a_verruso
Joined Oct 2000
Welcome to the new profile
We're still working on updating some profile features. To see the badges, ratings breakdowns, and polls for this profile, please go to the previous version.
Reviews4
a_verruso's rating
Well, folks, it just might be back...
That rare film idiom that has gone the way of the western and even dinosaurs.
The film musical.
True, Baz Luhrmann started the whole thing back up again with the phenomenal Moulin Rouge but that film actually was about deconstructing the art form of a musical; tilting it on its head and then putting it back right side up.
The question however remained: Would the world, or at at least movie going public ever except a real, motion picture musical built in the same manner of the great musicals of the past? ..and more importantly, would CHICAGO be that musical?
Hold on to your hats folks, because I tell you with great glee and not quite a little bit of shock, "Chicago: the movie" is everything a great film musical should be, More so, in fact, it's everything a great film should be.
It stands slightly behind "Y tu Mama Tambien", as my favorite film of the year.
Brilliant direction and choreography. A talented cast. Glorious lighting and production values and an excellent screenplay add up to an exciting and enjoyable two hours.
It seems a lot of people dislike Catherine Zeta Jones for reasons that I've never really understood (I mean is she anymore obnoxious than anyone else in Hollywood). All I know is those haters are going to get down on their knees and bow to this woman. Miss Jones delivers, in no uncertain terms, a magnificent performance. A fantastic dancer, a terrific singer, a sublime presence, all her talent comes to a raging boil in her big number "I can't do it alone". Jones attacks this number like a lion attacking a predator and beats it to the ground with such affirmation, it leaves one wondering if Bebe and indeed Chita, were really any better.
Great Praise, indeed.
If someone would have told me 7 years ago that Renee Zellweger would become one of the most talented and versatile actors working in film today, well, I would have scoffed but Miss Zellweger as Roxie is as near perfect as one could wish for. I have heard people saying that Miss. Zellweger is not the accomplished singer and dancer Miss. Jones is. What they are forgetting or ignoring is the incredible fact that she can sing and dance at all. Her marvelous face and her dead on acting is complemented by a lovely singing voice (oddly reminiscent of a young Peggy Lee) and although she is perhaps a more athletic than graceful dancer, Zellweger is a mighty force to reckon with. She deserves whatever nominations will come her way
Richard Gere, in a sentence, gives the performance of his life. Gere, obviously having a helluva time, singing with brio (not a lovely sound but bolstered by a good range) and dancing with real ability. Acting wise he is alive alert and quite funny here.
Queen Latifa was good in her song. But honestly she didn't do much for me. John C. Reilly, as the hapless Amos, did. His performance of "Mr. Cellophane" was beautifully executed (with one of the better voices in the cast) and combined with the heartbreaking sweetness of his performance should help to earn Mr. Reilly an Academy Award nomination. All in all, a great night at the movies....and a great night for musicals, too.
That rare film idiom that has gone the way of the western and even dinosaurs.
The film musical.
True, Baz Luhrmann started the whole thing back up again with the phenomenal Moulin Rouge but that film actually was about deconstructing the art form of a musical; tilting it on its head and then putting it back right side up.
The question however remained: Would the world, or at at least movie going public ever except a real, motion picture musical built in the same manner of the great musicals of the past? ..and more importantly, would CHICAGO be that musical?
Hold on to your hats folks, because I tell you with great glee and not quite a little bit of shock, "Chicago: the movie" is everything a great film musical should be, More so, in fact, it's everything a great film should be.
It stands slightly behind "Y tu Mama Tambien", as my favorite film of the year.
Brilliant direction and choreography. A talented cast. Glorious lighting and production values and an excellent screenplay add up to an exciting and enjoyable two hours.
It seems a lot of people dislike Catherine Zeta Jones for reasons that I've never really understood (I mean is she anymore obnoxious than anyone else in Hollywood). All I know is those haters are going to get down on their knees and bow to this woman. Miss Jones delivers, in no uncertain terms, a magnificent performance. A fantastic dancer, a terrific singer, a sublime presence, all her talent comes to a raging boil in her big number "I can't do it alone". Jones attacks this number like a lion attacking a predator and beats it to the ground with such affirmation, it leaves one wondering if Bebe and indeed Chita, were really any better.
Great Praise, indeed.
