The Mosley Review: Wicked Part 1

There is an unspoken, indescribable, and unshakeable powerful feeling that washes over you and the audience when you experience a live theatre production. As a fellow Thespian, I have had the privilege of experiencing this feeling from both the audience perspective and the intimate nature of being a performer on stage. This feeling I speak of can only be summed up in one word: Magic. Many films adapted from the coveted Broadway stage to the silver screen have successfully captured that magic and a few felt a bit soulless. Rent, West Side Story, Dreamgirls and Les Miserables are among the best of them all and have set the standard of how to seamlessly blend the two mediums together in epic scale. Now comes a film that takes the magic of the stage and the power of cinema and perfectly services each medium in such a way that hasn't been seen in over a decade. This film has taken the beloved stage show and somehow made it feel as if I was watching on stage play come to life on the big screen and vice versa. I have never seen the stage version, but I felt I just got a massive tasting of it with the cinematography, the scale of the musical numbers, set designs and overall performances. This was beyond perfection in so many ways and the two leads guide us through the first part of an epic journey.

Ariana Grande-Butera dazzles as the perky, shallow, and airy Galinda Upland. Ariana has blazed a career as pop star and performer, but this was the role she was born to play. Watching her unwavering mean girl attitude transform into a more empathetic and sweet human being was classical, warm and fun. Her comedic timing was outstanding and I couldn't get enough of her antics. Of course her seasoned singing background comes into play as she delivers the hit songs that have become legend in the theatre world. Cynthia Erivo delivers a showstopping and heartbreaking performance that pierces your very soul with just her eyes as Elphaba Thropp. The many layers of challenges of social acceptance, tolerance and respect she must overcome as a born outcast was gut wrenching. The moment she steps on screen for the first time, she commands it with her presence and pain. I have been a fan of Cynthia's for years and seeing her powerful voice absolutely sore among the rest was beyond the level elegance I could've imagined. From the her first song to her rendition of the iconic final song, there is no gravity to defy as she takes your soul soaring into the stratosphere. The chemistry between Elphaba and Galinda was the bedrock of the story and it was an emotionally charged site to witness. It was truly a match forged by the theatre and cinema gods.

Marissa Bode was great and innocent as her sister Nessarose Thropp. It was a very sweet story that was being born there that I'm curious to see where it goes. Ethan Slater was fun as the munchkin, Boq Woodsman. The classic boyish love he has for Galinda was on display, but I truly felt the chemistry between him and Nessarose more. Michelle Yeoh was elegant, regal and strong as Madame Morrible, the Dean of Sorcery at Shiz University. There is a layer of mystery and manipulation that caught me off guard. Peter Dinklage was a great surprise and as the voice of Dr. Dillamond, he delivered a wise and emotional performance that gave you a sense of the cruelties happening in the world of Oz. Jonathan Bailey absolutely blew the doors off as soon as he waltzed on screen as Fiyero Tigelaar. He captured that swagger and fun discarding of the rules that was a blast to witness. The immediate chemistry between him and Elphaba was rich as Fiyero sees past her tough exterior. Jeff Goldblum was great and pretty much himself as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. You may not spend that much time with him, but you get enough of a feeling of how much of a visionary he was even though we all know his stories’ outcome. There is a part of his origin story that I never knew that reconceptualized the character. I'm curious how the next film will handle him.

The score and music by original composer Stephen Schwartz and John Powell were bold and grand as it should be. The many showstopping numbers are on full display in a fully realized and vibrant world that is beautifully captured. I loved the mixture of the massive practical sets and the CGI extensions. It was movie magic at purest. The entire musical itself is perfection and even though my favorite numbers were The Wizard and I, Dancing Through Life and of course the iconic ending Defying Gravity, the most powerful moment of the film had no music at all. The Ozdust Ballroom scene was so heartwarming and powerful in showcasing Elphaba's journey of acceptance coming to an end and the empathetic shift that Galinda goes through with her will shatter your heart. Director Jon M. Chu has captured the fun of Broadway during 2021's In the Heights, but he captured its soul in this masterpiece. This is a must see for any casual musical lover or fan of the Broadway show. This was the purest form of the grand scope of cinema that has been missing for years. Definitely one of the best films of the year. Let me know what you thought of the film or my review in the comments below. Thanks for reading!