The Worst Film Ever

From my favorite movies..

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

I so enjoyed seeing Chicago 14-15 (?) years back and I watched it again this morning. What I took away from the silver screen long ago and what repeated itself on the flat-screen this morning was how achingly beautiful Renée Zellweger was in the film.Catherine Zeta-Jones was certainly lovely but Zellweger - oh, my - had those long and lovely legs and those slender yet toned arms. For me, this was the finest performance of her career. Genuine proof of her abilities to act, sing and dance - a rare combination these days.Ah! I'll keep these images in my mind for a while, now. Just recalling her many talents on display in Chicago.

I watch too many musicals for my own good.. Moving on:This is honestly one of the most entertaining movies I've ever seen. The songs are memorable and each of them unique in its own way. Sure, you can't sympathize with any of the characters apart from Amos, but the point of this movie isn't about rooting for a hero. It brings forward the ugly reality and deceit of show business: nothing is what it seems. The only way to truly enjoy it is through suspension of disbelief and just watching it for pure entertainment, not awaiting any moral lessons (there are none).All of the acting was brilliant, even the minor characters. Richard Gere as usual is snubbed by the Academy Awards, but I thought he really delivered in his role as the corrupt yet charming lawyer. Catherine Zeta Jones is beyond incredible, but I wouldn't say she stole the show because really everyone shined in their respective roles.By the way, this movie made me want to seriously consider taking dancing lessons. To call my dancing horrifying is an understatement. It's more like that bug that you know is harmless, but it's so unpleasant to look at that you just can't help but feel you want to kill it. Overall, a very exciting and intriguing film. Just don't take it too seriously. :)

This 6 time academy award winning musical including best picture truly is a spectacle. The dazzling costumes, the bright lights, the spectacular musical numbers! No one will ever be able to say that this movie adaptation of the hit Broadway play doesn't deliver on all of those things. Catherine Zeta Jones, Renee Zellweger, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah, and John C. Reilly all give it their all with their performances here, especially Renee, she really blew me away here. The singing and musical numbers are fabulous and dazzling in every way, and the choreography is magnificent, it'll make you question how in the hell the actors learned to do all that. The plot is interesting enough to keep the audiences attention, especially fans of the Broadway play. Everything here is done so well, like a perfectly choreographed dance routine. Everyone really gives it their all, both on and off the screen, that is painfully obvious from watching. Films like this is why I adore cinema, when they get it so right like they do here, it just reminds you why the arts are such a treasure. I encourage everyone to watch this dazzling musical, it is hands down my favorite musical of all time!

I wonder if people in 2002 and since have been starved for good musicals. Or could it be just lots of glitter and scintillating sexual innuendo tossed here and there? I first saw "Chicago" on the big screen when it came out years ago. I very much enjoy musicals, and have collected many of the best from decades past on DVD. In watching this movie again recently, I have to reaffirm my first sense of the film. It's wrapped in a very glamorous and glittery package. But the screenplay is crude, much of the dialog is crass, and the talent – well, these are not highly talented singers and dancers. Yes, they have a couple of interesting numbers and dance routines. One can see some natural agility in Catherine Zeta-Jones. But otherwise, this movie just is not that good. How Miramax poured the money into the glitz for this film, and how it promoted it to the hilt! It won six academy awards with several more nominations in a year of almost no competition. This movie is a combination revue and musical play. Where the original play, and the 1942 film, were comedies made as satires, I can see why the author, Maurine Watkins, was reluctant to sell the movie rights for a musical. After her death, her estate did sell the rights to Bob Fosse, Gwen Verdon and Richard Fryer. They wrote a musical score with numbers as individual vaudeville pieces. The 1975 musical play retains the satire of the Chicago corruption of the time – it is evident in the script and the performances. But the 2002 musical movie has numerous changes in the story and from the stage musical. And, it moves the musical performances to the fore, with all the glitter and sexploitation. This should have been a highly talented performance of musical and dance numbers with a story of biting satire. Instead, it's a so-so musical with so-so talented singers and dancers in an elaborate glitzy setting. Any remaining satire comes almost as a whimsical afterthought of that little old corruption in Chicago that really wasn't so bad. Take out the crassness in the dialog, cut down the glitz, put in some better voices and dancers, and work the numbers for the satire and this could be a memorable production.