Holy cow! Some people just have huge amounts of talents and looks. The movie was amazing…I’d say almost flawless from casting to performance.
Withing the first 5 minutes I was wanting to buy the soundtrack and DVD…
And this review is from the stereo typical gen X southern, beer drinking, camero driving, guitar slinging rock and roll wannabee, male.
BTW, I didn’t see any other Chicago threads in the search.
Add “misspelling” to that list.
I’m dying to see this - I love musicals. I did see the play a year or two ago when a touring company did it - on first impression I wasn’t too impressed, but I bought the soundtrack CD. Slowly I came to love the music - so I’d like to see how they bring it to life onscreen. What makes it even more exciting to me is the fact that they have Catherine Zeta-Jones starring - I think she is just incredibly glamorous - and the still photos remind me of Cyd Charisse in Singin’ in the Rain.
Don’t know when I’ll go to see it - but I definitely want to see it!
Susan
>>>What makes it even more exciting to me is the fact that they have Catherine Zeta-Jones starring - I think she is just incredibly glamorous -
Not only is she insanely beautiful…she’s an amazing singer and dancer.
Looking forward to seeing it. I know when they originally announced the cast, I - like many others, thought the producers and casting director were all on crack.
However, if the film is half as good as the reviews, it sounds like I will be buying a copy of the DVD myself. I intend to see it on the big screen as soon as it hits my local casino multiplex.
I’m looking forward to seeing it as well. The only draw back for me is Richard Gere.
How would we know that she (CZJ) is an amazing dancer? There is no bit of dancing that goes for more than a second or two without an edit.
I was thoroughly underwhelmed (and grow more so the more I think on it).
There’s this one: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=153296
I liked the film much more than I thought I would. Although I don’t personally know anybody who loved the musical who didn’t like the film, I can understand where the problems with it might lie. Someone said to me, “I thought the stage show was supposed to be all about the dancing,” and this was her complaint regarding the film, that there were so many edits you didn’t get a good long look at Catherine Zeta-Jones shaking her ass or whatever.
I have never seen the stage musical, so I can’t compare, but the film is most definitely all about dancing. The thing is, though, that the actors are secondary to the film, I think. The editing is the dancing in many ways, and it’s sharp, rhythmic, and clever. I’ve never had much use for modern movie musicals, and I was just enthralled with this for that reason. It makes much more sense than what I’ve seen from Moulin Rouge.
I run the theater in town that’s playing the film, so I’ve had the dubious advantage of seeing and hearing the film dozens of times so far. I have a theory about the film, and I’d like to know if it washes at all with the stage play, if anybody’d care to comment. Roxie says near the beginning to Fred Casely that her act’s gimmick would be “aloof…always leave 'em wanting more.” I think the film is definitely from her perspective, with the fantasy numbers springing from her mind (this theory might not work with the later numbers–especially Mr. Cellophane). So…I kind of get the idea that this is what the director (and choreographer) was giving us: the tantalizing flirt of Catherine Zeta-Jones on a piano top that makes us want more. I can see how it’d be disappointing to those who want a straight shot of un-edited dancing. I mean, that’s why I like Fred Astaire films. The filmmakers seem to want to present a truly musical film rather than a filmed musical.
Anyway, that’s just my working theory. When I listen to and pop in on the film 100 or so more times, I’ll probably understand it better.
Oh, and I still don’t like Richard Gere. My boss tells me that I’m not supposed to like him, and I’m letting the character’s unpleasantness affect how I feel about the actor, but…I dunno, the man just has no ability of expression in the top half of his face.
You are correct Lard2000. The film is totally from Roxies point of view and the ‘production dance numbers’ are supposed to be in her mind. (Maybe not the last one) It’s not this way in the current stage musical at all.
But usually when editing is that heavy it may be because an actor can’t dance. You don’t really know if CZJ or anyone else can really dance because of trhe editing.
I, too was bothered by the inclusion of Mr. Cellophane. (no disrespect to Mr. Reilly) But there is no way Roxie would be imagining this number in her mind.
>>>You don’t really know if CZJ or anyone else can really dance because of trhe editing.
Actually, CZJ got her start at 15 (I think) on the British equivalent of Broadway and was dancing and singing way before she had her first movie role. I also saw a behind the scenes show and Jones, the squinty eyed girl, and Gere all had dance and singing lessons for 8 hours a day for weeks before they started shooting.
I saw the show on Broadway last february and the film is slanted a little more from Roxy’s point of view…but I don’t think it really takes away from the whole point. And I don’t care how much editing you do…you couldn’t make me look that good!
BTW, I like Gere…
I forgot to add one thing…I think I’m glad they edited it like they did. I might feel different if I hadn’t scene the stage production, but I really liked the close ups of the hip shakes. Maybe it’s the pervert in me but it was really stylistic. The Mis-en-scene was what made it…it wouldn’t have worked if it were straight close-ups.
I’ve seen Chicago on stage twice - the revival version choreographed by Anne Reinking, though, not the original Bob Fosse version and went to the move with some misgivings. Catherine Zeta-Jones is stage-trained, so I wasn’t worried about her, but I had my doubts about Renee Zellweger and Richard Gere.
Without half the presence or energy of CZJ, RZ did still manage to do a good job. The contrast between the staged, energetic performance of Velma and the somewhat less practiced, timid performance of Roxie was character appropriate.
Richard Gere on the other hand was woefully miscast. The singing was terrible, and although Billy isn’t really a dancing part even in the musical, RG just didn’t have the chops for it. Plus, there was the matter of the amazing appearing/disappearing accent to contend with. Then there was the magic smirk that he couldn’t seem to keep off his face.
As for the editing, I really liked it. Normally I’d find that many cuts just annoying as hell, but in this I really liked it. It worked brilliantly with the performances. It also helped provide a bit of that ‘there’s so much going on I can’t concentrate on everything at once’ feeling that you get when watching a Broadway show. The editing really becomes part of the choreography of the dance scenes.
Although I don’t know why Mr. Cellophane was left in, I’m so very glad it was. I go into the theater pretty much every time that song comes on, because John C. Reilly is so good in it. Unfortunately, about a third of the audience usually picks this time to use the bathroom. They don’t know what they’re missing.
My boss told me that she found out the people in casting originally wanted John Travolta for the Gere role. Whether it’s a true rumor or not, it makes for interesting speculation. I like Travolta about as much as I like Gere, but with a lot of consideration about it, he probably would have made a better choice, had he done it.
I’ve ended up thinking about this movie waaaay too much. We only have one screen and so between shows is the downtime when we get to listen to it through the doors. Now, if I could only get those damn songs to stop haunting me in my sleep.
DMark, DMark! They’re finally playing it in town! The Orleans and the Village Square (out at Sahara and Fort Apache).
I am so there this weekend. Woo! And “local casino multiplex”, so true.
“Give 'em the old razzle-dazzle, razzle-dazzle 'em…”
Thank you bristlesage!
And I like the theaters at The Orleans so looks like I don’t have to wait afterall!.