Right at the start, this muddled bio-pic throws down the gauntlet by claiming that the story is true, the names have not been changed, and all of the events actually occurred. Kiefer Sutherland and Emily Lloyd star as the title characters who meet in London during the waning stages of WWII. Chicago Joe, who doubles as an Army lieutenant during the day, drives Georgina (Lloyd) through the rubbled streets at night looking for dangerous adventure. Georgina spurs Chicago on to steal a fur coat for her, and continually ups the ante until she's begging for murder. Although the couple are riding in an Army truck, fantasy sequences depict them dolled up and tooling around the city in a convertible. During these episodes, which occur with strobe-like frequency, point-of-view is violated with something like criminal disregard. In fact, for most of the first half of the film, viewers are likely to wonder what the hell is going on. Sutherland doesn't have the maturity to pull the Cagneyesque weight of the role, and Lloyd--who is usually superb--is subdued here (with the exception of a wild dance scene--which has almost nothing to do with the 1940s, but does suggest very strongly that the filmmakers have been watching Dirty Dancing). During the final 20 minutes, the story finally picks up, as we discover that neither Chicago Joe nor Georgina are who they really say they are, but by then it's too late. Confusing, overly stylistic, and just plain flat, Chicago Joe and the Showgirl is a pair to fold. Not recommended. (R. Pitman)
Chicago Joe and the Showgirl
color. 105 min. LIVE Home Video. (1990). $89.95. Rated: R Library Journal
Chicago Joe and the Showgirl
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