Chicago (2002 film)

Chicago (2002 film)
Name	Chicago
Caption	Theatrical release poster
Director	Rob Marshall
Producer	Martin Richards
Screenplay	Bill Condon
Based on	Chicago, book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, and the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins
Starring	Renée Zellweger Catherine Zeta-Jones Richard Gere Queen Latifah John C. Reilly Lucy Liu
Music	John Kander
Cinematography	Dion Beebe
Editing	Martin Walsh
Studio	The Producers Circle Zadan/Meron Productions
Distributor	Miramax Films
Released	2002, 12, 10, Ziegfeld Theatre, 2002, 12, 27, United States
Runtime	113 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$45 million
Gross	$306.8 million

Chicago (2002 film) is a Best Picture-winning American musical film directed by Rob Marshall in his feature directorial debut. The film is an adaptation of the Tony Award-winning 1975 Broadway musical Chicago, which was based on the 1926 play by Maurine Dallas Watkins. Set in Jazz Age Chicago, it stars Renée Zellweger as Roxie Hart, a housewife who murders her lover and, with the help of a cunning lawyer, manipulates the press and public to become a celebrity.

Plot

In 1920s Chicago, aspiring vaudevillian Roxie Hart murders her lover, Fred Casely, after he ends their affair. Her meek husband, Amos Hart, initially confesses but recants, leaving Roxie jailed in the Cook County Jail under the watch of the corrupt matron, Mama Morton. There, she meets her idol, famed Velma Kelly, a nightclub performer also charged with a double homicide. Roxie hires the city's slickest criminal defense lawyer, Billy Flynn, who orchestrates a media circus to paint her as a victim. Flynn manipulates the press, including reporter Mary Sunshine, and fabricates a story of self-defense, turning Roxie into a public sensation and overshadowing Velma. After a sensational trial where Flynn secures an acquittal, Roxie's fame quickly fades, leading her to form an uneasy partnership with Velma for a new vaudeville act.

Cast

* Renée Zellweger as Roxie Hart * Catherine Zeta-Jones as Velma Kelly * Richard Gere as Billy Flynn * Queen Latifah as Matron "Mama" Morton * John C. Reilly as Amos Hart * Lucy Liu as Kitty Baxter * Taye Diggs as the Bandleader * Colm Feore as Martin Harrison * Christine Baranski as Mary Sunshine * Dominic West as Fred Casely * Jayne Eastwood as Mrs. Borusewicz * Chita Rivera as Nickie

Production

The film rights to the musical were held for decades by producer Martin Richards, with numerous directors and stars attached over the years, including Goldie Hawn and Madonna. After the success of the 1998 Broadway revival, director Rob Marshall and screenwriter Bill Condon developed a cinematic approach that framed the musical numbers as figments of Roxie's imagination. Principal photography took place in Toronto, with key locations including the Winter Garden Theatre and Cinespace Film Studios. The production design by John Myhre aimed to evoke the gritty glamour of 1920s Chicago, while cinematographer Dion Beebe used a desaturated color palette for the reality sequences, contrasting with the vibrant theatricality of the fantasy numbers.

Music and choreography

The film features music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, adapted from the original Broadway score. Musical numbers, including "All That Jazz", "Cell Block Tango", and "Razzle Dazzle", were choreographed by Rob Marshall and his co-choreographer Cynthia Onrubia, paying homage to the style of original Broadway director Bob Fosse. The soundtrack was produced by Randy Spendlove and Mike Higham, with the cast recording winning the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. The orchestration was adapted by Danny Troob and Doug Besterman, with the American Film Institute later listing "All That Jazz" among the greatest film songs.

Release and reception

The film premiered on December 10, 2002, at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City and was released wide in the United States on December 27 by Miramax Films. It was a major critical and commercial success, grossing over $306 million worldwide against a $45 million budget. Critics praised its energetic direction, performances, and successful translation of the stage musical to film, with Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times calling it "a dazzler". The film's success is credited with reviving the movie musical genre in Hollywood, leading to a wave of subsequent adaptations like Dreamgirls and Les Misérables.

Accolades

At the 75th Academy Awards, Chicago won six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, making it the first musical to win the top prize since Oliver! in 1968. Catherine Zeta-Jones won the Best Supporting Actress award for her role as Velma Kelly, and Rob Marshall was nominated for Best Director. The film also won awards for Art Direction, Costume Design, Film Editing, and Sound. It received numerous other honors, including Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy at the 60th Golden Globe Awards and the BAFTA Award for Best Sound.

Category:2002 films Category:American musical films Category:Best Picture Academy Award winners