Rating: Summary: The most Impresive musical of the last twenty years Review: Chicago has everything a muscial should have. Humor, charm, great dancing and fun characters. For my money, Richard Gere steals the show as Flynn, giving an over-the-top performance that caused you to focus on him any timE he was on screen. One of the things that made Chicago work was that incoporated the set pieces and look of the stage production. Like the older musicals, Chicago maintained tha perfect balance between reality and fantasy. Everyone should see Chicago and enjoy the wonderful work of Jones, Gere, and Renee, who also did a grand job. They all deserve Oscar noms. Great show!
Rating: Summary: The best film musical in YEARS! Review: I saw the original "Chicago" on Broadway with Gwen Verdon, Chita Rivera and Jerry Orbach and it was absolutely incredible. Well, now I can say this filmed version is that and more. Zeta-Jones, Zellwegger, Gere and Latifah are a perfect team for this crass and cynical movie. I'm glad they gave Rivera a cameo (why didn't they for Orbach?) and while I understand they had to cut the song "Class," I would have liked to have heard it over the end credits (instead of the so-so "I Just Move On" which was specially written for that purpsoe). At least "Class" is on the soundtrack and it's even crasser and funnier than before with the addition of a certain lyric. This is a great musical (even bertter than "Moulan Rouge" which I liked) and I recommend it for all film fans.
Rating: Summary: Pure Entertainment! Review: I had a smile through out the entire film. everyone in the movie did an award winning performance. I could see it again just to have a another good laugh.
Rating: Summary: Success! Review: The stage-to-film transition for Fosse's "Chicago" has been many years in the making, but it was definitely worth the wait.It's interesting to me that while I don't particularily care for Catherine Zeta-Jones OR Rene Zelleweger, I think they were both fantastic in their roles in this film, as was Richard Gere. Impressive that, similar to Evita (Madonna's version) and Moulin Rouge, all of the principal actors did their own vocals. While they're not going to win any Grammy's for best vocalists, they all did very well. I won't recap the story, but for anyone who enjoyed the stage version of this film (as I did - saw it twice) and/or enjoys a movie/musical, this film is a must-see. If you want the soundtrack, though, I'd recommend the original broadway cast recording.
Rating: Summary: Razzle Dazzled!! Review: Like many of the other reviewers, I saw the theatrical version of Chicago. In my case it was in the 70s, but I still recall nearly every word and note. I loved the show! I went to the movie with optimism and skepticism: Would they do it justice? Simple answer: More justice than the Cook County courts! What a delightful ride! Reality and "stage" were so well integrated, I nearly applauded after the musical numbers. Everyone in the theater applauded at some point! And who knew Zeta-Jones, Zellweger, and Gere could SING? And Gere can even dance. The (much noted) limitations of the cast in the dance department did NOT detract at all, but actually highlighted the fantasy aspects of the musical numbers--"real" people of limited ability and means showcased in fantasy splendor. Go see it. See it again. Take some friends who can admit to loving musicals. Take some friends who couldn't before they saw Chicago. And if you aren't all humming "Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes they both, oh yes they both..." the next day...well I'll be amazed.
Rating: Summary: Some men just can't hold their arsenic Review: I saw this movie and I really liked it. I was skeptical at first, especially about Richard Gere and Renee Zelleweger, but I was pleasently surprised. While Renee is no Gwen Verdon, and seemed just a tad miscast, I think she did okay. I was very pleased with Richard Gere, who I think had a great voice, something along the lines of a twenties or thirties radio personality. And he did his own tapping, with no tap track! (I checked.). Catherine Zeta-Jones and Queen Latifa kicked .... "It looked like Queen Latifa stole Renee's bust..." so says one of my friends about the costumes. Even if you're a purist, this is a pretty good version of Chicago, and if nothing else, go see it for "Cell Block Tango". That has become my favorite song of the whole thing. "He ran into my knife ten times!"
Rating: Summary: Nothing special Review: I really don't understand all the hype about this movie. I am a personal fan of musicals, so its not the genre that bothered me. It is an entertainig and well executed movie, but not much beyond that. It sort of tricks you into thinking that its a good movie when really its quite flat. It has no message or theme, and you can't really come to care about the characters. 20 minutes after I had left the theater I had forgotten all about the movie, definitely a sign of a bad movie.
Rating: Summary: Wow!!!!! Review: The audience consisted of kids younger than my kids and mothers older than my mother and everyone in between. Men, women, girls, guys -- and all enjoyed to the point of a standing ovation and waiting to see each and every last credit. The line in the ladies' room after was very long and full of excited chatter as no one wanted to leave during the film for one moment. Renee was phenominal and Catherine so superb it made you wish you saw more of her. And Richard Gere, who would have known??? Can't wait to see it again. Can't wait to buy the DVD. Can't wait for the CD to come out.
Rating: Summary: I wish I could rate it a 1,000 stars Review: This is without a doubt the greatest movie musical to come along in a very long time. It has the amazing score (which is the greatest star of the film), great acting and singing from everyone involved, and amazing sets. I have already seen "Chicago" twice, and plan to see it again many times in the future. This movie will definetly go down in history with "Cabaret," "Grease," and "My Fair Lady" as THE definitive movie musical. Go see it and be amazed like I am.
Rating: Summary: Very, very good. Review: I saw this movie today and was pleasantly surprised. The cast was superb, surprisingly enough, the sets were excellent, the costumes were wonderful, and the production was great. Whereas a film like "Moulin Rouge" (one of my faves) was gaudy and fantastically detatched from reality, all of the musical numbers in this film were staged as they would be in an actual musical- that is, happening onstage - and this grounded surrealism was what gave the film its sparkle. It was like going to see a really fantastic Broadway show and having the best seats in the house. I don't see how someone COULDN'T like it- even if they didn't like musicals, the movie was above par in all other applicable categories, as well. So go see it- you won't be disappointed.
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