Music at the Movies - 12/8

[lora]

Like I said in today's album review, the two go hand-in-hand. I wasn't going to review "Chicago" yet, but since my album review just happened to fall on the same day as my feature this time, I figured it was as good a time as any.

Chicago (2002)

Directed By: Rob Marshall
Screenplay By: Bill Condon
Produced By: Martin Richards
Original Music By: John Kander and Fred Ebb
Cinematography By: Dion Beebe and James Chressanthis

Starring:
Velma Kelly...Catherine Zeta-Jones
Roxie Hart...Renée Zellweger
Billy Flynn...Richard Gere
Matron Mama Morton...Queen Latifah
Amos Hart...John C. Reilly
The Bandleader...Taye Diggs
Mary Sunshine...Christine Baranski

Synopsis:
Cheating starlet-wannabe Roxie Hart goes one step too far when the furniture salesman she's been having an affair with ends up dead after she found out he didn't have any of the show biz connections he claimed to have. Roxie gets carted off to prison for murder, where she meets her idol, songstress Velma Kelly - imprisoned for committing a double murder just months before. What ensues is a perfect example of the crazy world of celebrity and how entertainers get away with everything while their public still loves them unconditionally.

My Comments:
Thank God for Chicago is all I have to say! Before this movie came out, I thought the musical had died. But no! It came back full force with this satirical, sultry motion picture - one of the best ever made, IMO. I just absolutely fell in love with it. I saw it in the theater four times, and I'm telling you - watching it on TV just doesn't compare! Seeing Chicago on the big screen was one of the great entertainment-related moments of my life, especially the first viewing. It just blew me away...

[athompsen]

I liked the movie too. I wonder what the movie would have been like without all the star power. Could a Broadway cast been put in and do just as good, if not better a job? On the other hand, I think Catherine Zeta Jones stole the entire show. She blew everyone else in the movie away.

[lora]

athompsen said:

I liked the movie too. I wonder what the movie would have been like without all the star power. Could a Broadway cast been put in and do just as good, if not better a job? On the other hand, I think Catherine Zeta Jones stole the entire show. She blew everyone else in the movie away.

I think some of the people from the Broadway revival (maybe not the most recent one, but 1996) could have done a great job. Bebe Neuwirth would have been outstanding, but Catherine Zeta-Jones really did steal the show. I agree completely. That's one of the most deserving Oscar-winning roles that I've seen in a long time.

[SAT-I need more room!!]

You know, I never told you, but I think this is a cool regular feature!

Sounds like a good cast, except Queen Latifah??

I'm not big on musicals, but this doesn't sound all that bad! Nice review, too.

But the musical wasn't dead-Moulin Rouge anyone?

[lora]

SAT-Sissy's said:

You know, I never told you, but I think this is a cool regular feature!

Sounds like a good cast, except Queen Latifah??

I'm not big on musicals, but this doesn't sound all that bad! Nice review, too.

But the musical wasn't dead-Moulin Rouge anyone?

Queen Latifah was awesome. Don't knock the Queen!

Moulin Rouge sucked so bad! It was one of the most vulgar, distasteful, rotten movies I've ever seen. I could only stand to watch ten minutes of it, it was so bad!

Thanks for the compliment about my feature. I really enjoy doing it.

[athompsen]

Lora said:

Queen Latifah was awesome. Don't knock the Queen!

Moulin Rouge sucked so bad! It was one of the most vulgar, distasteful, rotten movies I've ever seen. I could only stand to watch ten minutes of it, it was so bad!

Thanks for the compliment about my feature. I really enjoy doing it.

Yes! Moulin Rouge was such a disappointment to me. I don't undestand why it got all the praise it did. Perhaps because it was one of the first musical comebacks. The only bright spot in the movie was Ewan McGregor, but he couldn't save this film. If you have to watch Moulin Rouge, watch it with the TV on mute!

And the "Lady Marmelade" video is the most frightening video I've ever seen.

[lora]

athompsen said:

Yes! Moulin Rouge was such a disappointment to me. I don't undestand why it got all the praise it did. Perhaps because it was one of the first musical comebacks. The only bright spot in the movie was Ewan McGregor, but he couldn't save this film. If you have to watch Moulin Rouge, watch it with the TV on mute!

And the "Lady Marmelade" video is the most frightening video I've ever seen.

That video is quite frightening, but I do like the song.

[KittyKat - RIP Luciano]

I was so worried about this movie before it came out. It had passed through so many hands before landing with Rob Marshall et al that I went into the theatre on the day it opened with very low expectations.
Boy was I wrong! It was amazing. Everyone did such a spectacular job, especially Catherine and Latifah.

I saw it in the theatre 3 times and ran straight to Tower Records after the first time to get the soundtrack. I already owned a soundtrack from the original Broadway cast but the movie version was a nice addition.

[lora]

KittyKat said:

I was so worried about this movie before it came out. It had passed through so many hands before landing with Rob Marshall et al that I went into the theatre on the day it opened with very low expectations.
Boy was I wrong! It was amazing. Everyone did such a spectacular job, especially Catherine and Latifah.

I saw it in the theatre 3 times and ran straight to Tower Records after the first time to get the soundtrack. I already owned a soundtrack from the original Broadway cast but the movie version was a nice addition.

I saw it in the theater four times. I almost had to stop at three, because I saw it out of town three times and when our local theater got it they only had it for a week. But I made the time to go see it again. I couldn't live with myself if I let Titanic remain as the movie I'd seen the most times in the theater. (It's now tied with Chicago.)