If someone would have told me 7 years ago that Renee Zellweger would become one of the most talented and versatile actors working in film today, well, I would have scoffed but Miss Zellweger as Roxie is as near perfect as one could wish for. I have heard people saying that Miss. Zellweger is not the accomplished singer and dancer Miss. Jones is. What they are forgetting or ignoring is the incredible fact that she can sing and dance at all. Her marvelous face and her dead on acting is complemented by a lovely singing voice (oddly reminiscent of a young Peggy Lee) and although she is perhaps a more athletic than graceful dancer, Zellweger is a mighty force to reckon with. She deserves whatever nominations will come her way
Richard Gere, in a sentence, gives the performance of his life. Gere, obviously having a helluva time, singing with brio (not a lovely sound but bolstered by a good range) and dancing with real ability. Acting wise he is alive alert and quite funny here.
Queen Latifa was good in her song. But honestly she didn't do much for me. John C. Reilly, as the hapless Amos, did. His performance of "Mr. Cellophane" was beautifully executed (with one of the better voices in the cast) and combined with the heartbreaking sweetness of his performance should help to earn Mr. Reilly an Academy Award nomination. All in all, a great night at the movies....and a great night for musicals, too.
To understand the full impact and Achievement of what Monroe accomplishes here, you should watch `Gentleman Prefer Blondes' or The Seven Year Itch' first.
Then watch `Bus Stop'.
Monroe alters almost everything about herself to become Cherie.
The breathy, overly articulated speaking voice used in other films becomes a shrill, high pitched, southern drawl .
Her singing voice, normally pleasant and appealing, is loud and out of tune.
Even the very essence of the Monroe personality is changed here. The breezy, devil may care, easy sexuality of her past image is blown apart by the loud, tired, obsessive, annoyed and annoying Cherie.
This Cherie has been around the block and is in no mood for anything.
Watch Monroe react to her dress being torn by Murray. There is a depth, an exploration of her soul, there that is simply breathtaking.
Had this performance been given by any other actress in any other time period, they would have received an Academy Award Nomination.
Then watch `Bus Stop'.
Monroe alters almost everything about herself to become Cherie.
The breathy, overly articulated speaking voice used in other films becomes a shrill, high pitched, southern drawl .
Her singing voice, normally pleasant and appealing, is loud and out of tune.
Even the very essence of the Monroe personality is changed here. The breezy, devil may care, easy sexuality of her past image is blown apart by the loud, tired, obsessive, annoyed and annoying Cherie.
This Cherie has been around the block and is in no mood for anything.
Watch Monroe react to her dress being torn by Murray. There is a depth, an exploration of her soul, there that is simply breathtaking.
Had this performance been given by any other actress in any other time period, they would have received an Academy Award Nomination.
There is no question that no matter how extreme in the past or future Miss. Ross has been or will be (tantrums, bad albums, phoniness, bad publicity, touch me, don't touch me), she will always have this performance to look back on as a moment where everything worked perfectly.
The film is imperfect. Flawed. It could have been more realistic, more harrowing, and less hollywood-fied. Had it been, and had Motown not been so intent on proving itself as a major film force, she would have won the Oscar without question. The rumor had always been that in terms of voting it was "this close" as they say.
Even though she did not win, we are still left with a performance of depth, passion and layers that could only be described as magnificent in an experienced actress. In a neophyte, as Miss. Ross was at the time, it is stunning.
As a singer, She never before or since has sounded as good. The voice, while not really like Billie Holiday, just glows. Her musicality, intonation and idiomatic phrasing indicated a whole type of music she could have sung had she chosen too.
Watch it for her. It will make you think more kindly towards her the next time she, well, acts like Miss. Ross!
The film is imperfect. Flawed. It could have been more realistic, more harrowing, and less hollywood-fied. Had it been, and had Motown not been so intent on proving itself as a major film force, she would have won the Oscar without question. The rumor had always been that in terms of voting it was "this close" as they say.
Even though she did not win, we are still left with a performance of depth, passion and layers that could only be described as magnificent in an experienced actress. In a neophyte, as Miss. Ross was at the time, it is stunning.
As a singer, She never before or since has sounded as good. The voice, while not really like Billie Holiday, just glows. Her musicality, intonation and idiomatic phrasing indicated a whole type of music she could have sung had she chosen too.
Watch it for her. It will make you think more kindly towards her the next time she, well, acts like Miss. Ross!