Summary
Chicago, released in 2002, won the Academy Award for Best Picture. The film is based on the Broadway play of the same name. It is the story of two women, Velma Kelly, a well-known stage performer, and Roxie Hart, who dreams of fame and a career on the stage. The two end up on death row together in 1920s Chicago and are represented by slick defense lawyer Billy Flynn. Chicago stars Renée Zellweger, Richard Gere, and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Conventions
Song and Dance
Like all musicals, Chicago is filled with choreographed song and dance numbers. One of the most memorable of these is “The Cell Block Tango”, shown below. In this number we meet all of the women in Roxie’s cell block. One by one they use song to tell their stories and justify their reasons for committing murder.
Elaborate Settings
In Chicago, the sets are very reminiscent of the theater, however much more elaborate. The settings also change much faster than would be possible on a stage. In addition, the film also won an Academy Award for Best Set Design in 2002,
Elaborate Costumes
Chicago is set in the 1920’s at the height of Vaudeville. The costumes in the movie help to realistically recreate this era. Along with all of its other Oscars, Chicago also won the award for Best Costume Design.
Tie-Back to Theater
Theater and theatrical elements play a huge role in Chicago. The main character Roxie dreams of being a famous stage performer and one of the other characters, Velma Kelly, is exactly that. Many of the song and dance numbers in the film are performed on stage.
Common Themes''
Unlike most musicals, Chicago is not a typical love story. The main theme of the movie is Roxie’s quest for fame, fortune, and freedom. Although, there are some instances of love in the movie, like Roxie’s husband Amos who loves her unconditionally and undeservingly, love is not the central theme of the film. In the scene shown below, Roxie imagines what it would be like to be a famous stage performer.
Works Cited:
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