Chicago is out today with a Collectible new Steelbook that fans of the film will surely enjoy. For those waiting on a 4k release, I'd keep waiting, as this is an inevitability at some point, and really deserves the best looking picture treatment possible. That being said, this Steelbook can be a great introduction for filmgoers to the Best Picture winner of 2002!
“Get ready to add some Razzle-Dazzle to your collection with this limited-edition Blu-ray Steelbook, celebrating 20 years of Chicago. Winner of six Oscars, including Best Picture, the movie shines the light on its all-star cast –Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah, John C. Reilly, Lucy Liu, and Taye Diggs – in a tale of passionate love affairs turned deadly, multiple celebrity headlines, and one slick lawyer out to turn Murderess’ Row defendants into local legends.”
Chicago garnered a lot of attention during the year of its release, based on a Broadway play, with an all-star cast, it wowed audiences and critics all over the world, going on to earn six Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
Musicals take on many different forms, from the traditional film that occasionally breaks into song, to the more interesting ones such as Rock of Ages and Mamma Mia! which take songs and their performances to invoke a certain feeling or to get across a certain meaning without using words. While I’ve enjoyed both types, Chicago does something a bit more interesting: it transforms the sequence into an on-stage musical act, which helps with the adaptation from the live-action musical to a film setting. Enjoy the film or not, how the film was adapted from the musical is by far the most interesting aspect, which works really well, especially in some of the more well-known sequences.
While not being familiar with the Broadway act myself, the musical performances to me seem right on par from what I’ve seen since, with all the actors doing a fantastic job bringing those characters to life from stage to screen. They are all larger than life, and with the fantastical plot of a shyster lawyer spinning the truth to make a murderer look like the victim, which probably isn’t that too hard to believe after all, the actors all keep the levity of the film high and light with the impressive musical numbers.
While a lot of these musical numbers are engaging, unique, and a lot of fun, some of them missed in a major way for me. The sequence with Richard Gere tap dancing around the courtroom, although it was indeed clever and the metaphor of him leading the court in a way to manipulate the outcome was spot on, the actual act of the tap dancing over the dialogue was so disruptive and obnoxious that I almost gave up watching. On the other hand, Richard Gere and Renée Zellweger doing the ventriloquist act was one of my favorite moments of the film. As an avid enjoyer of musicals in general, Chicago had its ups and downs, and while I personally don’t understand the Best Picture win, for those that do enjoy the musical, the film adaptation seems to remain faithful and adapts the story with ease.
Video
Chicago is presented in 1080p High Definition Widescreen 1.85:1. This release is identical to older releases, so those looking for any type of technical upgrade will unfortunately be disappointed. For anyone not owning this release, the transfer is nothing short of stunning. Colors are vivid, the picture is crisp and detailed, maintaining the fine detail and film grain. That being said, the fact that this wasn’t given a 4k treatment is nothing short of a travesty. It’s a perfect time, celebrating two decades since the film’s release, and back in 2014 it was reported that the film underwent a remaster that included Dolby Vision, something that needs a 4k disc to deliver. Perhaps it’s a legal reason, with Miramax being the producing studio and all the legal troubles with their catalogue at the moment, but whatever the case, Chicago deserves a 4k release and this should have been it.
Audio
The audio is presented in Dolby TrueHD 7.1. This track is also the same as previous editions, but for those who haven’t experienced it, it truly is an immersive experience. The 7.1 track provides clear and concise dialogue, masterful surround sound that puts you in the center of the stage during the musical numbers, with precise levels that never overpower something else happening on screen.
Special Features
Previous extras have been imported from the prior release, but the main draw for fans of the film will be the new Steelbook. While this really is the only draw for anyone owning previous releases, for those not owning it and wanting to give it a shot, now is your chance. That being said, with the increasing number of Miramax and Paramount properties receiving 4k treatment, I for one believe it’s only a matter of time before we see it.
- Chicago in the Spotlight – A Retrospective with Cast and Crew
- Extended Musical Performances
- Feature Commentary with Direct Rob Marshall and Screenwriter Bill Condon
Chicago can be a lot of fun, and for fans, it continues to be a sensational homage to the hit Broadway play. For those already owning it, unless you’re die-hard Steelbook collectors, it may be best to pass on this in hopes of a future 4k release, but for those fanatics out there, it’s a beautiful Collector’s Edition that will be hard to pass up. Whichever way you end up, the Chicago Steelbook is out now and ready to take center stage in your collection!
