Wicked Part One- REVIEW - Price Prediction

As a seasoned film connoisseur with a soft spot for musicals and a penchant for stories that delve into societal issues, I must say Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz left me quite spellbound. The film, much like Elphaba’s emerald skin, stands out amidst the cinematic landscape, offering a rich tapestry of themes ranging from racial prejudice to power dynamics.

We arrived at the cinema wearing flashy jewelry reminiscent of what one might win from a carnival game run by Wu-Tang Clan members, only to discover that it wasn’t slang but rather a film adaptation of the popular stage musical based on the book, which is a prequel to the 1939 movie ‘The Wizard of Oz’. Essentially, we were watching Wicked Part One.

The movie starts by establishing a link to the original Wizard of Oz story, as the Good Witch of the North announces the death of the Wicked Witch of the West. This scene could be reenacted in future retellings, like in the Meghan Markle narrative. However, in this film, the Wicked Witch of the West is Elphaba (played by Cynthia Erivo), and the story goes back to her birth where she’s rejected by her father, the governor of Munchkinland (portrayed by Andy Nyman). The reason for rejection is that Elphaba is green, which makes his suspicions plausible since their milkman was The Incredible Hulk. Later, Elphaba is sent to Shiz University by her father to support her wheelchair-bound sister Nessarose (Marissa Bode). Here, she meets Galinda Upland (portrayed by Ariana Grande), who initially seems like a spoiled, entitled character, but isn’t as bad as expected. Galinda and Elphaba end up roommates, and Elphaba’s magical abilities are soon noticed by headmistress Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh). This recognition leads to Elphaba being destined for greatness, marked out by various grandiose song and dance numbers, and eventually meeting the great Oz in the latter part of the film. Interestingly, Oz also has a hidden agenda for utilizing Elphaba’s magical powers.

In this production, various layers of meaning are present, including themes of racial prejudice (where Elphaba’s ostracism due to her skin color is a recurring motif), authoritarian leaders, and animal rights concerns. These ideas are beautifully woven into lavish stage designs and extravagant costumes. Since Wicked, as the title suggests, is a prequel that will provide insight into how the two witches became good and evil, it has a significant amount of work to accomplish in the upcoming movie adaptation.

Both leads are decent but its Cynthia Erivo who excels. A great actress ( see her in ‘Drift’ for just how good she is in dramatic roles) she has a stunning voice too. It’s little wonder that director John M Chu, when his camera is not whooshing through the set pieces, has so many close ups of her face that has her instantly empathetic with the slightest facial movement. And then there is Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard being, well , Jeff Goldblum and proving that after Christopher Walken, he’s the go to actor for most impressionists. At almost three hours this is a long film that may outstay its welcome for those not familiar with the stage musical but its production values are excellent and Erivo proves yet again that she is quickly establishing herself as one of the great actresses of recent years.

Here’s the Wicked Part One trailer…….

2024-11-20 12:23

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