The Screening Room

Chicago (2002)

Date of first viewing: Tuesday, January 07, 2003

Location: UA in Berkeley with Michael
and Sunday, January 12, 2003 at the Metreon with Mark Peters
and Saturday, January 25, 2003 at the UA in SF with Ruby, Susan F. & Tomi

This movie is the darling of my year! I could watch it a zillion times and not get tired of it! I can't wait for the DVD! The cast sparkles! Richard Gere twinkles! Renee Zellweger could be a young Shirley MacLaine! Catherine Zeta Jones -- that voice! Queen Latifah -- ditto! And oh, John C. Reilly breaks your heart! The first time I saw this -- on my birthday -- I hugged myself the whole time, I was so happy!

So, okay. Coming out of the clouds a bit... there's no way for a movie to capture the dazzle you feel watching the stage show from the 10th row. Movies break up the action with close-up shots and quick cuts -- especially if the cast includes actors for whom this is the first time dancing or singing professionally. Even still, most of the cuts are smooth, the transitions from "reality" to "stage" brilliant. My biggest disappointment, if I can really call it that, is that Rob Marshall's choreography is so different from Bob Fosse's original. I miss those knock-kneed pigeon-toed dance steps. But this complaint is truly minor. I wouldn't even bring it up if I didn't love this movie so terribly much that I wish it could be perfect.

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