Flick Pick: Chicago

Chicago
(Miramax, 2002)

In a year of mostly weak film offerings, anything can be a stand-out, but this one went all the way, and it's still fun to watch. Notably after not being another musical gang-raped by too many Hollywood cooks trying to improve the recipe. It proved that done right, there's always a place for a good musical, and revived the concept that stars who can also sing and dance shouldn't be such an anomaly. Amidst a global war on terror, a movie that entertains and amuses, and gives us clear-cut cardboard cutouts of good guys and bad guys (and girls) isn't a bad thing. It's also nice to have a movie that's just out to entertain you, rather than propagandize you or make you smarter, and that isn't ashamed of that effort. It also doesn't hurt that they use Richard Gere, Rene Zellwegger, and Catherine Zeta-Jones for the task.
Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress (Zeta-Jones), Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Mixing