Why We Need Wicked

As we know the film business is in a period of reconstruction. Now, here comes Wicked riding on its broom to save the day ! (at least for the time being). In the dawn of AI technology, I can't say enough good things about watching real people in awesome costumes execute terrific dance numbers. This film is a feast for the eyes and the ears. Director Jon Chu has done a great job.

You may know Jon's past directorial endeavors like Crazy Rich Asians or In the Heights (based on the Lin-Manuel Miranda Broadway musical). This time Jon was provided a sizable budget, which was reportedly $145 million. And he uses it well. The costume designs reminded me of Colleen Atwood who dresses for Tim Burton, but Jon worked with Paul Tazewell. Among Paul's credits are costumes for Miranda's Broadway hit Hamilton and the Westside Story film directed by Steven Spielberg. Paul has done an excellent job here and I fully expect an Oscar nomination for him. There is a nice write up about him here in British Vogue - https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/wicked-costume-designer-interview

Likewise, a big shout out to the hair & make up crew. There is such a long list of who did what with hair & make up, I recommend looking through this link - https://www.metacritic.com/movie/wicked/credits/

The cinematographer was Alice Brooks, who also shot In the Heights and tick, tick...Boom! And if you have not seen tick, tick...Boom! I recommend it. It's nothing like this visual feast, but it is really good with great music. Nice job, Alice.

Production designer Nathan Crowley may finally get his Oscar. He was nominated in the past for Tenet, First Man, Dunkirk, The Dark Knight, and The Prestige. The design is a joy to behold, especially coupled with the costumes, hair & make up. It's the reason I will see the film again with my husband, who opted out of this viewing as I took my 10 year old twins. According to his interview in Architectural Digest, Nathan Crowley says : “My goal was to go beyond the matte paintings, beyond a digital world, and really let the audience step into Oz,” he notes. “The emotions in Wicked are so deep and true. I didn’t just want a fantasy world beyond our reach. I wanted an immersive space where our characters could come to life.”More about this here - https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/how-the-sets-of-the-new-movie-wicked-venture-off-the-beaten-yellow-brick-road

And what's to say of the performances? Ariana Granda and Cynthia Erivo are wonderful. And they look like they are having fun doing this film - again a shout out to the director.

SPOILER ALERT *********

I mean, who doesn't love the idea of Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard? Also, I enjoyed the evolution of Michelle Yeoh's character. She was a good choice for that role. And my favorite part of the movie were the cameos by the Broadway original Wicked witches Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel. LOVED IT!!

There was, what I considered, a great dig at Disney when they showed the castle in Oz with fireworks going off in splendid colors around the spires. You could not help but think of the Magic Kingdom and its fireworks show. This is a film Universal made and, perhaps, Disney wished that it had. Bravo Universal - you took a leap of faith and it has paid off !

My only complaint was that the theater did not have the sound loud enough. It only seemed right during the Dancing Through Life number. We did not have active singers in my theater, but I have heard that's a thing.

As I prepare for my Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day, I am thankful to have time to run and listen the Wicked soundtrack a few hundred times as I eagerly await Wicked Part Two.

Me prepping for the Turkey Trot listening to Wicked :