Director: John M. Chu
Starring: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey
‘A Wonderful Musical’
When it comes to the greatest musicals ever made without flaws, it’s worth discussing “The Wizard of Oz”. Since its release in 1939, Victor Fleming’s movie has become a masterpiece. Like a tornado, it inspired audiences to follow their dream somewhere over the rainbow. On a personal level, I find the musical about wizards to be relatable. Years ago, my grandmother loved a musical about women going somewhere over the rainbow. Drawn to the land of Oz, she would praise a musical which she felt didn’t suffer from flaws that deserved a loud round of applause. She knew all songs by heart from a musical that she considered precious art. Fascinated with the Wicked Witch of the West, she praised a musical that left her impressed. It didn’t take long before I bonded with a grandmother that appreciated witches which were wicked. I enjoyed spending every day with a grandmother I considered practically perfect in every way. I developed special relationships with a grandmother that adored a musical she considered to be great and powerful. However, age brought our bond to a closure. Facing pain of aging, she lost love for a musical that didn’t leave her singing in the rain. Diagnosed with Dementia, she forgot about a movie she had once considered precious Cinema. As she faced memory impairment, our bond became distant. It broke my heart to drift apart from a relative that gave me strong love for art. Years later, I treasure a musical about wicked witches that reminds me of my grandmother.
As someone treasuring a grandmother that admired witches which were wicked, I adored “Wicked”. Released in 2024, John M. Chu’s movie celebrated a classical musical. Packed with breathtaking production-design, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the best movies of the year. At the centre of it all is an extraordinary performance by Cynthia Erivo, who embodies a wicked witch facing sorrow. Although “Wicked” is a wonderful musical, it isn’t flawless. It suffers from an extended running-time. Nevertheless, it offers exhilarating entertainment fans of the original won’t be able to resist.
Set before “The Wizard of Oz”, “Wicked” tells the story of how the wicked witch came to be. Cynthia Erivo embodies Elphaba, a green-skinned witch living in Oz. Due to her skin colour, Elphaba is a marginalized woman that’s treated poorly. However, Elphaba’s life forever changes when she develops a friendship with Glinda (Ariana Grande). Despite differences in personality, Elphaba gets along well with Glinda. Their friendship is tested when the two pursue different careers. Facing a dilemma, Elphaba wonders if it’s possible to find acceptance.
John M. Chu is fascinated with the musical genre. His previous film “In the Heights” offered a beautiful adaptation of a play about Washington Heights. With “Wicked”, however, Chu created his first musical about witches. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to reimagine a musical, but he succeeded. Chu successfully uses montages to capture the bond between two different witches in a school. For instance, montages elevate the rivalry scene. During this memorable scene, Elphaba and Glinda have a rivalry in school competing. One recognizes montages capturing bonds between witches. It reminded me of my bond with a grandmother that appreciated wicked witches before her health deteriorated. Montages are tricky to use in movies. As Damien Chazelle’s “La La Land” proved, montages elevate musicals about L.A. Nevertheless, it works in this movie. Through stunning visuals, Chu captures hardships that witches are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “Wicked” that merits appreciation is the musical numbers. Inspired by Tom Hooper’s “Les Miserables”, Chu stages musical numbers through using the technique of live-singing. Chu’s decision to have the actors sing melodies live on set is risky, but it pays off tremendously. For instance, the live-singing elevates the Defying Gravity musical number. During this unforgettable musical number, Elphaba and Glinda sing about their dreams to defy gravity. Live-singing is a tricky technique to use in movies. As Thomas Kail’s “Hamilton” suggested, live-singing elevates Broadway musicals. Nevertheless, it works tremendously in this movie. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. John Powell’s music is integral towards the film’s success. It gives the film a heartwarming atmosphere capturing the burden witches bear. Through phenomenal production, Chu captures commemorated witches which experience tension.
Storytelling is one of the primary reasons why “Wicked” is a prequel which is compelling. The film is beautifully written, and effectively uses sequences of silence to capture hardships green skinned switches are facing. Chu‘s finest strength is capturing hardship witches endure by silences. Throughout the movie, Chu uses silences to craft a witch audiences easily relate towards. For instance, silence elevates the dance scene. During this heartfelt scene, Elphaba feels humiliated when she is mocked after arriving in a flashy dress to a party. It reminded me of my sadness after my relationship with a beloved grandmother I appreciated ended. It’s a beautiful scene evoking sympathy for the wicked witch which was missing from the 1939 movie. Silence is a tricky technique to use in musicals. As Tom Hooper’s “Les Miserables” suggested, silence elevates musicals are French prisoners. That being said, it works in this film. Through a superb screenplay, Chu celebrates a commemorated play about wicked witches experiencing a price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Cynthia Erivo delivers one of her best career performances as Elphaba. Erivo achieved appreciation for playing historical figures in biopics. With “Wicked”, however, she took on her most wicked role. It’s challenging portraying a legendary character in the fantasy genre, but Erivo succeeded immensely. This is the actress unlike you’ve ever seen her before: intense, charismatic and emotional in her most memorable role. With mesmerizing expressions, she demonstrates angst, desperation and trauma of a green-skinned woman treated poorly in society. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the finest actresses working today.
Ariana Grande is astonishing as a good witch with charisma that seeks to overcome a tough life dilemma. Grande is a renowned musician which has always had an aptitude for singing, and “Wicked” showcased her strengths. Whether she’s engaging in a tense argument with Elphaba over witches or seeking to gain the affections of teachers that mispronounce her name wrongfully, Grande uses her melodious voice to create a character that’s compelling. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the greatest musicians working today.
Although “Wicked” is undeniably an engaging fantasy film, ultimately it isn’t flawless. At nearly two and a half hours, the film suffers from an extended running-time that overstays its welcome. Chu’s decisions to integrate subplots about animals into the movie is bold but doesn’t entirely succeed. Due to his faulty decision, scenes capturing the goat professor aren’t quite as entertaining as Elphaba’s tense journey to find her identity. Whereas this plot about professors enhanced the Harry Potter series, it feels out of place in this movie. Therefore, “Wicked” can’t quite honour a classical musical about wizards which are great and powerful.
Nevertheless, fans of the original 1939 musical will definitely appreciate “Wicked” and so will movie-goers seeking exhilarating entertainment. A marvellous musical, it celebrates a legendary movie that has built a legacy which is powerful.
Nearly 90 years following the release of a groundbreaking musical about witches seeking to discover identity in the land of Oz, it’s a marvellous reminder of a classic film that changed the world because of its depiction of larger-than-life women without flaws that definitely without a doubt deserves a loud round of applause.
As strong as Elphaba’s desire to become the Wicked Witch of the West, it has motivated me to move on several years after the painful end of my relationship with my grandmother that expressed the unrest of aging which left me depressed by honouring one of the best musicals ever made that has always left audiences impressed.
4.5/5 stars
The Film Buff 