The Choreography of a Coincidence

So to add to the

So to add to the list of scandalous things I did last weekend...

I saw Chicago, and it was fantastic. I suppose it will have to fit into the category of movies that you loved but you're not sure if you should recommend; however, I can safely say that if you enjoyed Moulin Rouge (for reasons other than that you think it was the most Christian movie of 2002), you will like this film. The vocals are consistantly better than those in Moulin Rouge, with the possible exception of Richard Gere, who hits all his notes but sings in a funny nasal accent. John C. Riley's "Mr. Cellophane" blows all of Ewan McGregor's warbling out of the water. The choreography is truly stunning, albeit a tad racy at times. (Gere's tap dance received a standing ovation from the audience in the movie theatre). The story seems to flow so much better in the movie than in the play; instead of being entirely comic and vaudvillian, all musical numbers occur in Roxie's imagination--so you see everything from 2 points of view--reality (where much is hidden), and the real reality (as perceived by Roxie).

As far as I can tell, there is not a particularly great theological message in the plot; the murduresses get off in the end, and the strikingly dumb "white hat" is left out in the cold. Chicago is fantastic as an achievement in movie musicals, and is my pick for Best Picture, but it probably won't merit any kudos from Moscow.