musical, but as a film. Rob Marshall's directorial debut deserves all of it's accolades...and all that jazz.

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