Wicked
OK I'm cheating a bit here; I first saw Wicked before Christmas 2024. But it was showing and I fancied a second viewing; especially as I can't see some of the best scenes on Youtube yet.
I am so torn on this film. It's absolutely beautiful, the opening song (No One Mourns The Wicked) is colourful and great fun. The camera angles are great. The opening shot, where we follow the flying monkeys as they break out of the castle and fly over Oz is shot to capture the movement so it feels like you are flying with them in a way that feels like you're in one of Disney World's new rides. The singing is epic; Cynthia Erivo gives a rendition of "The Wizard and I" that makes me actually enjoy the song (I've never liked the Idina Menzel version) and Jonathan Bailey did the same with "Dancing Through life). The choreography is also wonderful. On second viewing, I noticed the movement of the characters during the musical numbers. Every move is solid, precise, and structured. During "What Is This Feeling" and "Dancing Through Life" the physical movement by the singers is used in the music, with stomps or cutlery movement becoming part of the beat. Much like the sound of jackboots marching in Revenge of the Sith becomes part of the music.
mistrusted by authority and eventually turns against
the regime.
The film is fun, true to the musical, and there are some wonderful shots that make it feel magical. Even the CGI talking animals work. It's 2h48m long, and yet the film doesn't feel long (a rarity imo). There are some interesting twists; the Wizard being quite haphazard is an interesting play compared to the usual post-con-man portrayal, Elphaba being raised by her nanny bear gives some depth to why she is so defensive of talking animals, and the story of the Grimmorie is an interesting bit of new canon.
But. The songs are interrupted all the time. It just doesn't work, there is a constant stop and start sensation within every song. After a while it feels like a tic of the Director, rather than something that's necessary to drive the plot. It works with "The Wizard and I" and "Dancing Through Life" as there are transition moments and then long periods of uninterrupted singing. A good example of where this goes wrong is "Popular". It is a standalone song, it doesn't require long breaks or exposition; it can be sung in three minutes without needing elaboration. Instead there are periods where it's broken up for no good reason. Why does there need to be a 15 second pause where Glinda tries to turn Elpheba's frock into a ball gown? Just sing the song! In contrast, "What Is This Feeling" is done in one long musical number with no pauses for characters to talk to each other. By the final song "Defying Gravity" it's unforgivable. It allows the Director to set up some excellent shots, but the tempo of the song is sacrificed to make it work.
The film as a whole is wonderful, the soundtrack is definitely worth listening to again and again, the actors and choreography are excellent, but the constant interruption of good songs is grating and an unnecessary intervention that could have been avoided. I hope they learn from this for part II. I dread to think of how "No Good Deed" will be delivered; at least I'll be able to listen to the soundtrack version with Cynthia Erivo without interruptions one day.
Seen at London West End Odeon on 25th January
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