April 08, 2003
Chicago (2002)
[4 - Good]
Let's be clear about this: I do NOT like musicals. Musicals for me fall into three categories: Tolerably bad, really bad, and audio-visual punishment. There are a couple of movies that can be treated as exceptions, notably Moulin Rouge and The Blues Brothers (face it folks, The Blues Brothers IS a musical). Now I have a new shinning gem to add to the list of proof that not all musicals are bad, and in this case Chicago (2002) is actually really rather quite excellent.
I saw the stage musical that this movie is based on under protest while visiting Las Vegas with my mother back in '99. At the time I remember not really being wowed but having a very good time and walking away with some good tunes in my head. Seeing the work again, this time on the big screen under the direction of Rob Marshall was an absolute treat.
When I realized that both Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renée Zellweger had gone up for the part of Satie in Moulin Rouge I was quite encouraged to see them in Chicago, not because I assumed either could sing or dance, but because this promised that they both had a desire to do a musical (and an unusual one at that) and it is that passion and desire that is most important for a movie like this to work. I did not think that either was outstanding as a dancer or a singer, but they did perform quite well. What is more important, they each brought a spark to their characters that made them come alive. Richard Gere too did justice by his role as the selfish and conniving lawyer trying to make a few thousand bucks and as much publicity defending the two accused killers.
The real stars of Chicago though are the writing, direction and choreography. Marshall kept the camera moving as it danced in each number in a way that could have been obnoxious and tiresome but worked quite well in this case. The story of lust, jealousy and murder is enthralling and well told through the music and the dance. The dance of the seven killers on death row was particularly well done. The moves throughout are sexy, alluring and always keep that air of danger that makes you feel the need to be weary as you lean in for more.
I highly recommend Chicago, specially as a date movie, to anyone. Even those of you who hate musicals.
Posted by Leopoldo at April 8, 2003 02:48 PM | TrackBackI too enjoyed Chicago (although I abhorred Moulin Rouge). I especially enjoyed Zeta-Jones' and Reily's performances. (Also, as one who appreciates a big woman in a corset, I enjoyed Latifah's performance as well ;-))
I don't think Lucy Liu belongs on the big screen, though. Hollywood needs to find a new token asian, one with star power, because I don't think Liu can hack it.
Don't be so down on musicals. There's good and bad just like every genre. Here's my favorites (in no particular order w/ comments):
1) Blues Brothers: The first SNL sketch turned movie rocked. Literally. There are some rough moments with Akroyd's acting, but overall it's wonderful. The cameos aren't forced, the music is great, the understated reaction to ludicrous events works. I love it more each time I see it. And I hate Illinois Nazis.
2) Grease: This movie is way fun. Travolta when he was skinny and had real attitude and energy. Channing is perfect and really adds depth. Her songs are some of the most meaningful. Great depiction of high schoolers starting with that first song. Plus, how many PG musicals can you hear lines like "the chicks will cream" and a car referred to as a "pussy wagon"?
3) Fiddler on the Roof: If I were a richman, I'd have a wife with a proper double-chin. See, even Topol would have liked Latifah in a corset! Great songs and stories with cultural, religious, and political significance.
4) Singing in the Rain: Gene Kelly kicks some serious ass with his moves. This movie will forever be contaminated by A Clockwork Orange (does that count as a musical? what about 2001?), but it's still great. An American in Paris probably has some better choreography overall, but I enjoy Rain more.
5) Holiday Inn: Sure, the Abe Lincoln sequence is clearly racist, but the movie still gave us White Christmas, a lot of laughs, and Fred Astaire doing some fun numbers like his 4th of July firecracker.
6) West Side Story: The only time I've ever enjoyed anything termed modern dance. A lot of it seems corny out of context, the whole snapping thing, but I think it works well. Moreno and Wood carry the movie, I think, but so does the music.
7) Annie: Sickeningly sappy songs that nonetheless make you want to whistle. Fun story with excellent comic performances all around. Carol Burnett is fabulous.
8) The Music Man: Nothing like a woman to turn a bad man good. Fun movie with a fun stories and enjoyable songs.
9) King and I: Yul Bryner carries this. There are also some great songs. But mainly it's about Yul's rule.
10) The Wizard of Oz: If ever a wonderful movie there was the Wiz is one because, because, because, because, because, because of the wonderful things Garland does. Just a great fantasy journey with great songs.
Honorable Mention: Sid and Nancy. I just don't think it's a musical.
Some popular musicals I can't really stand:
My Fair Lady: Old guy treats young hottie like guinea pig and she chooses him over some young guy who treats her like a queen because Higgins has "grown accustomed to her face". Whoa, what passion.
South Pacific: I'd like to wash that song right out of my head.
Moulin Rouge: Meaningless 2 hour music video with good cinematography. I prefer the MTV version. At least you get Christina Aguilera et al in their skivvies.
