Chicago In Director, Rob Marshalls Chicago, were given the life of Roxie Hart, our protagonist.

Roxie is an aspiring singer, who is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve her goal. However, all things go seemingly askew when she murders her lover after learning he has a family. Shes then sent to a womens jail where she meets her antagonist, Velma Kelly and a series of other characters. Even while in jail, when it would seem her life is coming to an end, Roxie uses ingenuity and callousness to find her way out of jail and to show business. Chicagos theme teaches us all, that one doesnt have to be honest or a good person to make it to the top. One can be a liar, a cheat, an adulterous, yet still come out shining. Chicago teaches us this lesson in giving us the human condition of imperfection. The characters with the most to win and lose are truly the most imperfect people. This musical appealed to me with this universal appeal. It teaches us that we can be flawed, yet still achieve our dreams. It was different from most films I saw, in this lesson. It was believable, in spite of the fact that half the play was in Roxies head. Roxies land of dance and related stories was one of glitz and glamour, yet because this was understood, the musical was made believable. Another lesson I learned was through Velma and Roxies relationship. Neither Roxie, nor Velma can stand the other and a lot of the movie is spent with them hating one another. However, they both have one thing in common and its their desire for freedom and fame. Both women want their day in court to achieve their freedom. Roxie manages to get her day in court by pretending shes pregnant and Velma, true to form, finds her way there by hurting Roxie. The true conflict of Chicago is whether Roxie will be proclaimed innocent or guilty. Velma almost tips the scale to guilty when she shows up in court with incriminating evidence. Chicagos theme of unequal justice, presents itself, at the climax-- the verdict, when Roxie is proclaimed innocent.

All of the before mentioned of Chicago, or course takes place in wintery Chicago. This film takes place in the mid 1920s. The majority of this musical takes place in cabarets/clubs, jail, a courtroom, and were given glimpses into homes. At the beginning of the film were taken between Roxies home and the club she met her lover. Were taken through the progression of her affair and her lovers murder, to the womens penitentiary. The womens penitentiary is the half scale of our mise en scene. The other side to this scene would be the side acts we view mostly through Roxies mind, and a few by other characters. These performances, Funny Honey, When Youre Good to Mama, Cell Block Tango, All I Care About, Mister Cellophane, and others, give us an overall view in the minds of each character. The audience is made to feel the emotions these characters portray. For example, Billy Flynns main motivation in life is his greed. This is demonstrated with his seeming innocence as a good guy, in All I Care About. He pretends to be honest, caring, and unassuming, but really, all Billy cares about is money. Each character tells us truthfully exactly who they are, what they want, and what theyre feeling. All of this is captured by the lights and appropriate music selections for each. The various light and color choices for each give an insight into mood. Mama Mortons, When Youre Good to Mama is full of bright and low lights, along with a bunch or red, to give one an idea of her sensuality and machinations. Each of these scenes was believable in their portrayals, because each was true to form for the character it was tailored for. Roxie Hart is played by Rene Zellweger. Rene was truly perfect for the role of Roxie, because outwardly she didnt fit the mold of typical show business beauty. She was too skinny, which was noted by her lover at the beginning of the movie. In her atypical appearance, she was perfect. The accent she took on was believable of her characters rank in society. Roxie Hart wasnt ignorant and she wasnt educated either. She was in between. Renes skill in dance and

song were good enough and honest enough for a character that had no professional experience as either. In a scale of 1-5, I consider Renee Zellwegers performance to be a 5. Velma Kelly was played by Catherine Zeta Jones. Catherins believability was spot on. I believed her mannerisms to be ideal for a character of Velmas flawed nature. She had the right amount of insouciance, arrogance, and pragmatism to be believable. Her physical appearance was appropriate for a singer and dancer of the 1920s. Catherines physical body was voluptuous enough to be right for her role. Id rank her at a 5. Richard Gere played Billy Flynn, an amoral character, whose only appeal was his good looks. Otherwise, there was nothing good about it him. Mr. Gere did well in his portrayal. I considered his musical ability to be impressive, in that he not only sang, but he did so with an accent. Thats pretty amazing. I also had no idea Richard could tap, so that was an added treat, which he mastered. In total, Richard Gere was Billy Flynn. I rank him at a 5. Amos Hart was played by John C. Reilly. Mr. Reilly was a believable sad fool. His physical appearance was soft and unassuming, ideal for a nobody, like Amos Hart. His lovability was there and at many times I felt bad for the poor guy. Mr. Reillys ability to make Amos forgettable was perfect, in that it was exactly what Amos was, forgettable. I rank Mr. Reilly a 5. Queen Latifahs portrayal of Mama Morton was repulsive at times, which Mama Morton was. So, in essence, she did a terrific job. Her physical attributes were ideal for a woman with a powerful position. I rank her a 4, mostly because she disgusted me. She did this in her overt sexuality and desire for favors for everything she gave. While there were many characters, Id say the last and most memorable was Miss Sunshine, played by Christine Baranski. Christine was a gullibly corrupt figurehead. Her pen was powerful, because whatever she said people believed. The downside to this was that Christine

believed or chose to believe whatever story was spun to her. This was a good portrayal of the average journalist of the 1920s. I rank her a decent 4. In summation, I believe Chicago to be an outstanding film. Initially I had judged it as another musical and had never seen it, until I did in class. I regret not having seen it sooner. The singing, the actors, the different scenes, all roll into a great performance. The actors and the sets make each other. I know that Mister Cellophane wouldnt have been as memorable had John C. Reilly been wearing a pristine suit, was off stage, and without a spot light. I was truly moved by this movie, especially the Hungarian Ballerinas final act. It was raw and sad in its truth. Too often people are out to degrade one another or eviscerate them. It was honest and downright sad, because the woman had to die. It also brought out Chicago reoccurring theme that you dont have to be a good person to make it to the top. It also brought out an additionally related theme that the good people always lose. Amos and the Hungarian ballerina lost, because they were without power, money, and were overall good people--innocent people. It was emotional in parts and when the end of the movie came I felt wry admiration for Roxie and Velmas gumption. They achieved their goals freedom and fame, by finding their way on stage before a packed house. I loved this musical so much, that I bought the film. I intend to see a live performance someday; it touched me that much.