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List Price: $14.99 | | Label: Miramax
Salesrank: 5813
Released: August 19, 2003 |
| Our Price: $3.74 |
| Used Price: $0.75 |
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MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Winner of six Academy Awards(R) (2003) including Best Picture, and starring Academy Award nominee (Best Actress, CHICAGO) and Golden Globe winner (Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy, CHICAGO) Renée Zellweger (BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY), Academy Award winner (Best Supporting Actress, CHICAGO) Catherine Zeta-Jones (TRAFFIC), Academy Award nominee (Best Supporting Actress, CHICAGO) Queen Latifah (BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE), Golden Globe winner (Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy, CHICAGO) Richard Gere (UNFAITHFUL), and Academy Award nominee (Best Supporting Actor, CHICAGO) John C. Reilly (GANGS OF NEW YORK) -- CHICAGO is a dazzling spectacle cheered by audiences and critics alike! At a time when crimes of passion result in celebrity headlines, nightclub sensation Velma Kelly (Zeta-Jones) and spotlight-seeking Roxie Hart (Zellweger) both find themselves sharing space on Chicago's famed Murderess Row! They also share Billy Flynn (Gere), the town's slickest lawyer with a talent for turning notorious defendants into local legends. But in Chicago, there's only room for one legend! Also starring Lucy Liu (CHARLIE'S ANGELS).
Description of Chicago (Full Screen Edition):
Bob Fosse's sexy cynicism still shines in Chicago, a faithful movie adaptation of the choreographer-director's 1975 Broadway musical. Of course the story, all about merry murderesses and tabloid fame, is set in the Roaring '20s, but Chicago reeks of '70s disenchantment--this isn't just Fosse's material, it's his attitude, too. That's probably why the movie's breathless observations on fleeting fame and fickle public taste already seem dated. However, Renée Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones are beautifully matched as Jazz Age vixens, and Richard Gere gleefully sheds his customary cool to belt out a showstopper. (Yes, they all do their own singing and dancing.) Whatever qualms musical purists may have about director Rob Marshall's cut-cut-cut style, the film's sheer exuberance is intoxicating. Given the scarcity of big-screen musicals in the last 25 years, that's a cause for singing, dancing, cheering. And all that jazz. --Robert Horton
Chicago (Full Screen Edition) Reviews:
CHICAGO DVD 
2009-11-06 - ITEM JUST AS DESCRIBED ! FAST AND FRIENDLY ! A REAL PLEASURE DOIN BUSINESS WITH ... THANK YOU !
This film is definitely `all that jazz'... 
2009-10-28 - You can credit `Chicago' with bringing the beloved musical back into our lives, even if it doesn't really deserve the full credit. Just the year before the marvelous (and superior) `Moulin Rouge!' managed an Oscar nomination for Best Picture and surely paved the way for `Chicago' to win the Oscar. The year before that `art house' master Lars von Trier gave us the brilliant `Dancer in the Dark', and while it didn't manage a Best Picture nomination, it caused a major stir with the critics and definitely got a lot of people talking. So, what I guess I'm trying to say is that, while `Chicago' is regarded as the musical of this generation, it didn't capture that title on its own merits.
It is a great film, truly absorbing and thoroughly entertaining; but it is far from the best musical of this generation.
Taking a saucy stage play and giving it its due on the big screen is a big undertaking. I have seen the stage play a few times and devour it every time; it's that stunningly entertaining. For me, and this should really go for nearly everyone, a musical lives and dies with the VOICES carrying the songs. If someone cannot sing, they should NOT be in a musical.
I wanted to get that out of the way.
The film tells the story of Roxie Hart, the aspiring singer who gets a little carried away during a lovers spat and takes a man's life. Claiming self defense, Roxie gets help from attorney Billy Flynn, who capitalizes off her story to get publicity. Roxie's doting husband Amos waits in the shadows as his wife's popularity grows, but when Roxie finds herself being `forgotten' by the public she has to go to even greater extremes to keep their attention.
I really liked the way that director Gary Marshall constructed the film. It has this out of body quality to the musical numbers, which makes sense in the setting. It gives it a very `showy' feel that gives the illusion of watching a cabaret variety show. This approach is needed to give the film some style; style that suits the premise and atmosphere.
The film is very `razzle dazzle'.
As far as the performances are concerned, there is a lot of love here. Thank GOD Catherine Zeta-Jones won the Oscar for her dynamic portrayal of the washed up Velma Kelly. She ravishes on screen and just completely engulfs every scene she is in. Her `song and dance' pleading with Roxie is sensational to put it lightly. She clearly outshines the rest of the cast, but that doesn't mean that the rest of the cast falters. A lot has been said about Renee Zellweger and her lack of singing talent. Like I said, a musical must be judged on the VOICES carrying the songs, but in this case, it is that lack of talent that works in her favor. She is an aspiring singer, and one gets the impression that she is aspiring because she lacks the talent to really survive. She is arrogant and pretty confident, but the fact remains that she hasn't made it. She needs this trial to become a star, and that speaks volumes for her natural talent. I adore Zellweger here.
As far as voices go, one doesn't get much better than Queen Latifah and John C. Reilly. They are the best vocals in the bunch, yet sadly they give the most mediocre performances. I love Reilly, and in 2002 he had a stellar year (appearing in THREE Best Picture nominees; `Chicago', `Gangs of New York' and `The Hours', as well as the independent film `The Good Girl'). His Supporting Actor nomination at the Oscars was clearly a nod to his success as an actor, but he was nominated for the wrong film. His subdued and emotional work in `The Good Girl' should have nabbed him the nomination. Latifah has a showier role, and her `vavavavoom' performances really add some color to the film; but she's sadly lacking in screen time.
Reading that they once considered Kevin Spacey for the role of Flynn makes me a little sad, since he is not only a stunning actor but a brilliant singer and he would have chewed this up (and may have even walked away with an Oscar) but the lackluster Richard Gere took on the role and just does NOTHING for me here. His voice is very mediocre, his performances are awkward and while I actually found his quick witted delivery in his spoken scenes to be entertaining he just never really comes together as a complete character to me.
I was put off.
The film can at times be all over the place, but it makes up for it with ample amounts of style that get poured all over every scene like syrup. It works. Yes, it is overrated, but that doesn't mean it doesn't prove itself a visual feast and a memorable experience. When you look at the year that was 2002 you instantly think of `Chicago', and rightfully so. Sure, `The Pianist' was a much better film, but `Chicago', without a doubt, is the one you are going to want to watch again and again and again.
And BTW, those set pieces and costumes are all sorts of spectacular!
Chicago
2009-10-28 - Excellent movie. Singing and dancing outstanding, serious and funny parts and the actors seem really into their roles. This one I will keep forever.
Chicago
2009-10-23 - The dancing by Catherine Zeta Jones is remarkable and the singing both by her, Renee' and (of all people) Richard Gere is very entertaining. Queen La. is also very good. The story line with all it's twists and turns along with the overall acting and singing done by each performer makes this a great musical. there are certain scenes I repeat over and over.
Glad I Ordered
2009-09-18 - The item came priority so it arrived in plenty of time. The dvd was in excellent condition. The customer service was attentive and concerned with doing a satisfactory job and they did.
