By Marc S Sanders
The blessing of film is that it provides a channel to forms of entertainment that not everyone necessarily has access to. I was never fascinated with the Tony Awards so much (even though I attended three live ceremonies) because the nominees were exclusive to what was performed in the last year on Broadway in New York City. How can I or the rest of the country get enamored with the best of the best when we hardly have access to see any of the performances? With movies, well you just go to the movies!
Wicked is one of the few musicals in the last twenty years that has taken on a worldwide fascination. It was a very long novel before it became the touring stage production following a massive debut on Broadway. Perhaps because the story returns to a familiar setting, the fantastical land of Oz, the book and show carried a strong appeal. Wicked arrived with an established brand. Who doesn’t know The Wizard Of Oz? Nevertheless, Wicked never needed magical ruby slippers (or rather silver as author L Frank Baum intended) to find its footing. It’s always been worthy of its accolades apart from any other properties. The new film, directed by John M Chu, will become a timeless classic all by itself. Despite some technical issues, this cinematic adaptation is wondrous.
Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) is the green skinned awkward teen, who was rejected by her father and only served a purpose to tend to her wheelchair bound sister Nessarose (Marissa Bode). She accompanies them to drop her sister off at the esteemed magical school known as Shiz. However, the headmistress of the institution, Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh), requests that Elphaba stay on as a student that she will personally teach as well. Elphaba is roomed with the self-absorbed Galinda (Ariana Grande), where their relationship is frictional at first and later adoringly empathetic. Eventually, we come to realize the destinies of these young ladies will develop into what is all too familiar in L Frank Baum’s eternal The Wizard Of Oz – Elphaba becomes The Wicked Witch Of The West while Galinda is recognized as Glinda, the pinkishly tender Good Witch Of The North.
This Part One iteration of Wicked is very faithful to the stage production. Every recognizable number is included from the operatic “No One Mourns The Wicked” to the giddily cheerful “Popular” to the climaxing, fist pumping, take charge “Defying Gravity” that closes out Act One. The latter number is arguably one of the most well recognized and beloved theatrical songs of the twenty-first century thus far. The edits and choreography of every number is magnificent, full of energy, and the harmonies work like natural dialogue as opposed to something like West Side Story where it’s not crazy to ask exactly why rival street gangs suddenly break out into song while trying to knife one another.
John M Chu makes sure that his cast use every prop and set piece available. You can’t help but grin while Ariana Grande does a circular swan flight from a chandelier while making a case for why it’s best to be popular. “One Short Day” is a massive declaration within narrow school courtyards and corridors that berth out toward wide open endless fields into a vast blue sky for Elphaba to declare what she yearns for. Cynthia Erivo has that knack to sing and perform personally to her character’s own subconscious when she’s in these intimate, private moments. She then bursts out with confident volume to show that as repulsive as she might appear to everyone around her, the soul inside is what is beautiful. In order to cast Elphaba, you really need one of the most beautiful singing voices in the world because the character is most stunning when she is expressing herself vocally.
Ariana Grande is good. Though I still prefer the two iterations of the character that I saw on stage prior to this film. Her performance is a different interpretation than what is traditionally in a live production. I especially noticed that change when her character attempts to explain how to properly pronounce her name of Galinda. The stage version of this memorable moment induced the laughs from me more. As beautiful as Grande is in her characterization and singing, she’s not so humorous as the live stage performances. So, the humor of Galinda, the self-entitled spoiled rich girl with everything, is not as strong. As well, at the top of the film, I had an issue with understanding precisely what Ariana Grande was singing at first. Was she harmonizing or was she singing dialogue? Perhaps, that is not so much a fault of the actress as it is the recording. Yet, the issue does not last long, and soon you are treated to Galinda laying it all out there. She might not be as funny this time, but she’s incredibly charming and loved by her surrounding entourage of student followers, especially from Bowen Yang (Saturday Night Live) and Bronwyn James.
The sets are spectacular and I learned afterwards that they are mostly physically constructed. So, there is a texture to the schoolgrounds of Shiz with bridges and babbling brooks as well as regal castle-like architecture. This is a Universal picture and many may presume that Disney would have produced something like this musical fantasy. However, in Disney’s hands, much of this film would have been polished in a grandiose, yet artificial, CGI. John M Chu and his crew went the smart route and diminished the cartoon sheen that comes with CGI.
My issue though is in the cinematography. Regrettably, I could not see Wicked in a Dolby cinema. So, we settled for a traditional theatre at AMC which was fine. Yet, I was wondering at first if there was something wrong with the projector. A lot of the scenes taking place in the daytime seemed washed out, especially with close ups on Ariana Grande and her complexion. Then I concluded that John M Chu’s cinematographer relied on a lot of blaring sunlight for many of the scenes. I imagine it was used to contrast the dark green complexion of Elphaba, emphasizing how much she doesn’t belong in this environment and amping up what an eyesore the character must feel like within the world of Shiz. When Elphaba dominates a scene or a caption or when the film arrives at the Emerald City, the photography is just right. Elsewhere at Shiz, it’s very oversaturated with a fuzzy kind of look to it. Was I wearing the wrong spectacles? Wait, I don’t wear glasses or contacts! I could not get past this for much of the film. There was just too much white light, and it didn’t compliment the pinks and pales that accompany Galinda and some of the environments and extras.
My wife and I agreed we are going to see it in theatres at least one more time within a Dolby surround sound. You should too. We missed the surround sound of the winning music blaring through the entire theatre. In a traditional theatre, the sound feels as if it is only coming from the front, or behind the screen. Dolby or IMAX enhance the audible as if your mind is right at the center of an orb with the most gorgeous, pitch perfect sounds accompanying you. Dolby and IMAX will also enrich the colors, and Wicked is most certainly vibrant. Every scene looks like a completed coloring book, despite my one noted imperfection. A year after Barbie, and pink is still in. Greens and blacks are just as impactful.
Wicked is magnificent entertainment, worth seeing again. The music is enchanting and easy to catch on to. It’s fun and dramatic and every lyric works to shape the characters. The story is magnificent as well with eye opening twists while allegorically adopting a message demonstrating the harm of prejudice. There’s also opportunity to show where life can be a disappointment at times when you encounter false idols and learn truths about yourself and those you have grown close to. I speak in vague terms on these accounts so as not to spoil what this powerful story delivers.
The film is smart in invention as well. There are good, solid moments that were never staged in the live performances, but thanks to the art of filmmaking new ideas seem totally appropriate where the classic 1939 film, The Wizard Of Oz, are referenced. Though, I have yet to see Part Two, I can confidently say Wicked works as a solid prequel.
I was one of the skeptics who believed breaking this film into two parts was a shameless studio cash grab. It certainly seems that way and maybe it is, but considering how good this new musical film adaptation is, I am eager for another installment. So, I will happily fork over more admission money a year from now and I am confident that I’ll wholeheartedly enjoy Wicked Part Two. This is a brilliantly creative story with a strong cast, sensational music and eye-popping invention. I may know what becomes of the characters and how this story ends, but I can’t wait to see it reenacted for its latter half, and I am eager to see what new creations present themselves in its next chapter.
Wicked is one of the best films of the year. A triumphing soar through the skies on a magical broomstick.
2 UNPAID MOVIE CRITICS!!!! 