“Chicago” (2002)

Chicago

Grade: B+

Adapting the famous 1970s Kander/Ebb/Fosse musical to the big screen (and winning Best Picture in the process, though it somewhat falls into the Oscar-bait category), Chicago provides impressive song-and-dance spectacle, thanks in large part to Renée Zellweger’s confident, committed performance. Every actor, really, does a solid job: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Queen Latifah and Richard Gere all make up a sexy, talented ensemble. In addition, long-time theatre director Rob Marshall runs a very professional, well-put-together production in his film debut. The snazzy tunes brim with razzle-dazzle, both visually and vocally.

Overall, Chicago is a good-looking recreation of Jazz Age decadence captured through a glamorous Broadway lens; tastefully risqué like Cabaret; a fun, all-American story about how tabloids are their own form of showbiz. Even if similar films of the era are more captivating and insightful — Moulin Rouge! as a better example of musical excess; The Aviator as a better Roaring Twenties drama — Chicago is still worth watching.