Luke Traynor

TAKING a popular stage musical and adapting it into a cinematic format shouldn't guarantee a director a sure-fire Hollywood success.

The glitz and glamour of Chicago, however, seemed to strike a chord with the public and the film was awarded six Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

But it's ill deserved. Chicago is enjoyable enough, but hardly differs from the original theatre version, merely repackaging the story with a few big names to bring up the pound sounds.

The tale is simple. Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta Jones) and Roxie Hart (Renee Zellwegger) are singers on Chicago's thriving night scene who demand the spotlight.

Even murder wins them fame, and with the help of hotshot lawyer Billy Flynn (Richard Gere) they milk the media circus and watch their names up in lights.

Singing wise, Zeta-Jones and Zellweger make the grade (although the songs are hardly the most taxing) with Jones trotting out her usual strong/frowning woman routine and Zellweger again reverting to type with her nervous giggles.

A watchable 110 minutes, overall, but let's start giving gongs out to films and people who deserve them. Now Moulin Rouge, there was a film...