I was looking forward to this film based on a) the trailer and b) another musical with Nicole Kidman (Moulin Rouge! being one of my all time faves). I was somewhat nervous about the film based a) Daniel Day Lewis (singing? after Pierce Brosnan in Mamma Mia! last year, I was skeptical) and b) Rob Marshall. Chicago was not a favourite of mine; there were a few of the musical numbers that I really liked, but for the most part felt the movie didn't work as well as the actual stage production. My mixed anticipation was not without merit, given my now mixed views on the film that is Nine.
The film looks fabulous, although feels a bit messy in places (mostly editing). The musical numbers are spectacular - almost all of them, the exception being, unfortunately, the tepid melancholy tune given to Nicole Kidman. The story used to bring together all of these performers and their fabulous numbers also left me a little flat - I didn't like Contini, and thought he got what he deserved for staying immature his whole life, and there was such a brief glimpse of redemption at the end that it seems unbelievable. However, I could endure that for the fabulous numbers - Be Italian was my favourite, but also Cinema Italiano, Folies Bergere and Take It All. Of those, two are originals for the film - Cinema Italiano and Take It All - and the Cinema one did stand out a bit as not really belonging in the story. All of the musical performances - including Daniel Day Lewis and notwithstanding the limp number given to Nicole Kidman - were outstanding. I hope opportunities to let all of these folks perform in musicals again will happen.
While this film will not make into my list of favourite musicals, those exceptional numbers will likely make it to my bookmarked favourties on YouTube.
