Wicked (Movie)
This the second seeing this movie, first was in theaters. We watched it to get ready for the sequel.
The acting is so good in the least expecting way. I mean that in how much Ariana Grande gets me to dislike her character of Glinda but that’s the point. If anything it makes me respect her more for choosing this role. But also with that I identify with Elphaba more with the second viewing and Cynthia Erivo’s performance is absolutely perfect. The acting honestly is just good all around where in spite of the familiar faces I was still able to get lost in the story seeing them embody their characters. And that’s speaks a lot for Jeff Goldblum as he is one of the infamous actors who usually just plays himself and is cast to be himself as it seems and to be honest I felt that the first time watching this movie but this second time I felt him more as just being the wizard. I feel he was a great pick as he did have his normal Jeff Goldblum tendencies but I feel they work well for the character. I especially felt this with the turn in his attitude and he becomes more menacing which isn’t a side you see of Goldblum much but it was very believable and a little scary to be honest.
The music for the most part was serviceable but I definitely felt Defying Gravity a lot more as I had goosebumps the entire time during that scene. It’s so epic and such a great cliffhanger to end the movie on. That song has reached the heights of being one of my favorite musical songs but from what I understand that’s definitely a more basic take.
The social commentary and subtext in this film felt too much at times but not in a bad way but in a this is reflecting reality way too much as I feel it’s become more relevant since last year when I first saw this. But I am a strong believer in what makes good art is one that gives a voice that is felt to be silenced and oppressed. Of course there’s much debate over that as the internet constantly blurs the lines of distinguishing what is the true modern zeitgeist of the people versus what is just the cries of the extremely vocal minority amongst the ocean of people who truly disagree or at least don’t care or also now these days the bots and algorithms that are used by the powers that be to manipulate reality altogether. But in the end one thing is clear. If standing for others to speak and have rights is wicked then I don’t want to be “righteous.”