Review of Chicago

Movie #45 - Chicago

Chicago is my favorite musical of all time. The songs, the choreography, the story - it's incredible. Kudos to the director of this film because they made me love the stage musical even more after watching this. They definitely did it justice on the silver screen.

Chicago is the story of Roxie Hart. She is unhappy in her boring little life, so she has an affair with a man named Fred Casely. When Fred tells her it's over, she shoots him dead. Roxie ends up in the Cook County Jail where she runs into famous Vaudeville star, Velma Kelly. The entire time Roxie is in prison she tries to become famous in the papers, just like Velma. How does she manage to do this? With the help of notorious Billy Flynn. Billy is Chicago's best lawyer, who has never lost a case. Roxie and Billy do some tricking of the reporters and the public, and the jury buys it. They set Roxie free. Funny enough, she doesn't get that fame she was hoping for once she's free. It's not until months later that she teams up with Velma, and they create their own stage act. It's a hit, and the girls have all the fame they've ever wanted and more.

This movie is phenomenal. The costumes are to die for. I've never been a big fan of the 20s, but this movie makes me want to live in the 20s just to wear those outfits and dance/sing to that music! And don't even get me started on the casting choices. Bravo! Renee Zellweger as Roxie Hart, John C. Reilly as Amos, Catherine Zeta Jones as Velma Kelly, Richard Gere as Billy Flynn, Queen Latifah as Mama Morton, and Christine Baranski as Mary Sunshine. Perfect. Just perfect.

The story of lust, adultery, crime, and murder has been something that draws in audiences for as long as cinema has been around. It's interesting. Add some kickin' tunes to it, and you have gold. "Cell Block Tango" is probably one of the best Broadway songs ever performed. HOWEVER, in this film, my absolute favorite scene is "We Both Reached for the Gun." To make the reporters into marionettes being controlled by Billy Flynn is genius. Pure genius. Honestly, I don't have anything negative to say about this movie, so I'll just save you the trouble of having to read anymore of my ramblings.


I give Chicago 5 out of 5 stars. Obviously.