What is the true subject, or theme of the film, and what kind of statement, if any, does the film make about the subject? Which elements and which scenes contribute most to addressing the theme of the film?
I think the true subject, or theme of the film is sensationalism and corruption. This film takes aim at the way celebrity court cases are portrayed in the media, and the kind of impact that level of attention can have on the individual on trial. It also highlights corruption within the entertainment industry, portraying it as a seedy world where injustice reigns, and celebrities sell their souls for cold hard cash, and fame. It also shows how the media storms celebrities crave, in order to make them famous, can quickly turn against them just as fast as it had once supported them. The scene where we see Roxie shooting her jilted lover, Roxie’s trial, and the press storm during it in addition to, the competition between Velma and Roxie, contributes to addressing the theme of the film. Along with these two scenes, the initial flashback scene where Velma murders her cheating husband addresses the theme of the film as essentially it is about murder, and corruption.
How do all of the separate elements of the film relate, and contribute to the theme, central purpose, or total effect?
The separate elements of the film show the roots of Velma’s and Roxie’s behavior. Roxie comes across as more innocent than Velma on the outset, but the flashbacks, and the insight we gain along the way into their lives show a different story all together. Velma seems to have more justification for shooting her husband than Roxie, and we see that as the story progresses. However, at first it seems the opposite and it was surprising to find out the level of depravity Roxie was willing to go to in order to increase her level of fame.
Narrative – The manner in which the story is told. What is the plot structure? Is it chronological or non-linear? Are there flashbacks or other narrative devices and why are they used?
The film is shot in chronological order and there are flashbacks used throughout the film. This contributes to our understanding of the inward character of the characters in the film.
Acting - the qualities of the performances. Is the acting realistic or is it mannered? Are the characters dynamic? (Do they change as the film progresses?). How?
I think that the acting was superb, and that is what I would expect from A-list actors in a big budget movie. In regards to the realistic nature of the actor’s performances, throughout the film I believed the characters were real. That is, I was aware of other films Renee Zellweger, and Catherine Zeta-Jones have performed in, but their acting was so good in this film, that I didn’t see them as actors in that way. Instead, I only saw the characters they were portraying. In that sense, the acting was realistic and it contributed to the story, because without it I would have been bored, and not entertained at all. The characters are dynamic, they do change as the film progresses. Renee Zellweger’s character, Roxie changes from a victim, to almost the instigator of her own troubles.
Cinematography – The qualities of the photography and lighting. Identify specific scenes and camera shots that you tough were particularly interesting.
I would describe the movie as moody. A lot of it seemed to be nighttime / dark scenes inside the club, or in the prison. The lighting and photography was really good, it also made the film look like the stage play, which is what I think the intended purpose was.
Editing – Pace, and tempo the use of transitions, and the organization of the narrative. Identify any editing technique you thought was particularly interesting.
The transition from the modern-edged 1920’s stage scenes and the rest of the movie was clever. The stage scenes were clearly modern, involved sharp colors, bold makeup with spot lightning that one might expect to see when watching it in a live theater. I like the contrast between that world and the real world, because it highlighted the insane nature of fame. It highlighted what reality could be like for the celebrities we see on stage today. It’s not glamourous at all, and they are not God’s as the media likes to sometimes portray them. They are everyday normal people, and I think the film really works to show the vulnerability of the characters. In this way I was able to make a personal connection with them.
Art direction, and design – Locations, sets, affect, props, costumes, and make-up.
The make-up, props, and costumes, added to the narrative as they looked authentic to the modern-edged 1920’s time frame the movie was intended to reproduce. The makeup was quite heavy, which I think would not fit the 1920’s time frame, however, the main characters Roxie, and Velma were stars so I think it was a good choice to have them wear make-up like that to stand out from the ‘regular’ people, as many stars did back then. The locations and sets were well reproduced, and looked authentic to the era. Although I would say the club scenes looked a lot more modern, like a modern day interpretation of a 1920’s club. I think the director chose to shoot the film in that way to portray the fantasy world of fame, vs. the real world where the singers are on trial for murder.
What scenes in the film show the director’s style, and how do they show it?
I think the club scenes show the director’s style because the scenes look more modern than as authentic replications of the 1920’s era. I believe the director chose to do this, in order to show the two sides of fame.
What were your personal reactions to the film? What are your personal reasons for liking, or disliking the film?
I liked the film and took it on its merits. I think it represents a certain aspect of fame that has been present within the entertainment industry since its conception. The movie shows one aspect however, not all aspects, as I do not believe it’s all seedy and corrupt, though I suspect a lot of corruption is prevalent within it today. I also like it because the film plot was easy to follow, the characters were believable and the storyline was too.
