Gorgeously staged adaptation of the Kandor & Ebb musical, Chicago is a 1920s-set black comedy with big, snazzy numbers and an undercurrent of sleaze as Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly find themselves on death row for murder.
Having dispatched her disloyal sister and philandering husband, Velma (Catherine Zeta-Jones) belts out Overture/All That Jazz, watched by wannabe star, a naive Roxie (Renée Zellweger). Before the morning’s out, Roxie has joined Velma in the local jail with lover Fred (Dominic West) dead on her apartment floor. Watch the two women battle for supremacy in the jail, lorded over by Matron Mama Morton (Queen Latifah) and the attentions of lawyer Billy Flynn (Richard Gere).
It’s bold, it’s full of vaudeville showmanship with seductive choreography and memorable songs – and unexpectedly fine performances by the three leads. But Chicago is ultimately a little vacuous and runs out of steam as a narrative way before its grand finale.
Nominated for 13 Oscars in 2003 including best director (Rob Marshall), actress, supporting actress (Queen Latifah), supporting actor (John C. Reilly), won 6 including best film, supporting actress (Zeta-Jones), costume, art design.
Rating: 63%
Director: Rob Marshall (Mary Poppins Returns, Into the Woods)
Writer: Bill Condon (The Greatest Showman, Kinsey) – adapted from the Kandor & Ebb musical
Main cast: Renée Zellweger (Judy, Cold Mountain), Catherine Zeta-Jones (Ocean’s 12, Traffic), Richard Gere (Pretty Woman, Norman)
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