Movie Review: Chicago

Chicago (2002) is a dramatic musical set in the heart of Chicago's golden age of Jazz. Director Rob Marshal summunded a terrific cast to present the somewhat cationary tale of show business and the kinks in the American judicial system. The film includes many memorable scenes and dance numbers metaphorically illustrating various problems Chicago's characters encounter.
The movie begins with the two main characters in the same scene, but they have yet to meet each other. Roxie Hart (Renee Zelwigger) is a typical housewife but dreams of a life of fame on broadway. Hart idolizes the infamous show girl, Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta Jones), who seems to have it all. This style of contrasting juxtaposition is used throughout the film to add to the character of the plot. Later the press takes a liking to the incarcerated Hart and we see these roles reversed as Kelly (also in residing in jail) becomes the one begging for the spotlight.
One scene in the movie introduces us to a handfull of female prisoners that have all murdered a husband of theirs. The dance routine combined with the cinematography of Dion Beebe made for an outstanding performance, but unfortunately took away from the story itself Aside from this scene, all the songs in Chicago directly relate to the main characters and their reactions to events in the plot.This particular scene lacked these qualities and only established what was already known.
I especially liked the scene in which the courtroom turned into a literal circus. Lawyer Billy Flyn (Richard Gere) understands that you have to make a big show to woo the "audience" (jury). Flyn also realizes the importance of the media as an instrument to win the hearts of the public, and thus, the judge and jury. Also featuring Flyn was a great scene in which he became a puppetier of the media while controlling a Roxie Hart "dummy" on his lap. This accurately demonstrated how an expensive lawyer can manipulate the workings of the system.
All in all, Chicago was a very well made musical. I was expecting a more dissappointing experience, as I typically do not like the musical genre. The film was visually entertaining and was topped off by the social comentary, which was right on the money, if you catch my drift.