“Chicago” is set in the Windy City during the Prohibition era, and the central character is Roxie Hart (Zellweger), a young woman who wants to become a song-and-dance woman. After Roxie murders her lover, she is put on Death Row, and celebrated defense attorney Billy Flynn (Gere) takes her case. In a cell near Roxie’s is Velma Kelly (Zeta-Jones), a successful cabaret entertainer who is charged with double murder. The corrupt prison matron is played by Queen Latifah.
The thing that made “Chicago” come alive for me is its satirical treatment of Roxie’s legal case as a three-ring circus with the public, the press, and a manipulative lawyer each occupying their own ring. This is the reason that, despite being a period piece, “Chicago” still has bite and resonance for today’s audiences.
“Chicago” has a slick, glossy look that is—in a cool, corporate sort of way—quite appealing. The acting by Zellweger, Gere, Zeta-Jones, and Latifah is at a very high level, and they are ably supported by John C. Reilly and Taye Diggs. Zeta-Jones and Latifah are outstanding musical performers, and I found Zellweger and Gere to be adequate.
Below I’ve listed all the DVD’s special features.
Special Features on the DVD:
- Anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1)
- English 5.1 Dolby Digital
- English DTS
- French 5.1
- English Captions for the Hearing Impaired
- Spanish Subtitles
- Audio Commentary by Director and Screenwriter
- Deleted Musical Number “Class”
- Behind the Scenes Special (28 Minutes)
- Sneak Peeks
