Chicago (2002)
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Two rival murderesses in 1920s Chicago fight for fame and survival while navigating a corrupt legal system.
The story
In 1924 Chicago, vaudeville star Velma Kelly and housewife Roxie Hart find themselves imprisoned together in the Cook County Jail. Both women are facing trial for murder and are desperate to maintain their public standing. As they navigate the 'Murderess' Row's' corrupt environment, they must contend with the media and a duplicitous lawyer, Billy Flynn. Roxie and Velma become rivals in a high-stakes game of public relations, where the goal is to transform their criminal acts into a spectacle of fame to avoid the gallows. The film explores their desperate maneuvers to win the public's sympathy and stay in the spotlight during the Jazz Age.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1924, vaudeville star Velma Kelly is arrested for the murder of her husband and sister. Shortly after, housewife Roxie Hart is arrested for the murder of her lover, Fred Casely. Both women are held in the Cook County Jail, where they are managed by the corrupt Matron 'Mama' Morton. Roxie's lawyer, the greedy Billy Flynn, works to turn her into a media sensation by crafting a narrative of a victimized woman. When a wealthy heiress, Kitty Baxter, is also arrested, the media focus shifts, leading Roxie to claim a fake pregnancy to regain attention. Flynn eventually helps Roxie win her case by manipulating evidence and the press, leading to her acquittal. However, the victory is short-lived as she loses her fame to another woman's crime. Ultimately, Roxie and Velma, despite their mutual dislike, decide to join forces and perform together as a vaudeville double act, finding a new form of fame in their shared notoriety.
- First release year
- 2002
- Runtime (minutes)
- 113
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Rob Marshall
- Writers
- Bill Condon · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Renée Zellweger · Roxie Hart; Catherine Zeta-Jones · Velma Kelly; Richard Gere · Billy Flynn; Queen Latifah · Matron "Mama" Morton; John C. Reilly · Amos Hart; Lucy Liu · Kitty Baxter; Colm Feore · Martin Harrison
- Genres
- musical; black comedy; crime; comedy-drama
- Themes
- celebrity; scandal; corruption
- Tone and mood
- black comedy; theatrical
- Premise and plot tags
- musical; crime; lawyers; women in prison
- Source material / true-story basis
- 1975 stage musical (based on a 1926 play)
- Reception
- The film received critical acclaim, particularly for the cast's performances, and was noted for its successful use of parallel montage and its role in reviving the musical film genre.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 81 · scale: 100 · review count: 39
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Picture · 2003 · win; Academy Award · Best Supporting Actress · 2003 · win; Golden Globe Award · Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical · 2003 · win; Golden Globe Award · Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy · 2003 · win; British Academy Film Award · Best Actress in a Supporting Role · 2003 · win; Critics' Choice Movie Award · Best Supporting Actress · 2003 · win
- Production trivia
- The film was the first musical to win Best Picture since 1968.; The Japanese rock band Buck-Tick named their 2010 album Razzle Dazzle after a song from the film.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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