So I Saw Chicago

[Jeff in BigD]

Was I supposed to hate Roxie?

Who was supposed to be the protagonist?


Overall I thought the music was great, the visuals were well done as was the acting, but I hated the main character.

 

[Nancy]

Not sure if we were supposed to hate Roxie...but it was a fun movie to watch..especially if you love musicals.

I saw the stage play in NYC over the summer and my family actally enjoyed the movie more. Maybe because the dance sequences were more elaborate (sp?) on film.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I haven't seen it because I am not a musical person.
I hated Moulin Rouge. My friend saw Chicago and liked it. But she said I wouldn't, if I did not like M.R.
And our taste in movies is the opposite -- so she probably is right.
She said even in a court room scene they broke out in a musical. Not my type of movie.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I loved it, but then, I love musicals!

 

[one_cat]

I loved Chicago. We saw it twice and may see it again before it leaves the theatre. Jeff, my mother and sister saw the movie and said almost the same thing. They didn't like any of the characters so they didn't like the movie. I wasn't sure what to say to them either. None of the characters are nice people. They are all shallow, selfish and will do anything to get what they want. Watching these people is entertaining to DW and I but obviously turns some people off. At least you can say you saw the movie.

 

[snoopy]

I didn't love Roxie, didn't hate her either. I saw her for what she was, a woman very determined to get what she wanted.

I count Chicago as one of my most favorite movies ever, but then again, I also lmao at My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and if I recall, Jeff, you wanted to slap the person next to you doing the same.

So I may not be the best person to answer this post.

 

[Nancy]

Chicago is mainly music, even the Broadway show. There wasn't that much actual dialog. I hated Moulin Rouge, it gives me a headache...my kids love it. I enjoyed Chicago immensely. You are correct though NONE of the characters are likeable...it is supposed to be about corruption, so thats why all the characters are like that. The only one I felt sympathy for was Roxie's husband..."Mr. Cellophane"

 

[Jeff in BigD]

**spoilers**


Don't get me wrong, I do like musicals & I did want to see the movie.


I thought the musical numbers were well done & I thought the puppet scene was brilliant. Most of the numbers were pretty catchy. In fact Roxie was the only reason I would say I didn't like it. It was like watching a cross between OJ & Kato Kaelin.


Even though Velma was smarmy, I actually liked her a little bit. I at least felt like her murders were somewhat justified.


I disliked Roxie when she was fooling around & then it grew to hate when she sang the song about what a loser her husband was. Granted the guy was a bit of a dope, but considering what he did for her, the knocks on him in that song seemed extremely heartless.


My friend said that it should be considered a satire, either based on how crooked the system was/is in Chicago (already knew that) or how far some people would go to further their career (knew this too) or perhaps on how the legal system tends to favor women, even when they're guilty as hell (also knew this too). I know I'm probably overanalyzing things, but I couldn't really get past my feelings about Roxie. Part of me hoped that she would have been found guilty or that Amos would have put a couple bullets into her. After all, "she had it coming".



As far as Big Fat Greek Wedding was concerned, it wasn't that I wanted to slap anyone, just that some people were over-laughing during things like (IMO) mediocre slapstick was more of a chuckle & eyeroll thing. It didn't really aggrivate me or anything, it was just a bit over the top IMO, but different strokes I suppose. I liked it, but I probably wouldn't buy the DVD (my sister did though ).

 

[DopeyRN]

Saw it last night...I didn't really like it. I enjoyed Richard Gere in such a totally dfferent role. And the musical numbers were well done. But I just didn't like it.

Talk about singing through everthing...they even sang through a hanging (made my skin crawl).

I will never watch it again...20 minutes in I just wanted to hit fast forward to see how it ended.

 

[caitycaity]

i liked it. i don't think you are supposed to *like* roxie, but that's jmho. as snoopy said, she is what she is.

 

[Jeff in BigD]

Maybe so, but was I supposed to hate her?

 

[Tinkbell]

I don't think it was the producers intention to have you hate Roxie. I saw a VH1 "Behind the Music" on this movie and the director was very concerned about people having empathy for Roxie. She just rubbed you the wrong way. I remember seeing "Forrest Gump" and totally hating Forrest (annoying).

 

[CourtasanSatine]

I loved Chicago but then i love musicals as a whole

 

[goofygirl]

I loved Chicago BECAUSE the characters were up to no good! It wasnt your typical musical- it wasnt syrupy, cute, romantic, etc. It was the totally opposite!


And it had some truth to it. Roxy's trial reminded me a little of OJ Simpson, with the media blitz, and the "tap dancing" lawyer!

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

you have to remember that Kander and Ebb (who also wrote Cabaret) and Bob fosse put this musical together in the Watergate era.

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

you have to remember that Kander and Ebb (who also wrote Cabaret) and Bob fosse put this musical together in the Watergate era.

 

[tnkrbell]

I LOVED Chicago!! I Didnt like Roxie as a person but I dont think we were suppose to she was a criminal!! lol
I did not like my Big Fat Greed Wedding! So I guess not everyone loves everything!! But that is Ok

 

[GEM]

I loved it, but then it's always been one of my very favorite musicals. I was afraid I would hate the movie because I loved the stage version so much and I figured they would mess it up. I was really pleased, however. I thought they did a great job of transferring it to the screen - very faithful to the original.

 

[Jeff in BigD]

Originally posted by Briar Rose 7457
you have to remember that Kander and Ebb (who also wrote Cabaret) and Bob fosse put this musical together in the Watergate era.

Actually the story in play form was made in 1926 & it was based on real events a few years before. The writer, Maurine Watkins, later refused all requests for productions of the play because she felt it glorified murder & vicariously celebrated the real person the character Roxie was based on.

 

[RNMOM]

I saw Chicago twice. First by myself and then with DH. I didn't like it as much the first time but really enjoyed it the second time. I think I was more into the performances. I really enjoyed "Celophane Man" by John C Reily. He was really the only likable character to me.

I didn't like Moulan Rouge the first time I saw it but have seen it a dozen time since on HBO and love it. I enjoy the love story and really the second half of the movie is really good.