It’s 1920s Chicago, the play world of bootleg liquor and ragtime jazz.

Bored housewife Roxie Hart (Renée Zellweger, “Jerry Maguire”) is determined to get on the stage, but when paramour Fred Casely (Dominic West, “Rock Star”) doesn’t come through, Roxie shoots him and is jailed on the infamous Murderess Row.

There she meets other murderesses, including the notorious Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones, “The Mask of Zorro”), the jazz singer who murdered both her husband and her sister.

But when all appears hopeless, Roxie finds her salvation in the expensive, smooth-talking lawyer Billy Flynn (Richard Gere, “Primal Fear”).

In no time, Roxie becomes Chicago’s sweetheart, all the while hiding her devious and ambitious personality behind the mask of innocence and vulnerability that her attorney has created.

But even with her charm, “innocent” Roxie can’t escape the wheels of justice.

She goes to trial, where lies outnumber truths and nothing is certain.

“Chicago” is a wonderful film that continues the recent resurgence of movie musicals begun by “Moulin Rogue.”

It mimics “Moulin” in more ways than one, including dizzying camera shots and an abundance of bright colors.

Very glamorous and interesting, “Chicago” takes hold of the viewers’ eyes and never lets them go.

Both Zellweger and Zeta-Jones were nominated for Golden Globes for their performances in this movie, but Zellweger outshines her competition.

In many instances, Zellweger has to pretend to be evil to pretend to be good.

Such a task might be too much for other actresses, but she plays the role to perfection.

Apart from her performance, the real treat of “Chicago” is the music.

It features performances by the actors themselves.

R&B artists Queen Latifah and Mya join in, adding flavor to the cast and Queen Latifah, who was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe for the movie, has one song that is alone worth the ticket price.

But because “Chicago” is adapted from a play, it cannot be considered for the Best Original Score Golden Globe.

The only detriment to the music is that some of the pieces never really happen.

They exist only in the mind of Roxie and pop up at some of the critical points of the movie.

That notwithstanding, the musical pieces fit flawlessly into the movie.

Director Rob Marshall is a newcomer to the world of filmmaking, having only choreographed a few TV movies.

But his directorial debut is a grand one, and ensures his place in Hollywood.

Though it won’t officially be released nationwide until Jan. 24, “Chicago” has been released in select cities and is now playing at the Elmwood Palace Theatre in Jefferson.

The Last Word: Chicago is all “Razzle Dazzle” and well worth seeing, and you should “Cell Block Tango” down to the theatre.

“Chicago,” where Mya Harrison plays the role of Mona, is nominated for 13 Oscar awards. (PHOTO COURTESY OF MIRIMAX)

Late at night on Murderess Row, Velma Kelly (Zeta-Jones) shows off for Roxie Hart (Zellweger) in a vain attempt to encourage Chicago’s new sweetheart to share her spotlight. (PHOTO COURTESY OF MIRIMAX)

Roxie Hart (Zellweger), imprisoned on Murderess Row, plots with suave lawyer Billy Flynn (Gere) to gain her freedom and in turn become a jazz singer. (PHOTO COURTESY OF MIRIMAX)