“In this town murder is a form of entertainment”
The movie “Chicago” exposes the seedy underbelly of jazz and life in the big city through its solid acting and racy musical numbers. It’s the film’s cynical social criticism that really gives “Chicago” its weight however, as it offers a strong glimpse into how celebrity and fame are all that people are concerned with, often at the sacrifice of what is really true.
“Chicago” opens with a sizzling rendition of All that Jazz sung by Catherine Zeta-Jones who plays the character Velma Kelly. Although Zeta-Jones’ voice is not Broadway caliber, she certainly sings surprisingly well. Her smoky voice conveys her definite sensuality, as do the many scenes of her walking around the jail in nothing but lingerie (a selling point for girlfriends trying to drag any unwilling boyfriends to see it with them).
Renee Zellweger is the lead and portrays the character Roxie Hart. Her soft voice carries her songs well and she holds her own against the sensual Zeta-Jones. For an actress who claims to have had no prior dancing experience, Zellweger certainly fooled me. Zellweger’s acting was also superb as she switched effortlessly from vulnerable girl to sexy starlet and back again.
The movie’s pace was smart and its dark feel perfectly set the appropriate cabaret type mood. The only groan worthy parts were the ones that called for Richard Gere to sing. He definitely lacked the otherwise adequate voices of his female costars and seemed to not even take himself seriously while singing. Gere’s acting was solid though, and he carried his scenes well, particularly those when his character Billy Flynn got to “razzle dazzle” in the courtroom.
The Cell Block Tango, which features Zeta-Jones as well as other female prisoners on murderess row, was perhaps the best overall number in the film. Between the skimpy costumes that showed off more feminine strength then curves, and the risqué dancing, these jailbirds showed a knockout combination of edge and sexuality.
Aside from the thigh shots and cleavage that one gets during many of the dance numbers, the main plot of “Chicago” is Roxie’s murder trial. The message of this movie particularly rings true in an era that is post O.J. Simpson. In fact, like O.J., it is celebrity rather then truth that determines Hart’s fate in the film.
In an era where many people rabidly seek their 20 minutes of fame on any reality tv show they can get on, one can see “Chicago’s” point as crystal clear (once you put aside the tap dancing and Queen Latifah’s cleavage). In “Chicago”, one sees the short shelf life that comes with notoriety and how shallow life can be once the media wave has washed over you and left you nothing but wet. I couldn’t help but think of Darva Conger during the last scenes of the film and her desperate talk show circuit tour, as she, like the characters from “Chicago”, desperately clung to those last few seconds of fame.
Flynn said it rightly when he lamented, “It’s all a circus, a three ring circus. It’s all about showbiz and not the truth.” Truth is irrelevant in a world where the media is the new jury and the justice system is just like “Chicago” portrays it- a marionette pulled by celebrity’s strings.
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