[FILM] Wicked (2024)
Wicked is by far the biggest surprise of the year for me. I went in expecting a light, fluffy musical that would be a decent enough way to pass the time, but nothing exceptional. I left the theatre feeling like I witnessed the birth of a cinema pop culture phenomenon the likes of which I haven't experienced since Fury Road. It is entirely possible that this is due to the fact that this is my first time experiencing this story and music, but looking at the reviews it seems that people familiar with the source material are also just as impressed.
The sheer amount of craft and attention to detail that went into every shot of this film is simply breathtaking. I can't even begin to imagine the amount of effort that went into crafting some of these sets - they are awe-inspiring to look at and have lovely touches of bizarre world-building that really sell Oz as a real place. It has the feeling of an old-school Hollywood production, and I mean this as a big compliment. I should also mention that all the actors do a tremendous job but Ariana Grande absolutely steals the show here. She is hilarious every time she is on screen, and I can't wait for her to return in this role in Part 2.
This may have been a surprise to me as I am not a massive fan of musicals but I was really impressed with the depth of the story here. It's an intensely political plot about oppression of minorities and how tyrants bend the truth to control the populace, and this is something I was absolutely not expecting from a fairy tale set in Oz. On a more personal level, the relationships between each character are really well realised, and the dramatic stakes reach a high point towards the end.
Speaking of the ending - the last 15-20 minutes of this film are absolutely legendary. The cinematography, music and acting all combine with a borderline perfect sequence that had my jaw on the floor as the credits rolled. The almost three hour long runtime went by in a flash - the wait for Part 2 is going to be a long one.