Well, folks, it just might be back...
That rare film idiom that has gone the way of the western and even dinosaurs.
The film musical.
True, Baz Luhrmann started the whole thing back up again with the phenomenal Moulin Rouge but that film actually was about deconstructing the art form of a musical; tilting it on its head and then putting it back right side up.
The question however remained: Would the world, or at at least movie going public ever except a real, motion picture musical built in the same manner of the great musicals of the past? ..and more importantly, would CHICAGO be that musical?
Hold on to your hats folks, because I tell you with great glee and not quite a little bit of shock, "Chicago: the movie" is everything a great film musical should be, More so, in fact, it's everything a great film should be.
It stands slightly behind "Y tu Mama Tambien", as my favorite film of the year.
Brilliant direction and choreography. A talented cast. Glorious lighting and production values and an excellent screenplay add up to an exciting and enjoyable two hours.
It seems a lot of people dislike Catherine Zeta Jones for reasons that I've never really understood (I mean is she anymore obnoxious than anyone else in Hollywood). All I know is those haters are going to get down on their knees and bow to this woman. Miss Jones delivers, in no uncertain terms, a magnificent performance. A fantastic dancer, a terrific singer, a sublime presence, all her talent comes to a raging boil in her big number "I can't do it alone". Jones attacks this number like a lion attacking a predator and beats it to the ground with such affirmation, it leaves one wondering if Bebe and indeed Chita, were really any better.
Great Praise, indeed.
If someone would have told me 7 years ago that Renee Zellweger would become one of the most talented and versatile actors working in film today, well, I would have scoffed but Miss Zellweger as Roxie is as near perfect as one could wish for. I have heard people saying that Miss. Zellweger is not the accomplished singer and dancer Miss. Jones is. What they are forgetting or ignoring is the incredible fact that she can sing and dance at all. Her marvelous face and her dead on acting is complemented by a lovely singing voice (oddly reminiscent of a young Peggy Lee) and although she is perhaps a more athletic than graceful dancer, Zellweger is a mighty force to reckon with. She deserves whatever nominations will come her way
Richard Gere, in a sentence, gives the performance of his life. Gere, obviously having a helluva time, singing with brio (not a lovely sound but bolstered by a good range) and dancing with real ability. Acting wise he is alive alert and quite funny here.
Queen Latifa was good in her song. But honestly she didn't do much for me. John C. Reilly, as the hapless Amos, did. His performance of "Mr. Cellophane" was beautifully executed (with one of the better voices in the cast) and combined with the heartbreaking sweetness of his performance should help to earn Mr. Reilly an Academy Award nomination. All in all, a great night at the movies....and a great night for musicals, too.
That rare film idiom that has gone the way of the western and even dinosaurs.
The film musical.
True, Baz Luhrmann started the whole thing back up again with the phenomenal Moulin Rouge but that film actually was about deconstructing the art form of a musical; tilting it on its head and then putting it back right side up.
The question however remained: Would the world, or at at least movie going public ever except a real, motion picture musical built in the same manner of the great musicals of the past? ..and more importantly, would CHICAGO be that musical?
Hold on to your hats folks, because I tell you with great glee and not quite a little bit of shock, "Chicago: the movie" is everything a great film musical should be, More so, in fact, it's everything a great film should be.
It stands slightly behind "Y tu Mama Tambien", as my favorite film of the year.
Brilliant direction and choreography. A talented cast. Glorious lighting and production values and an excellent screenplay add up to an exciting and enjoyable two hours.
It seems a lot of people dislike Catherine Zeta Jones for reasons that I've never really understood (I mean is she anymore obnoxious than anyone else in Hollywood). All I know is those haters are going to get down on their knees and bow to this woman. Miss Jones delivers, in no uncertain terms, a magnificent performance. A fantastic dancer, a terrific singer, a sublime presence, all her talent comes to a raging boil in her big number "I can't do it alone". Jones attacks this number like a lion attacking a predator and beats it to the ground with such affirmation, it leaves one wondering if Bebe and indeed Chita, were really any better.
Great Praise, indeed.
If someone would have told me 7 years ago that Renee Zellweger would become one of the most talented and versatile actors working in film today, well, I would have scoffed but Miss Zellweger as Roxie is as near perfect as one could wish for. I have heard people saying that Miss. Zellweger is not the accomplished singer and dancer Miss. Jones is. What they are forgetting or ignoring is the incredible fact that she can sing and dance at all. Her marvelous face and her dead on acting is complemented by a lovely singing voice (oddly reminiscent of a young Peggy Lee) and although she is perhaps a more athletic than graceful dancer, Zellweger is a mighty force to reckon with. She deserves whatever nominations will come her way
Richard Gere, in a sentence, gives the performance of his life. Gere, obviously having a helluva time, singing with brio (not a lovely sound but bolstered by a good range) and dancing with real ability. Acting wise he is alive alert and quite funny here.
Queen Latifa was good in her song. But honestly she didn't do much for me. John C. Reilly, as the hapless Amos, did. His performance of "Mr. Cellophane" was beautifully executed (with one of the better voices in the cast) and combined with the heartbreaking sweetness of his performance should help to earn Mr. Reilly an Academy Award nomination. All in all, a great night at the movies....and a great night for musicals, too.
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