Chicago (2002)
Adapted from the satirical stage play, Chicago comes from screenwriter Bill Condon and director Rob Marshall, and presents a production design that goes to great lengths to emulate its theatrical origins. With themes that take a humorous look at celebrity, corruption and scandal in the titular city during the 1920s, the film follows two women jailed for murder – one a performer, and one with ambitions to be the same.
Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renee Zellweger lead a cast that features Richard Gere, Dominic West, John C Reilly, Colm Feore, Queen Latifah, and Christine Baranski, and helped the film collect an astonishing 79 award nominations – 49 of which led to an awards win. Six of those wins were for Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
With music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, this film version of Chicago delivers a barrage of rip-roaring, jazz based musical numbers – highlights of which include Zeta-Jones leading the furious “Cell Block Tango,” John C, Reilly’s heart-rending yet toe-tapping “Mister Cellophane,” and “Nowadays” featuring the two leads.