“Wicked” is a film adaptation of the classic Tony award-winning Broadway play. The film follows Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande), two students at Shiz University.
Elphaba is misunderstood and treated like a leper. Glinda is a pompous daughter of an aristocrat, who is jealous of Elphaba. Displaying magical abilities, Elphaba is taken under the wing of sorceress Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) to harness her power.
Glinda’s jealousy of Elphaba being tutored under Madame Morrible leads her to grow hateful of Elphaba, occasionally even bullying her.
One of my favorite songs in the film was “What Is This Feeling?” It’s a duet between Elphaba and Glinda singing about how much they “loathe” each other.
The choreography during the scene was really thought out. During the song, the other students singing alongside Glinda mimic her movements, showing how she is popular and idolized by the students at Shiz, as opposed to Elphaba’s isolated and withdrawn personality.
After a less than ideal start the two form an unlikely bond, bringing the two closer to each other.
When the two became friends, the tension in the scene was intense. For the most part, it was completely quiet, except for the sound of footsteps and clothes moving. It made me wonder if the tension between the two would ever be released, or if they would continue to hold distaste for the other in their hearts.
Elphaba is acknowledged by The Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldbum) and is invited to his castle in The Emerald City.
As she fears for the safety of the animals of the Land of Oz, she heads to the Emerald City in hopes of acquiring the wizard’s help. There, she learns a shocking truth about the true nature of the wizard, which warps her very perception of the man she had long idolized.
“Defying Gravity,” Erivo’s song at the end of the film, is a powerful ballad about overcoming adversity, a fitting end to a movie about staying true to yourself and your values.
Her vocal ability is astounding. Her wide range and impressive vocal dexterity really highlight her strength as a singer.
I’m not a huge fan of “The Wizard of Oz,” so I didn’t have super high expectations for “Wicked,” but I was thoroughly impressed. I genuinely enjoyed the film and despite the two hour and forty minute run time, I wasn’t bored at any point of the movie.
The score was great, although at some times the songs felt a little too long, the music was engaging and amusing.
The colors in the scenes really popped on the screen — really immersing the viewer in the world and giving it that feeling of magic that a movie about wizards and witches should have.
While I was slightly disappointed with the ending because it left off on a cliffhanger since it’s only part one out of two, I highly encourage everyone to go see “Wicked” this winter. It’s a wonderful film about self-discovery and pursuing your true self.
