In this period dedicated to horror and Halloween, let yourself be seduced by a well-crafted detective musical comedy released in February 2003 in France: Chicago, available on Netflix.
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Chicago, 1920. A struggling singer, Roxie Hart (Renée Zellweger) is accused of murdering her lover and sent to prison. There he discovers a jazz singer he admires, Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones), who has been convicted of murdering her husband and her sister, both in adultery. To ensure their protection, they hire Billy Flynn, a famous lawyer (Richard Gere). Thanks to this trial, Roxy intends not only to be acquitted, but also to gain fame and realize her professional dream.
Originally, the film was set in Chicago trying to follow the success of the musical Moulin Rouge! toured by Baz Luhrmann and was released in October 2001 in France. In the end it would far more than surpass the model and exceed $300 million at the worldwide box office (almost $525 million today).
The reason lies primarily in the medium he adapted it to: the theatrical musical comedy Chicago Signed by Bob Fosse, Fred Ebb and John Kander. It has been one of the most popular shows on Broadway since its inception in 1975. Relying on such intellectual property has reduced financial risks.
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Likewise, with performances by Zellweger (recently featured in Faus d’Irene and Bridget Jones’s Diary), Zeta-Jones (favorite in The Mask of Zorro, High Voltage and Motion) and Richard Gere (The Jackal, The Newlyweds). Almost)): The casting was perfect. Let’s also mention the notable presence of Queen Latifah, John Reilly, Dominic West and Maya. Most of them have trained hard for the challenge.
Finally, we gave this well-rounded show, made by a musical lover (directed by Rob Marshall, see below) and calibrated for the Oscars. The members of the Academy did not make a mistake, the film was nominated 13 times and awarded with six statues: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress for Catherine Zeta-Jones, Best Art Direction/Scenic Design, Best Costumes, Best Sound and Best Editing.
At the time of filming, this was the first feature film for Rob Marshall, who had previously only directed a television movie for Disney’s Wonderful World, Adaptation. musical Annie with Kathy Bates and Alan Cummings.
After the success of this film, Marshall would become the king of the modern American musical and direct Nine (2009), Into The Woods (2015), Mary Poppins Returns (2018) and Little Mermaid (2023).
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
