The Greatest Showman (2017) - REVIEW
This one surprised
me. I didn’t even realize it was a
musical when I sat down at the theater. The acting is a pleasure to
behold. The story is told via song
romance and drama coming together so well some may say it was epic. There are multiple layers and relationships
within the film as well as flashbacks revealed in such a way you feel the
emotion & find yourself drifting into the film. It’s a ride you want to take with its twists
and turns.
"Without promotion, something terrible
happens...nothing!" – P. T. Barnum
Directed by Michael Gracey, this film is pure entertainment with music by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. It shows us unity in diversity. Cary Grant, who had a rough
childhood, relays the following: "The Saturday matinee
was in full swing when I arrived backstage; and there I suddenly found my
inarticulate self in a dazzling land of smiling, jostling people wearing and
not wearing all sorts of costumes and doing all sorts of clever things. And
that’s when I knew! What other life could there be but that of an actor? They
happily traveled and toured. They were classless, cheerful, and carefree. They
gaily laughed, lived, and loved."
A wonderful scene "A Million Dreams"
the young and poor Barnum befriends a well-bred little girl named Charity, and
they dream of creating their own destiny. Michelle Williams is exhilarating how
she tosses herself into thin air, knowing Jackman will catch her. She shows a
strength of her own in the film that must be watched to be appreciated.
The
real standout is "Rewrite the Stars," the love song between Efron and
Zendaya, taking place in the empty circus tent, when she flies on the trapeze
far above him, and he tries to climb up the ropes to meet her. You can feel the sparks.
Ordinary folks have always confounded the
critics who can’t understand why some things are popular. Barnum, with a knowing smile, explains to a
skeptic, "People come to my show for the pleasure of being
hoodwinked."
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