Chicago (the movie)

Now that I've finally seen Chicago, I have to admit that the hype seems well deserved.

Above all, it's very American in a cynical way: big dreams, tragedy, deceit, greed and ego mix with quite a few pokes at our legal system. A classical treatment of the subject would have been depressing and covered all the reasons for guilt. Not here! This is one long scheme to get away with it. At some point we forget the original question because of all the glitter, focusing only on what's happening now.

Mostly told from the fantasy perspective of the young woman in trouble, Chicago is an inside out musical. Roger Ebert calls it songs interrupted by a story and that's close enough. The songs mostly tell about personal details (and wishes) and segue to normal dialog for the connections but they are also where the most pointed satire occurs. It's a relatively unique musical and people ate it up, but I still can't get over the fact that it cost $45 M (as in million) to make. Imagine the costs if they'd had to blow things up?

Queen Latifah revels in her role and stole my heart; this woman clearly can sing jazz (and anything else she sets her mind to). Richard Gere (as the sleazy lawyer Billy) has one good scene (I think someone else has the legs for the really good parts) as the evangelical ring master tap dancing through the truth near the end of the trial. Gere is a great weasel, but can't pull off the charismatic part of the role. He's OK, but this could have been so much better. John Reilly is the wounded husband and plays the conscience of film, discussed but quickly dismissed.

Catherine Zeta-Jones seems so sure of herself as the original star of Billy's three ring circus and is terrific to watch as she shows off her two person act to Renée Zellweger. Zellweger plays the elevated star pretty well, but she never completely convinced me (the bold new persona never completely clicks). Yet there are times when Zellweger completely takes over, even when sharing the stage with Jones. If the point was to leave us wavering between the two women, then it was well done.

Jones and Latifah carry the early parts of the film, Zellweger and Jones do the heavy lifting at the end and the middle muddles along well enough that interest isn't lost. It was fun to watch and I'll do so again.