Rating: 
Summary: Right out of today's headlines
Review: Roxie Hart, as played by Renee Zellweger, craves to become a famous musical comedy star. Roxie's boy friend promises to introduce her to his buddy who supposedly has connections in show biz. The only thing Roxy's friend desires is to jump into the sack with her--nothing else. When Roxy is faced with his lies, she takes her revenge.Thus begins the story of "Chicago," the razzle-dazzle musical about people who will seek fame at any price, whether via show business or indictment and trial for murder. Either one of these is sure to grab headlines. Richard Gere's character, the more than slightly sleezy lawyer, Billy Flynn, is more than happy to represent Roxy Hart, for a price. Flynn also represents the singer/dancer and fellow felon, Velma Kelly, portrayed by Catherine Zeta-Jones, who is in competition with Roxy Hart for renown. The premise of "Chicago," and a very cynical one, is how the press, hungry to sell newspapers, often thrust those least deserving into stardom. Fame is fleeting; once the public gets bored with the latest flavor of the month, the media move on to the next flavor. Note the case of O.J. Simpson, and his would replacement, Robert Blake. Of course, in between, Osama Bin Laden was abruptly forgotten in "favor" of Sadaam Hussein. "Chicago" is a truly entertaining and enjoyable film. Catherine Zeta-Jones, who, in real life is an honest to goodness singer and dancer, is simply wonderful as Velma Kelly. Zeta-Jones' rendition of "All That Jazz" is a show stopper. Renee Zellweger lends a little girlish quality (ala Marilyn Monroe) to her scandelously trampish portrayal. Richard Gere's performance as the lawyer has just the right touch of slickness required by the role. It is quite gratifying that although neither Zellweger or Gere are profesional dancers, they both turn in applaud-worthy and polished performances. John C. Reilly, as Roxy's hapless and cuckolded husband, does a heartbreaking turn in his number, "Mr. Celophane," the man everyone sees through because no one knows he is there. Queen Latifah steals the show as the "lets make a deal" prison matron. She is sexy and deliciously sardonic when she takes center stage in "When You're Good To Mama." My only criticism of "Chicago" is that while the musical numbers are often terrific, the movie too often feels a little bit overloaded with them. I also often asked myself, "Is the public really so naive that they would fall for such obvious phonies" as dramatized in the film? I guess that some people do have the need to identify with the latest, current fad, even if, as Andy Warhol said, the fame is over in 15 minutes.
Rating: 
Summary: This won Oscars?
Review: This is little more than a filmed broadway show. When I go to Broadway I want to see a play/musical and when I see a movie I want to see a movie. Don't let the hype fool you, Zeta-Jones did not turn in an Oscar worthy performance and who chose Richard Gere? Gere is a great actor and a lousy singer. He was doing a bad Anthony Newly impersonation. Best Picture of the Year? This just opens the door for Hollywood to make more lame musicals.
Rating: 
Summary: Magnificent. Simply Magnificent.
Review: Musicals have changed. They used to portray a fantasy world, some might say a phony world of sometimes overly sweet "happy" people. Now musicals are more realistic and seek to tell a story with solid content. Such is "Chicago". This is a story of real people; their hopes and fears, what drives them, and the inner demons that they must overcome. I found the story gripping, emotionally captivating, and ironically amusing. And, the music is superb. Every song is melodic and memorable, and the lyrics are first rate. Some person complained that the movie "symphathizes with killers and those who set them free". Hogwash! It actually pokes serious fun at a system where this is allowed to happen. This is called "satire". Go borrow a dictionary and look up this word. As for the old style musical that some individuals praise and celebrate, some are good, some are ok, and some dreadful. I love the songs from "The Sound of Music" but I cannot sit through it's hours of cotton candy sticky sweet mishmash. It's Horrible, Simply Horrible. I suppose that this review will not sink into the gray matter of such individuals. It will just hit a Wall of Obtuseness.
Musical drama should make you think. It should be more than just tap dancing and champagne bubbles. For that watch Lawrence Welk.
Rating:
Summary: My humble opinion...
Review: Worth the six Oscars, and more! Engaging, entertaining, thought provoking, and brilliantly performed, Chicago takes us on a satirical journey through a sick and twisted society. The casting is extraordinary, as every role is perfectly realized. Bob Fosse's genius is matched by Rob Marshall's contemporary vision for the contemporary movie musical. I waited a long time for the DVD, and am not disappointed. I don't buy DVDs for all of the extras, I buy it for the outstanding quality of sound and picture. Chicago is not pretending to be something that it is not. Pure entertainment in a polished package. Five outstanding stars.
Rating:
Summary: This movie was so bad it wasn't even good bad...
