'Chicago' (Rob Marshall, 2002)

Title: 'Chicago'

Release Year: 2002

Director: Rob Marshall

Cast: Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah, John C. Reilly, Christine Baranski, Taye Diggs, Lucy Liu.

Plot: After murdering their respective couples, Velma and Roxie found themselves in prison waiting for their trials. The first one a star and the second one a diva-wanna-be, only the help of Billy Flynn, a sucessful lawyer, can return them what they want the most: fame.

Review: At the beginning of the 2000s, the musical was revitalized. The reason? 'Moulin Rouge' (Baz Luhrmann, 2001) and 'Chicago' (Rob Marshall, 2002). The second one was a huge hit, becoming a surprising box-office success and one of the most critically acclaimed films of the year.

That was mainly thanks to an impressive cast, led by the amusing and talented Renée Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones, both delivering terrific performances. But not only they were outstanding; Gere embodied a cynical attorney, ready to transform any lie into the most credible truth, knowing that the audience would believe what he told them to believe. Latifah and Reilly completed the marvellous ensemble of 'Chicago'.

Two dangerous ladies: in the best roles of their careers, Renée Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones became murderous divas and enemies for the film

In my opinion, apart from them, the movie succeeded for two reasons. The first one was its message: Good things happening to bad people? Oh, yes! Film industry is full of well-intentioned heroes, but here we find the worst people you can imagine, prepared to kill for what they want (fame, money, fans, etc.)... and anyway you like them.

In a society that forgot things easily, was it really surprising that two criminals became stars?

The second reason was the music itself. Contrary to 'Cabaret', I loved every musical number; on the one hand they were perfectly executed, funny and featured amazing songs, on the other hand they were very helpful and definitely necessary to make the story move on. My favorites? All of them. Here there are some of them:

'All That Jazz': 'Chicago''s opening number performed by Zeta-Jones as Velma Kelly after murdering both her sister and her husband

'Funny Honey': Roxie dedicates a song to her beloved (and dumb) husband

'Cell Block Tango': wonderfully edited and masterfully performed, the women in prison explain to Roxie how they ended there

'Roxie (The Name on Everybody's Lips)'; Roxie's biggest number

'I can't do it alone': desperate to get out of prison and forgotten by everyone, Velma tries to join forces with Roxie, who's now a rising star

'We both reached for the gun' or how to manipulate press to make them think what you want while waiting for the final trial. Zellweger and Gere's compenetration is incredible

Mr. Cellophane: meanwhile, in the shadows, Roxie's husband starts to see how invisible he is...

After winning the trial but losing the fame she wanted so desperately, Roxie becomes a nobody again...

...Until Velma convinces her to team up. Because, as she says, 'there's only one business where that [hating each other] is not a problem at all...'

All in all, 'Chicago' is a wonderful film. A must-see work of art for the musical lovers, the performance of a lifetime for Zeta-Jones and Zellweger (which will surely not be repeted) and one of my all-time favorite movies, one that reminds us of the fact that we must get what we want... at any price? Well, meanwhile we can always wait and just try to move on:

'I move on' (starting at 1:15): featured in the credits, 'Chicago''s final number closes the movie while showing us how, no matter what, Velma and Roxie will continue to struggle to get their beloved fame... even if they have to commit murder in the meantime.