I Held Space with Wicked
What does “good” even mean for a movie like Wicked?
Wicked is an incredibly faithful adaptation of (the first half of) one of the most successful stage musicals of the century. It’s likely that a Wicked was a 10/10 for much of its target audience before they’d even walked in the door. It is already one of the most Popular (ha ha) films of the year, it’ll probably win a bunch of awards by sheer virtue of existing. So what does it even mean for it to be good or bad?
I’m talking in circles. What I mean to say is this: Wicked is pretty good… but I don’t feel like giving it any credit.
The elements of Wicked (the movie) that work are almost all inherited from its source material. The songs, obviously, are incredible… because they’re taken directly from one of the most successful and beloved musicals of a generation. The plot and characters are compelling, as fans of the story have known for 20 years. What the movie doesn’t inherit, is its visual style… which frequently looks like poop from a butt.
Wicked is an ugly movie. The colours are drab and washed out. Much of the action is so strongly back-lit that it gives the appearance of a d-grade student film. The editing, especially in the dance numbers, seems deliberately designed to avoid showing off the talents of the ensemble.
In “The Wizard and I”, Elphaba runs through a field of the ugliest-looking dead grass I’ve ever seen. While the music swells, we look out over a turgid landscape of sludge that’s supposedly a beautiful ocean view. In “Dancing Through Life”, the sun beams blindingly through the windows behind our characters, leaving the whole scene barely perceptible. Putting the film next to shots of, say, Spielberg’s West Side Story really demonstrates the difference.
In fact, let’s do just that. How about a scene where two lovers sing together?
Yes, obviously the first picture is higher quality. But notice how in West Side Story you can see the character’s faces? How the colour grade makes details like Maria’s red lipstick and their white clothes really pop? Notice how you get a real sense of their location, and the lighting invites you in with cool textures?
Man, West Side Story is a good movie.
Anyway, one thing that Wicked does have working it its favour is the cast. Ariana Grande is fantastic. She’s obviously an outstanding singer, but she also reaches the exact right balance of theatricality and emotion within the character. She’s also very funny, finding little moments of comedy between the lines of the script. Cynthia Erivo underplays some scenes, but more than sells the singing. Jonathan Bailey always excels at finding the humanity in handsome blowhards (watch Crashing, seriously) and is another standout here.
Less perfect are the “adult” characters (all the teen characters are played by actors in their 30s). Michelle Yeoh is completely checked out as Madame Morrible, while Jeff Goldblum (The Wizard) decides to just play a variation on his own persona for the 500th time in a row. Your patience with this will depend on how much patience for Goldblum you have, I could spare little.
One problem the film does inherit from the play is its shocking case of prequel-itis. Remember that terrible scene in Solo: A Star Wars Story where an imperial officer pauses for dramatic effect before carefully bestowing the name “Solo” on our dear Han? Wicked has 15 scenes exactly like that, and they’re all equally embarrassing.
I’m being too grumpy. Wicked is, despite everything, still a good time at the movies. Director John M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, In The Heights) keeps the action moving, Grande and Bailey keep up a constant charm offensive, and the deep greens of Emerald City are far easier on the eye than the drab beiges of Shiz (the school).
Yes, the school is called Shiz. No, it never gets any less stupid.
For many thousands people, Wicked will be the feel-good, singalong movie event of the year. It delivers on the songs, and stays faithful to the story that fans have fallen in love with. I just don’t think it’s too much to ask for it to look nice as well.
Grade 5/10
God, this movie is unpleasant to look at
More Thoughts on Wicked
In “Popular” Galinda posits that great people achieve that greatness through popularity, not excellence. This may or may not be a telling commentary on the movie itself.
The school is called “Shiz”, I needed to say that again
Lots of this movie feels like Harry Potter (derogatory)
I should watch West Side Story again
Here’s that hilarious “Holding Space” interview clip for your viewing pleasure
Wicked is, at the very least, far better than the year’s other big box office success: Deadpool & Wolverine