Review of Chicago (1927) by Gregory G — 01 Jan 2014

Bob Fosse's Broadway musical, with music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb, has been adapted to the screen by Rob Marshall. This is the best movie musical in twenty years told with a refreshingly cynical, hard-edged tone.

Set in the Jazz age, its a satirical look at celebrity and scandal involving famed singer Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Roxie Hart (Renee Zellwegger). Both women become infamous for murdering their lovers and seek to outdo each other for tabloid coverage.

Told from Roxie's point of view, the musical numbers are projected as her imagination. The view of the media and public's fascination with fame may be outdated. Marshall cuts too much so that the overbearing editing becomes distracting but the vibrant, stylish musical numbers fill us with elation.

Richard Gere is coolly funny as the glib lawyer Billy Flynn. Queen Latifah as prison Matron 'Mama' Morton has a commandingly sexy presence in her vigorous performance of "When You're Good to Mama.

" Zellwegger is not a natural singer or dancer but she tries hard. Catherine Zeta-Jones belts her tunes magnificently and she has a highly charged physicality that is magnetic. Whenever she appears onscreen we can't take our eyes off her.

Filmed before in 1927 as "Roxie Hart." With John C. Reilly, Christine Baranski, Lucy Liu, Taye Diggs. Songs include: "All that Jazz," "Funny Honey," "Cell Block Tango," "We Both Reached for the Gun," "Mr.

Cellophane," "Razzle Dazzle." Won Oscars for Best Picture, Supporting Actress (Catherine Zeta-Jones), Art Direction, Costume Design, Film Editing, Sound Mixing.