The Greatest Showman
Image Credit: 20th Century Fox
Emily Parker,
12th Jan 2018
Tags:
Life
Review
Biography
Drama
Film
Musical
I’m always slightly sceptical about going and seeing a new musical, because I still believe that nothing beats a classic 'Roger and Hammerstein West Side Story' or 'The King And I', or maybe heading down the Gene Kelly route with 'Singing In The Rain'.
There is so much magic in musicals and thankfully this movie doesn’t disappoint.
'The Greatest Showman' is a musical biopic about the infamous P.T. Barnum, who set up the circus in America and ultimately caused the birth of show business, which went on to be a worldwide sensation. He and his wife Charity (Michelle Williams), and their two daughters, follow Barnum’s dreams as he strives to make something of himself and travels the road from rags to riches. Barnum is highly ambitious, full of creativity, filled with perseverance, and has the ability to not take no for an answer; an area which is also a weakness as you see the story playout. He is the ultimate showman.
The message of the film is about accepting people as they are, even when they don’t fit into the stereotypes of society.
As you get introduced to the likes of the Bearded Lady, Dog Boy, and Tom Thumb, you realise that the message of the film is about accepting people as they are, even when they don’t fit into the stereotypes of society.
Keala Settle and Zendaya are incredible singers and they are more than just supporting cast members, but bring so much colour and sass to what is a very full storyline.
P.T. Barnum shows everything good and flawed about being human.
Hugh Jackman’s background is in dance and singing, and 'Les Miserable' (2012) was one of our first glimpses of Jackman’s past and the door that got him into acting initially. His character of P.T. Barnum shows everything good and flawed about being human. His desire to be an entrepreneur is commendable, but also shows how fame and the need to succeed can go too far, to the detriment of family; the area which really should be valued above all things. Jackman and Michelle Williams make a great partnership on screen.
Zac Efron, plays the role of Phillip Carlyle, Barnum’s business partner. It is good to see Efron singing again and despite this film being nothing like 'High School Musical', his character and storyline challenges you to think of how far you will go for love; that it’s worth sticking it to the status quo, and how if it you let it, it can be the start of something new. Yes, I did just quote 'High School Musical' songs.
Michael Gracey makes his debut as a film director, having previously spent 20 years as an animator, digital compositor, and visual effects supervisor. It will be intriguing to see what projects Gracey goes on to next, but hopefully we will see further Jackman and Gracey collaborations.
The soundtrack has some really powerful lyrics in songs including ‘This is Me’, ‘Rewrite the Stars’ and ‘From Now On’, and deserves the award for Best Original Songs from the Golden Globes for ‘This is Me’. It features eleven new songs written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the Academy Award winning lyricists of 'La La Land'. Pasek has been quoted in relation to the musical direction they took saying, "The choice was to express not just the characters' feelings, but also how ahead of his time P.T. Barnum was. He wasn't bound by the world in which he lived; he wanted to create one."
If you want a feel good film to kick off your year, then this is it.
If you want a feel good film to kick off your year, then this is it. The real P.T. Barnum is well known for saying, “The noblest art is that of making others happy.” That is the invitation set out for you as you watch this film; the opportunity to discover and see happiness.
