Chicago (2002)
If you love the song "All That Jazz,"
I mean, really, really love it, then "Chicago" might
be a really enjoyable film for you. Because, essentially,
it's the only good song in the entire film. The rest
of the songs here are pretty much either complete
imitations of that song or the typical modern musical
dreck that passes for entertainment in mainstream
Broadway shows.
And then there's this: I hate those
music videos with dialogue. You know the ones, where
someone somewhere thought they were making some sort
of short film or something and they put dialogue that
rambles all over the singing in the music so that
it disrupts the flow of the music and irritates the
fuck out of you. "Chicago" does that a lot, especially
during the first 30 minutes or so. Oh, they try to
dress it up as clever intercut, interwoven plot exposition
but basically what it is is dialogue and story that
steps all over the songs. It just gets to be a constant
grate on the nerves. Either sing or have dialogue.
Don't do both.
"Chicago" starts pleasantly enough.
The popular tune "All That Jazz" is whipped out and
a Fosse-esque scene (no backgrounds, spotlighting,
minimalistic props) splays across the screen so that
we may understand the context of the story and how
the film is going to present it. (After all, Fosse
was responsible for the original musical stage presentation).
But then it just turns out to be one Fosse number
after another and none of the songs are interesting
or memorable. Director Rob Marshall must have spent
a shitload of money in storyboarding, because the
film intercuts perfectly between scenes of supposed
reality and then the musical, minimalist, Fosse-esque
music numbers. It's supposed to be cool. Mainly, it
is distracting. This should either be a film or a
musical. Instead, it tries to be both and falls flat.
The acting here is decent but it's
really hard to accept Richard Gere as a musical singing
star. In fact, when he makes his first appearance
on the screen, lip-singing to a song, he looks silly.
In the preview audience where I saw the film, people
tittered and giggled at the spectacle of it. But eventually
we get over the initial unintentional humor of his
performance and see that he does an adequate job.
Catherine Zeta-Jones and Rene Zellweger do fine jobs
as well. There's nothing wrong with the acting and
the dancing is okay too. It's just nothing exceptional.
There's not a single new idea in the film.
There's really not an interesting
musical number after the intro, which is only interesting
because it's first, until the end of the film. Decked
out in all white and in front of a beautiful bank
of clear, globe light bulbs, Zeta-Jones and Zellweger
put on a song and dance finale that is truly cool
to look at. Zellweger really dances her heart out.
Nope, there's no complaints on the ladies' performances
here.
The biggest problem after presentation
and the sheer boredom of the songs is the hideous
mean-spirit of the story. This film is a slap in the
face to the American system of democracy and a pointed
jab at the American obsession with scandal and overnight
celebrity. Perhaps this was valid criticism in the
days of the 20's and even in the days of OJ, but who
wants to see that nowadays? If the viewer stops for
a second to consider the story here, he or she will
realize that they are being slapped in the face and
called a fool. A fool for believing in our system
of justice and a fool for being scandal obsessed.
The plot of this film is intensely cynical and mean-spirited.
Personally, I don't want to see that (for one thing
it's been done to death).
People are going to say that "Chicago"
is awesome, they have been seduced by the schmaltzy
glamour and the glitzy look of the film. People are
going to tell you it's a great film musical. They
are wrong. This is for fans of the original musical
and the actors in it only.
Note:
With Queen Latifah, John C. Reily,
Christine Baranski, Lucy Liu, Mya and Taye Diggs.
(Diggs was in the cast of "Rent" at one time).
This story, first a play by Chicago
Tribune reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins, was made
into a film before in 1927 ("Chicago") and 1942 ("Roxie
Hart"). Fosse turned it into a musical in the 70's.
The film had several casting rumors
as it developed. Cameron Diaz, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer
Lopez, Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow, Barbra Streisand,
Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, Liza Manelli, Toni Collette,
Bebe Neuwirth and Charlize Theron were all mentioned
at one time or another for the lead females. John
Travolta, Kevin Spacey and Hugh Jackman were considered
for Billy. And everyone from Pam Grier to Kathy Bates
to Rosie O'Donnell was considered for the part of
Big Momma. (It went to Queen Latifah). The role that
went to Lucy Liu was at one time mentioned as being
filled by Britney Spears.
This was to be the next film Fosse
directed before his death in 1987 made that an impossibility.
Nominated for 8 Golden Globes, more
than any other film.
Viewed at a press screening in Austin
in December 2002.
