maggie-9

I have read a lot of the comments since at last catching up with the movie this week. Audience reactions seem to be polarised between those who love it and those that found it boring. I have neither of those reactions.

On the whole I enjoyed watching it. I have no problem with movies which take their time and each scene had something to like; whether it was cinematography, acting or situation.

But I did not love it. I was not left with a feeling of satisfaction at the end because the characters did not go on a journey which I could appreciate. I suppose the question is: do we want movies to reflect life or to tell a story. Most of the time when I am in the cinema, I want to be told a story even if the plot or resolution are somewhat unrealistic. There is enough real life out there for us all to experience. I am not asking for a conventional romantic drama but as least some conflict or temptation.

I would contrast this with another Scarlett Johanssen film, Girl with a Pearl Earring, which I enjoyed much more. This also was a slow burn of a film, but there was an outcome of sorts (the picture) and there was more love shown for the setting. Here Tokyo is caricatured and the lack of script seemed to distance us from the characters.

I don't think watching this was anything like waste of time and Copolla has talent to spare, but I wonder if I shall ever feel moved to see it again.

Views on Chicago seem to be polarizing as the buzz develops while a significant minority still remain unmoved. I still have very mixed feelings.

I loved the musical numbers as such and thought the actors were well up to them. I have no problem with seeing the artificiality of musicals transferred to the screen and don't mind the idea that editing is being used to cover up the fact that the leads are not dancers.

The downside was the characters and the story. When the main characters are all thoroughly flawed and unsympathetic, it needs depth of characterization to make them interesting. There just wasn't time to allow this. I do believe that some feeling of identification between cast and audience is necessary for absolute enjoyment and I did not feel it.

Part of the problem might be the decision to divorce the style of the musical numbers completely from the style of the main action. This avoids the problem some people have with characters just bursting into song as they walk along the street but fatally compromises our ability to relate the words of the songs to the situations the characters are in. In particular, our view Roxie as a failed, rather pathetic wannabe is compromised by her appearance in razzle-dazzle numbers beautifully costumed and made up. (As an aside, I found the execution scene entirely tasteless in its juxtaposition of the realistic scene and the nightclub scene).

I enjoyed Chicago and would see it again, but at the end of the day it is more surface flash that wholly satisfying moviemaking.