Chicago (2002)

November 8, 2022 7:45 AM

Nightclub sensation Velma (Catherine Zeta-Jones) murders her philandering husband, and Chicago's slickest lawyer, Billy Flynn (Richard Gere), is set to defend her. But when Roxie (Renée Zellweger) also winds up in prison, Billy takes on her case as well -- turning her into a media circus of headlines. Neither woman will be outdone in their fight against each other and the public for fame and celebrity.

Also starring Queen Latifah, John C. Reilly, Lucy Liu, Taye Diggs, Colm Feore, Christine Baranski, Dominic West, Mýa.

Directed by Rob Marshall. Screenplay by Bill Condon, based on the stage musical of the same name, with music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and book by Ebb and Bob Fosse.

86% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.

Currently streaming in the US on HBO Max. Also available for digital rental on multiple outlets. JustWatch listing.

Another Best Picture winner that did not yet have a FF post...

posted by DirtyOldTown (6 comments total)

I remember that there were a couple of things in the adaptation that annoyed me, but It's been long enough since I've seen it that I've forgotten what they are. Big fun and a good adaptation of the stage musical. Queen Latifah was just [*chef kiss*] perfect casting as Mama Morton.
posted by rmd1023 at 11:41 AM on November 8, 2022

I thought this was fantastic. In my opinion, the interweaving of realism and stylized fantasy scenes should have served as a blueprint for how to do a movie musical adaptation the right way. But somehow, that didn't happen.
posted by kyrademon at 2:51 PM on November 8, 2022 [1 favorite]

the interweaving of realism and stylized fantasy scenes should have served as a blueprint for how to do a movie musical adaptation the right way.

Particularly this musical! It's one that really doesn't lend itself to the "realistic" treatment well, and the way they threaded that needle made so much sense - even from a dramaturgical perspective.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:23 AM on November 9, 2022 [2 favorites]

What a great show! Thanks for reminding me to watch it again.
posted by kingless at 4:32 PM on November 9, 2022

I remember being wrecked by Richard Gere’s singing? Was that just me? He’s no Pierce Brosnan in Mamma Mia, thank god, but I found it distracting. Agree on Queen Latifah being quite good but I think John C. Reilly also deserves praise for his performance.
posted by kat518 at 6:54 PM on November 11, 2022

I love this movie, and the Bway show as well. I thought all the principal players in the movie were great, I loved the music and the dancing. Did Gere do his own dancing? I think he did, because I was impressed. And he was also good IMO in the ballroom dancing movie "Shall We Dance?" though I favor tap.

Anyway nice to see Chicago mentioned as I would watch it again and again -- for the music and dance scenes. And yes I have the DVD.
posted by alwayson_slightlyoff at 7:41 PM on November 11, 2022