SosaKnowsBall’s review published on Letterboxd:
*AMC A-List Watch*
Grade: Sosa Approved Banger
Score: 100 out of 100
“Are people born wicked? Or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?”
IM DEFYING GRAVITYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!! Holy mother of Christ. The gays are NOT LYING. What a way to celebrate my 100th watched movie released in 2024. What a way to spend a late night. What a cinematic and theatrical masterpiece and achievement. If you watched this, you’ve watched excellence of the highest order. If you haven’t watched it yet, buy tickets NOW. I’m not a theater geek by any means, but my girlfriend who is put it in her best terms: “that exceeded my wildest expectations”. This was being said as she showed Orion’s Belt in the clear night sky. Isn’t it great when life imitates art and shows us how beautiful things can be? Wicked showed me real beauty and gave me one of the most wicked post-watch highs I’ve ever had. My expectations were high after seeing glowing reviews, but nothing could have prepared me for what was to come. So with all of that out of the way, ready to defy gravity? Potential spoilers ahead.
“Okay, let's get this over with: no, I'm not seasick; no, I didn't eat grass as a child; and yes, I've always been green.”
Musicals in the cinematic space have really had a rough start to the century. Standouts like La La Land, The Greatest Showman, Les Misérables, and Hamilton all deserve their due recognition, but it’s hard to get people to easily access Broadway. Part of that problem is the exclusivity and lack of accessibility to Broadway itself. However, I believe Wicked has the power to change that. When more casual fans who haven’t even experienced a Broadway show, discover that something this good is only made possible through the hard work and dedication of Broadway talent, the money will print itself. And with that money, comes the opportunity to create a newer Broadway for this generation and beyond that is readily accessible, affordable and feasible to reach. When people discover the magic and power of Broadway and theater art, they will never go back.
“Enroll here often?”
Wicked took me to school last night. It taught me many lessons, as all good cinematic events do. The first lesson: the glory and triumph of Jon M. Chu. With movies like Crazy Rich Asians, Now You See Me 2, G.I. Joe Retaliation, and the Step-Up franchise, you can tell this man knows what the hell he is doing. Fantastic and grandiose set pieces that would put a smile on Ridley Scott’s face? Check. Beautiful cinematography and color palettes that would make Denis Villeneuve swoon? Check. Brilliant and ornate costume design work that puts The Great Gatsby to shame? Check. Jon M. Chu did absolutely everything possible to make Wicked the best marriage of theater and cinema possible and it shows with every single frame. And these are just the visuals.
“She's a terror! She's a tartar! We don't mean to show a bias, but Galinda you're a martyr!”
Second lesson Wicked taught me: musicals can be an otherworldly experience for storytelling techniques and breathe a different type of energy into a movie. That should go without saying, but unfortunately a so-called movie named Joker: Folie á Deux that released a short while ago is a perfect example of how NOT to do a musical. Not only do John Powell and Stephen Schwartz do a brilliant fucking job writing all of this music, it’s an equally talented ensemble that brings every song into BOP territory. The songs aren’t here just because it’s a musical, they’re here to further along the plot and convey the feelings and desires of our characters. The way the songs tie themselves together from the beginning to the end is something so unbelievably satisfying and unique. This is a soundtrack made in heaven.
“Let me tell you the whole story. Our paths did cross. At school.”
Next lesson. These leading ladies FUCK. HARD. Without mentioning anyone’s musical or choreographic skills and attributes (because they’re both fucking amazing), the acting here is really something to be excited about. Cynthia Erivo is the titular star and she fucking KNOWS it. Everytime she’s on screen, she commands your attention. Her expression and the weight in which she delivers some heavy lines is something to truly admire. She captivates an entire audience with just facial expressions, showing guilt, embarrassment, and anger with intensity and vigor. Her equal, Ariana Grande is an absolute revelation in this cinematic space. Real cinefiles will remember her early days of Victorious, but this is a step above. Her comedic timing, dry humor, and line delivery play a perfect complement to Erivo’s reserved and quiet performance when needed. The both of them share a magical chemistry few duos can achieve in a cinematic setting.
“Excuse me, there's no pretense here. I happen to be genuinely self-absorbed and deeply shallow.”
Next lesson? I don’t do this often, but I’m still talking about characters here. The side characters here are amongst some of the best of the entire year. Starting off with Jonathon Bailey’s Prince Fiyero. Also subtly gifted with some sort of proficiency in the art of comedic timing, he really was a standout to me, especially in those little moments where he would react with a certain facial expression or a certain gesture that just absolutely killed. Michelle Yeoh’s Madame Morrible was a sublime example of how to play a double-crossing, back-stabbing villain. Her duplicity and dubious moral compass are in question from the moment she steps onto the screen, but leaves enough room to question her motives. Ethan Slater, Jeff Goldblum, Peter Dinklage, and Marissa Bode are just some others that I can go into heavy detail about because they’re all shine in their own unique ways. What a freaking cast man.
“The best way to bring folks together is to give them a real good enemy.”
Next lesson, folks? You know, I went in so absolutely blind into this movie that I didn’t even register that this is a PG movie. By the time we were getting previews for The Bad Guys 2 and How to Train Your Dragon, I had pieced together that fact. Regardless, much like Transformers One, I had not expected such a deep social connection and message in this movie. Do you want metaphors and imagery of how propaganda is used by elites and wealthy to peddle a perspective and narrative that will control a populace? We got it. You want examples of how prejudice and racism is a social problem and how individuals can break the cycle of stereotypes? We got that too. Do you want to see how to break the stigma and negligence used when viewing people with disabilities or differences? Yeah, got that too. I could go on for hours talking about how this movie tackles racial and wealth inequality, fascism and the rise of a corrupted society, or the struggles of handicapped people trying to live a normal life like everyone else because this movie handles all of it in such a beautifully subtle and yet, powerful way.
“Follow the road. It's gonna lead you right... to me.”
Well folks, looks like it’s almost time for that bell to ring. We’ve had a fantastic year of movies and just when I thought nothing was gonna touch the upper echelon of Dune Part 2, Alien Romulus, or Deadpool & Wolverine, here comes Wicked to properly shut me up. In my opinion, it would have to take a real buzzer-beater like Godzilla Minus One last year in order to break into this top 4. Wicked is the definition of magical. It’s everything you’ve ever dreamed of and wanted of as a theater kid and nothing like you’ve experienced for the uninitiated. It will leave you buzzing and reeling for more after the credits begin. When you think you’ve seen it all from this movie, it tops it again and again and again. This is the type of musical experience you tell your friends about and buy tickets for as the credits are rolling. Wicked is the perfect marriage of musical theater and cinematic scale. An immense and indescribable achievement for all genres it touches.
“So if you care to find me, look to the western sky!”
Thanks for reading! Check out some of my links below:
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Last Review: Red One (2024)
