Chicago (2002)
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87% of critics liked it
(217 reviews) -
80% of users liked it
(409,805 ratings)
A starry-eyed would-be star discovers just how far the notion that "there's no such thing as bad publicity" can go in this screen adaptation of the hit Broadway musical Chicago, originally directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse. In the mid-'20s, Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger) is a… More A starry-eyed would-be star discovers just how far the notion that "there's no such thing as bad publicity" can go in this screen adaptation of the hit Broadway musical Chicago, originally directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse. In the mid-'20s, Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger) is a small-time chorus dancer married to a well-meaning dunderhead named Amos (John C. Reilly). Roxie is having an affair on the side with Fred Casley (Dominic West), a smooth talker who insists he can make her a star. However, Fred strings Roxie along a bit too far for his own good, and when she realizes that his promises are empty, she becomes enraged and murders Fred in cold blood. Roxie soon finds herself behind bars alongside Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones), a sexy vaudeville star who used to perform with her sister until Velma discovered that her sister had been sleeping with her husband. Velma shot them both dead, and, after scheming prison matron "Mama" Morton hooks Velma up with hotshot lawyer Billy Flynn (Richard Gere), Velma becomes the new Queen of the scandal sheets. Roxie is just shrewd enough to realize that her poor fortune could also bring her fame, so she convinces Amos to also hire Flynn. Soon Flynn is splashing Roxie's story -- or, more accurately, a highly melodramatic revision of Roxie's story -- all over the gutter press, and Roxy and Velma are soon battling neck-to-neck over who can win greater fame through the headlines. A project that had been moving from studio to studio since the musical opened on Broadway in 1973, Chicago also features guest appearances by Lucy Liu and Christine Baranski. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Rob Marshall
- Written By
- Bill Condon
- Genres
- Drama, Musical & Performing Arts, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Dec 27, 2002 Wide
- Studio
- Miramax Films
Critic Reviews
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Stanley Kauffmann, The New Republic
The net effect of the incessant dazzle is depressing.
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Peter Rainer, New York Magazine
The song-and-dance numbers are calisthenic but unspectacular, with too much fast cutting, and the tone throughout is harmlessly facetious.
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Anthony Lane, New Yorker
The film has punch, but it never really conveys the delicious, redeeming sense that life can be lived on the hoof.
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Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine
Chicago has so much razzle-dazzle that viewers may end up both raised and dazed. It's remorselessly inventive, trying anything fast and sassy to keep you watching.
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
This Oscar-laden movie rendition, directed by Rob Marshall, suffers from the kind of ants-in-your-pants MTV editing that prevents you from simply watching and enjoying the musical numbers.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Catherine Zeta-Jones
as Velma Kelly
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Renée Zellweger
as Roxie Hart
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Richard Gere
as Billy Flynn
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Queen Latifah
as Matron Mama Morton
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John C. Reilly
as Amos Hart
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Christine Baranski
as Mary Sunshine
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Lucy Liu
as Go-to-Hell-Kitty
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Taye Diggs
as Bandleader
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Colm Feore
as Assistant District Attorney Martin Harri...
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Dominic West
as Fred Casely
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Jayne Eastwood
as Mrs. Borusewicz
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Roman Podhora
as Sergeant Fogarty
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Rob Smith
as Newspaper photographer
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Ken Ard
as Wilbur
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Denise Faye
as Annie
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Robbie Rox
as Prison guard
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Cliff Saunders
as Stage manager
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Bruce Beaton
as Police photographer
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Sean Wayne Doyle
as Reporter
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Steve Behal
as Prison Clerk
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Susan Misner
as Liz
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Mya Harrison
as Mona
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Joey Pizzi
as Bernie
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Ekaterina Chtchelkanova
as Katalin Hunyak
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Deidre Goodwin
as June
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Scott Wise
as Ezekial Young
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Marc Calamia
as Hunyak's husband