Oklahoma!: Much too corny (or should I say cahrny?). No performaces worth much.
Posted by: Nick on April 10, 2003 01:48 AMHey Nick, welcome back to the blog :-)
Lucy Liu: I totally agree with you. Hollywood has been desperate for a stock actress they can call whenever a script comes in with a part for [Sexy Asian]. They totally tried to market Tia Carrere (http://us.imdb.com/Name?Carrere,%20Tia) for the part (I actually believe that they were trying to set her up as a mega-star and get a music career started along with her acting career in Wayne's World (1992) (http://us.imdb.com/Details?0105793). Only detail they forgot is that Carrere's acting is about as flat as a marble table (and about as exciting). They tried getting Liu to be the next token girl after she dropped jaws in stick-figure theater.. er. I mean Ally McBeal (http://us.imdb.com/Details?0118254), but once again forgot that important detail of finding someone capable of more than two facial expressions. Don't get me wrong, I love seeing Liu appear in movies and loved her harsh playfulness in Charlie's Angels (http://us.imdb.com/Details?0160127).. But she seems to lack the latitude to become a star.
Blues Bothers: An awesome movie, and yes, even though many people deny it, it IS a musical! And yes, it is the musical aspect of the movie, as much as anything else, that makes it work.
Grease: Never saw it. I have been temped to a few times but my anti-musical prejudice has kept me away. I just put a hold on it at the library.
Fiddler on the Roof: It's been ages but I do remember enjoying this one.
Singing in the Rain: Another that has been ages since I saw it, but I do remember being very impressed. Unfortunately the library does not have this one in stock. [And no, 'A Clockwork Orange is NOT a musical!]
Holiday Inn: No idea what this movie is. If it gave us White Christmas I probably don't want to know, I hate that song.
West Side Story: Liked it when I was a kid, I think I would hate it today. As a side note: This guy goes into East Harlem screaming 'MARIA!' and only ONE girl pops her head out the window?! Talk about suspension of disbelief!
Annie: I think you would have to drug me and time me down to the theater seat to get me to sit through this one.
The Music Man: Don't know it, hope I won't have to either.
The King and I: Saw it once.. that was enough.
Wizard of Oz: The movie was good enough to get me to overlook the musical aspects.
My fair Lady: Oddly enough this is one that I actually like. Sure the script is chauvinism in a bottle, but I enjoy the songs.
South Pacific: If I ever find the person responsible for getting 'I'm going to wash that man right out of my hair' stuck in my head for a week in high school I will shoot them out of principle.
Moulin Rouge!: I dig directors with a vision and style, I liked this one (review coming soon to geekroar.com)
Oklahoma!: When my high school theater class put this musical on suicide started to look a lot more appealing. Thank god I was only on the stage crew and could put on a walkman blaring Nine Inch Nails to drown out the mindless smiles and empty songs.
Posted by: Leopoldo on April 21, 2003 03:25 PMCan't deny: I like musicals. Deep down, I keep waiting for that climactic moment when everyone around me spontaneously breaks out into a song and dance number. ...No luck yet. Best I can hope for is singing with the luvva on long car rides.
Obviously there are a few that I'd just as soon not see... Oklahoma!, South Pacific. Still, I've got a curiosity for them, just because I'm into the medium.
So, my question to you, Leopoldo: What about "Cabaret" and "Hedwig & the Angry Inch"?
You know I was going to show them at the double-feature party I just canceled. I had serious thoughts about anti-musical sentiments when selecting them.
I picked them during the first week of the war, when I was wondering how depressed my frenz were gonna get. Yeah, Cabaret deals with the rise of Fascism -- but somehow the "divine decadence" felt like it could be antidote. ...I have this vague memory of you saying that it really disturbed you; but then, maybe that was just "Life is Beautiful".
I don't know if you've seen Hedwig -- it's just a frickn riot. Punk-rock transsexual hilarity. Plus, two gregarious german gals gettin' down? How often do you find a pairing like that? I mean, "freaky, frolicking frauleins"! Y'know?
Inspired.
Anyway...
Sven
Cabaret occupies this nebulous zone for me where I recognize it as a fine movie yet am inherently annoyed by it's musicalness. I have seen it before and will probably see it again... but id does bug me.
Hedwig I have been curious to see. Don't really think of it as a musical.
Posted by: Leopoldo on April 22, 2003 09:00 PMi would to lesten and looking this films please
Posted by: elghali on March 21, 2005 03:14 AMI like musicals a lot. My favorite one is Chicago, and trust me, I am the number one fan of it... I would do anything for it - that's how obsessed I am. I also like Gypsy, Singing In The Rain, Cabaret, A Chorus Line, etc etc etc... And I really like the new musical Wicked! :-)
Posted by: Tyler on August 7, 2005 11:00 AM
