If you like musical numbers that have to do with attention-grabbing and one-upping going on back and forth this would definitely be the film for you. It had its charms and Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renee Zellweger were definitely a part of that. The film centers around Roxie, played by Zelleweger, as she attempts to defend herself in court and continue to increase her popularity after murdering a man she was having an affair with due to his lying to her that he had showbiz connections. In the meantime Velma, played by Zeta-Jones, is also in the same boat since she too committed murder, two of them in fact. By the end of the film Roxie and Velma aren’t friends by any means but they become more successful as a pair than they ever were on their own.
If you can keep up with the plot then you’re a stronger person for it.
10. The lead role was offered to Hugh Jackman.
He felt that he was too young for the role and yet when he saw it finally he really regretted passing on this opportunity.
9. Catherine Zeta-Jones kept her hair short for a reason.
She wanted people to be able to see her face so that they would know that she was the one doing the dance moves and wasn’t using a body double.
8. Richard Gere took tap lessons for the movie.
He learned how to tap dance in three months’ time and was able to shoot his part in about half a day.
7. Charlize Theron was the original choice for Roxie.
When the original director bowed out for one reason or another she had to audition again and lost the part to Renee Zellweger.
6. Kathy Bates was the first choice for Mama Morton.
She was one of many that wanted the role but at the time she was shooting the film About Schmidt so it didn’t work out.
5. There was a lot of back and forth about the billing.
Zellweger and Zeta-Jones’ agents were so embroiled in a heated debate over the billing that eventually diagonal billing became the compromise since whichever way you read it both of them seem to come out on top.
4. Catherine was actually two months pregnant during the shooting of this film.
There were moments during the film that she had to be shot from certain angles so that the bump she had developing wouldn’t show.
3. Beyonce wanted the role of Mama Morton.
Eventually the role would go to Queen Latifah, who nailed and was nominated for an award thanks to her performance.
2. It became Miramax’s highest grossing film at the time.
Once it reached $170 million in the domestic box office it was deemed a hit. As of now it’s been surpassed a few times I believe.
1. John C. Reilly is a clown enthusiast.
He was able to do his own makeup and outfit, to a point, for his part in the movie.
The backstabbing, the gossip, and the attention-seeking is a big part of this movie. If you like all that then you should enjoy it.
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