Phill News Entertainment – Phill News
MANILA, Philippines — Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande star in the long-awaited film adaptation of the Broadway hit “Wicked.” The film is a kind of origin story for the two witches from “The Wizard of Oz.”
Split into two parts, the first film is an expanded version of the first act, beginning with how The Wizard of Oz ends with the death of the Wicked Witch of the West, played by Erivo.
Glinda the Good Witch (Grande) arrives in Munchkinland to confirm the news and recounts how she first met the witch, named Elphaba, as Galinda.
They both attended the prestigious Shizu University and initially started out as reluctant roommates and enemies, but eventually became good friends.
The true test of their friendship and Elphaba’s abilities comes when she is summoned to Oz to meet the great Wizard, played by Jeff Goldblum.
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Given the film’s popularity (just kidding), many moviegoers have been waiting a long time to see Wicked on the big screen, which has been achieved thanks to some memorable performances from Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth.
Entrusting director Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights) to helm the project was the right choice, as Wicked demands the same level of grandeur and spectacle he brought to those films.
Chu is aided by costume design by Paul Tazewell and production design by Nathan Crowley, the latter of whom often works with Christopher Nolan, an avid user of practical sets.
Numbers like “Dancing Through Life,” “No One Mourns the Wicked” and “One Short Day” are very nicely extended, providing even more entertainment.
Of course, the film hinges on who plays the roles of Elphaba and Glinda, but Chu didn’t disappoint with his choice of Erivo and Grande.
Grande takes on the role of Glinda well, adopting an elitist attitude and lofty delivery, and has a voice that suits songs like “Popular” and “What Is This Feeling?” well.
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Erivo is no less impressive, and beneath the green makeup she is the beating heart of Wicked. Erivo displays her skill in the way she acts, sings, and moves within a scene.
“The Wizard and I” and “I’m Not That Girl” are good displays of her obvious skills, but as soon as the cult song “Defying Gravity” comes on, you’re sure to be blown away. Notice not only how she emphasizes the notes, but also how she puts emotion into the words.
Splitting “Wicked” into two parts was the right decision, as it allowed Chu and his team to properly adapt the stage production and expand on what the musical has to offer.
This decision allowed Erivo, Grande, Goldblum and the other cast members (Jonathan Baillie and Michelle Yeoh are also standouts) to identify more deeply with the characters, giving them identities made for the screen.
The opening line of No Mourning the Wicked asks: Are they evil? Or is evil imposed on them? The film makes every effort to answer this question by expanding the possibilities.
The wait now moves on to the second part, scheduled for next year, and audiences can’t wait to return to Oz to see the end of this great chapter.
