Chicago (2002)

Synopsis of Chicago

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

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Theatrical Feature Running Time:

113 mins

Director(s):

Rob Marshall

Writer(s):

Bill Condon

Producer(s):

James Cresson, Robert Fryer, Martin Richards

Theatrical MPAA Rating:

PG13(Mild Violence, Sexual Situations, Questionable for Children, Adult Situations, Adult Language)

Categories:

Music & Performing Arts

• 2002 - American Film Institute - Top Ten Movie of the Year
• 2003 - Broadcast Film Critics Association - Best Ensemble Acting
• 2003 - Broadcast Film Critics Association - Best Supporting Actress
• 2003 - Broadcast Film Critics Association - Best Picture
• 2002 - Directors Guild of America - Best Director
• 2002 - Golden Globe - Best Picture - Musical or Comedy
• 2002 - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
• 2002 - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
• 2002 - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Picture - Musical or Comedy
• 2002 - National Board of Review - Best Directorial Debut
• 2002 - Screen Actors Guild - Best Actress
• 2002 - Screen Actors Guild - Best Supporting Actress

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