Depth Analysis of a Movie - "chicago"

Analyzing The Entire Film - "Chicago" (2002)

Understanding movies comes from describing and analyzing the cinematic, theatrical, and literary elements that combine to create meaning. These steps create a basic understanding of the artistic and technical elements found in moviemaking. In addition, the major characteristics of different film genres and classic movies will be analyzed. The purpose of this paper is analyzing the Academy Award winning film Chicago. This paper will describe the six steps that a person should think about when watching a movie. These steps include, (1) analysis of the narrative: story, plot and meaning; (2) theatrical elements, (3) cinematography, (4) editing, (5) sound and the (6) complete package.

Analysis of the Narrative: Story, Plot and Meaning

The main characters in this movie are: Renee Zellweger as Roxie Hart. Roxie's roll in this movie was as a person who wants to be in show business and she wants to be loved by people and accepted by all. The only person, who loved her, was her husband, Amos. Amos life was so different from Roxie's. Amos was a quiet man who worked hard and came home and wanted to be with his family. All Roxie cared about was her career. Roxie loved to be on stage and have people cheering her name. Without that she felt dead. She could not see herself-doing a blue collar job. Hence, Roxie felt that she was born to be a star. Roxie was one that liked to be the head person in every story. Roxie hated to be second best, and she would do whatever it took even if it mean killing a person or having sex with someone, whether boyfriend or husband. When Velma told Roxie Hart she had a good idea or a plan to move up to the top Roxie would take that idea and use it and move herself up the ladder.

Catherine Zeta-Jones portrayed Velma Kelly; Ms. Kelly was good on the stage and she was beautiful as well as having plenty of sex appeal. When men in town knew that Velma Kelly was performing, the club would sell out. Velma could sing and dance. She was the hottest babe around, until the one night, Velma finished performing and came home to find her sister and her husband in bed together. Velma Kelly saw them in bed and she went and got her gun and shot and killed them both. Kelly was in prison awaiting trial for the killings.

John C. Kelly portrayed Amos Hart. Amos was a man who just wanted to go to work and make a good living and see to his family. Amos was not one of those people who follow the crowd. Amos had big love for Roxie Hart. She was the only woman that he ever loved. He would give his life for Roxie Hart, even though Roxie killed a man with whom she was having sexual relations. Amos spent all of his life-saving and even worked over-time and other jobs to free the women he loved so much. Amos wanted the slow and easy life. Roxie wanted the fast and loud life. It is obvious that this couple were complete opposite.

The most colorful character in the movie was Mama; played by Queen Latifah. Mama was a prison guard. Whatever the prisoners needed Mama had it or knew how to get it. Mama was one of the sexiest women in the movie. Mama is considered a triple threat, beauty, smarts and a singer. Mama knew how to keep the prisoners in line. Mama has a soft spot for Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart. She likes Roxie because she was young and she knew that by herself she had no chance of getting out. She needed someone wiser, like Mama, to help guide her. Velma Kelly was able to be on the same level as Mama because they had good understanding of each other. Velma and Mama are partners in crime. Velma would do the crime in jail and Mama would cover it up.

Richard Gere played Billy Flynn. Billy Flynn was a big time attorney, who never lost a case. Billy was great at his job. He knew how to work on peoples' sympathy. For some of the most notorious cases Mr. Flynn defended, he would make the jury believe his clients were angels. If a defendant could afford the $5000 they had Mr. Flynn as their attorney. Also, it didn't hurt if the defendant was a beautiful woman. But, on the other hand if you were beautiful with no money your looks didn't matter. Billy would go case by case. When Amos Hart came to Billy about his wife, they had talked on the phone with each other. Amos told Billy he would have the money for him. However, when Amos came to Billy office he was short and Billy told him he could not take his wife's case, but just as Amos was walking out of his office, Billy had a change of heart and took Roxie's case. Billy loved to get the case that would make big news. Billy also loved any opportunity to get his face in front of the media, more than he loved assisting his client. Billy was smart to know if he wins his case, the media attention will make him more famous.

Lucy Liu played Kitty Baxter. Kitty Baxter was the women who would kick Roxie's murder case out of the spotlight. Roxie had been the big thing and until Kitty came in. Roxie then became old news. No one even cared about who Roxie was even though she was found not guilty.

This movie shows a lot of love, sexual content and betrayal. Velma and Roxie were at odds with each other through-out the film. But, when two ladies put there differences aside they became the biggest name is show business. First, the ladies had to work through the hated for each other to find out truthfully what each other can do. Once the ladies learned each others good points, weaknesses and strengths they were able to perform together.

The plot is logical and believable. The movie helps us to appreciate that people can not make it in this world by themselves. For example, the film begins with Mama helping both Velma and Roxie. Roxie would not have been able to afford the lawyer without her husband Amos and his financial help. Roxie could not win her case without the help of the big attorney Billy Flynn. Billy Flynn would have not been a big attorney without the help of the murder cases that he took on and won without the help of the media. Once Velma Kelly saw the ambition of Roxie and knew that Roxie loved show business as much as she loved show business, she began to realize that Roxie was a good performer. Velma could not help but team with Roxie and the result of the two of them teaming up their show was a huge success. They ladies were not able to make it alone, but together they were able to accomplish it all.

The film was more of a musical than a movie. The movie had a lot of crimes, sexual content, betrayal, unity, along with singing and dancing. Additionally, the movie lets the viewer see that the least person is the person who comes to a person aid and becomes a close friend. This was proven with the friendship of Velma and Roxie. Two different women from different walks of life came