Review: I'd like to say I'm a fan of great musicals, but the truth of the matter is I'm a fan of any musical, even if it's bad, and I still couldn't stand this movie... it's up there on my list of worst movies of all time. I thank goodness I didn't see this in the theater, there is no way I could've sat through the whole thing, fortunately my dvd player allows me to speed through movies with sound so at least I got through the whole thing in half the time. I kept thinking it just *had* to get better, but it didn't. The characters were pathetic and completely nondeveloped. The story line sounds more interesting than it is, honestly! I've never seen Renee Zellweger look worse, throughout the whole movie I just had to keep blurring my vision to make seeing her bearable... and I loved her in Bridget Jone's Diary and even Me, Myself, and Irene, so it's not like I'm asking for much. I tried so hard to like this movie and I just couldn't. If you, like me, realize in the first 10 minutes that this is a truly horrible ludicrous movie, don't bother continuing to watch in the hopes that it will get better, it doesn't, I promise, I don't care how much money you've invested it's not worth the added insult of wasting your time. Maybe if you are a big fan of CZJ (I'm not, but I did love her in Blue Juice and I usually loathe surfer movies).... naaah, even then it's not worth it, she's so done up and over the top it's just down right creepy and annoying. The tall, skinny, redhead was an amazing dancer... I'm reaching here, there was that 3 or 4 seconds that I was desparate to find something to enjoy and that was about it.
Rating: 
Summary: An ok movie for fans of Broadway Musicals
Review: I'll agree with the reviewer from St. Louis, Missouri. It was almost two hours of absolute, boring trash! I still can't believe this garbage won Best Picture. There's no way this film is better than the second installment of Lord of the Rings. Some critics hailed this movie as a wonderful return of the musical. That's hardly the case. If anything, this film is excrement in fancy wrapping. If you must see this movie, save yourself some money and rent it instead.
Rating:
Summary: Absolute trash....an insult to the city of Chicago
Review: I watched this movie thinking it would live up to its billing. Instead, it was almost two hours of absolute, boring trash! I still can't believe this garbage won Best Picture. There's no way this film is better than the second installment of Lord of the Rings. Some critics hailed this movie as a wonderful return of the musical. That's hardly the case. If anything, this film is excrement in fancy wrapping. If you must see this movie, save yourself some money and rent it instead. It's too bad the copy I rented didn't have a self-destruct feature.
Rating:
Summary: Best in a long time.
Review: I bought this having not seen it in the theatre. I was procrastinating on watching it because I was not sure what to expect. If you've done this also, let me inform you that you've made a big mistake. Wonderful casting, detailed costumes, riveting music, luscious sets and academy award winning acting. The performances in this film are excellent. Each person performs their own musical numbers and it is incredible to watch. Very sexy indeed! The special features include an audio commentary track which is very interesting and feature length. It has a deleted musical number and behind-the-scenes featurette. I was concered about buying this per the fear of "purchasing and having a 2-disc edition come out" would strike again. The features here are worth your money, even if another edition should hit the shelves. 113 minutes of pure brilliance.
Rating:
Summary: Best movie Ever
Review: This Movie is about this girl named Roxie That mudered some guy named Fred Casely. it is the most best movie ever. I have all the songs stuck in my head and When ever i talk I sing the songs.I even no the moves to ever song.
Rating:
Summary: CHICAGO -- fine film of a very odd, cynical musical
Review: Anyone who calls CHICAGO the best musical of all time doesn't know much about musicals, but I'm glad they enjoyed it. Reviewer Daniel Wahl seems to have missed the irony of the show entirely. The amoral characters are not SUPPOSED to be sympathetic. They're vicious and not-too-bright and what's amusing is watching them achieve their tacky dreams by attacking and double-crossing one another. There are plenty of precedents for CHICAGO's tone: PAL JOEY, for one. The Rodgers and Hart masterpiece concerns two characters just as venal as Roxie and Velma: a rich jaded adulteress and a vicious young gigolo. PAL JOEY opened on Broadway in 1940. What about CAROUSEL, where a rather stupid, innocent girl is seduced by a nasty two-bit hustler? When you look at the variety of musical subjects done on Broadway over the decades, it's pretty silly to call CHICAGO a "new kind of musical". Even 1928's SHOWBOAT dealt with some harsh issues: racism, mixed marriages, gambling addiction, alcoholism. The very first word sung in SHOWBOAT is "the N word" -- a shocking opening that is censored even today. Hammerstein wanted to confront audiences with the evil of racism right off the bat. The American musical stage has told all kinds of stories since then, some warmly sentimental, others -- like this one -- harshly cynical. I was frankly surprised that CHICAGO was as successful as it was on the screen, since many people like Mr. Wahl feel musicals should always tell sweet, sentimental stories. I love the "warm" musicals like SOUND OF MUSIC, but there is also a place for some with a harder edge. CHICAGO is not better than THE SOUND OF MUSIC; it's just different. And having different kinds of musicals, rather than the same kind over and over, is a good thing for the art form of the American musical.
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