THE GREATEST SHOWMAN
Directed by Michael Gracey
Screenplay by Jenny Bicks and Bill Condon
Starring Hugh Jackman; Michelle Williams; Zac Efron; Zendaya; and Rebecca Ferguson
This is not a history lesson, that is for sure.
It is a fun musical.
It throws you off with a time period film using modern sounding music. If you liked Moulin Rouge you will like this film.
Positives:
-It is just fun. The writing is strong. It is an exciting story. You cheer for the underdog to win.
-The music is really good. Music was done by Justin Paul and Benj Pasek from La La Land.
The highlight is of course Golden Globe nominee This Is Me performed by the wonderful Keala Settle. This song will no doubt win the Oscar. There is no competition, it is that good.
Then you have a sweet song sung by Michelle Williams, yes Michelle Williams, called Tightrope.
Then Zac Efron and Zendaya, who have great chemistry, had a good song together called Rewrite The Stars.
In other words...the songs and music are very strong, like noted before. It seamlessly puts pop music in a story out of the 1800's. Credit goes to the song writers and director Gracey.
-One quick note, Zendaya may be the newcomer of the year in film. She almost stole the film...In the new Spiderman, and now here the screen lights up every time she is on the screen!! She is a star.
Yes there are negatives:
-I know this is a movie Hugh Jackman has been wanting to make since 2009. I also know he has done stage musicals on Broadway. He is really good in this part so do not get me wrong, but the songs he sings seem to be out of his range. Not saying he cannot sing...we saw it in Les Miserables, here he was off a bit. Yes, I know everybody lip synced (Zendaya was hilariously singing while rolling down a rope, you just have to go with it), yet that says it was his best.
-Why Rebecca Ferguson? She is a wonderful actress. However she cannot sing so they used The Voice singer Loren Allred to sing her songs??!! I do not understand. They could not find an actress who could sing? I know Ann Hathaway was in mind, but there has to be someone else.
-Coming off La La Land, this movie should be successful. However like La La Land...the ending is real soft. Not bad, but after all the music that feels like it has bite and attacks, it finishes...oddly soft.
Anyway, this is a fun, entertaining, harmless film. Go see it.
4 stars out of 5 for The Greatest Showman.
From the shadows as always thanks for your time.
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