Musicals seem to be the order of the day in Hollywood. Prior to last year was Moulin Rouge and now this year the maximum number of nominations have been bagged by yet another musical, Chicago. Out of the 13 nominations, it rightfully won 6 including the best supporting actress and best editing to name a few.
The story of the film is based in the 1920s and revolves around a lawyer and two convicts. Catherine Zeta Jones is a performer who kills her husband and sister on discovering that the two are having an affair. Renee Zellwegger who wants to be a performer like her also ends up committing a murder before she can become a star. Both of them share the same lawyer, Richard Gere.
The protagonist of the film Renee breaks into a song-and-dance routine at every instance. She has a song for every situation, every emotion she feels. The first to impress however is the prison sequence which narrates the story of the women who are paying time for the crimes committed. The song builds up slowly and leads to an awesome climax.
The story plays with the idea of media playing a vital role in the trials of the convicts. Richard Gere’s strategy is to create sympathy for his clients and in turn be in news himself. Before he can get a date for a trial for Catherine Zeta Jones he moves on to his next client Renee. And before he can fight her case there is another client Lucy Lui playing on his mind.
But Renee makes it a point to play smart herself and stay in news. After all her dream is to be a star – one way or the other. She fakes a pregnancy to evoke more sympathy for herself. But to fight the case in court she still needs Richard Gere and after a brief fight makes up with him.
Needless to say she gets scott free after her trial. But fails to be a star cause the media has moved on to another case and another victim / criminal.
Two is always better than one and so Catherine and Renee get together for an act and move back in business leaving aside their personal differences that are a highlight throughout the film.
The performances by all actors make the characters more believable. Especially Catherine Zeta Jones who not only performs well but also dances like a dream while on the other hand Renee looks a little too thin to look seductive. Richard Gere delivers an honest performance and shines like a star in his tap dance number which is brilliantly executed vis-à-vis his closing argument in the court.
Some songs take away from the narrative at times but then they are cinematically shot so well and choreographed so well that you can’t take give rest to your eyes even for a moment. It is the musical part of the film that carries it through all out. Definitely a must-watch. Unless like the Germans one would want to ban American films in protest of the unjust war being waged by the US of A.