Universal's WICKED Films - News & Discussion Thread- Page 92

[theatretenor2]

Posted: 11/24/24 at 10:16pm

Jonathan Cohen said: "ACL2006 said: "There hasn't been a movie musical that got this much praise and strong reviews since Chicago. It's been that long unfortunately. So many fell just short (The Color Purple, West Side Story, Les Mis, Hairspray). And there's been plenty of flops(Rent, Jersey Boys, Dear Evan Hansen, In The Heights, Footloose, Rock of Ages, Phantom, The Producers)."

La La Land won 6 Oscars, not even counting the one it only won for 5 minutes. It made$472 million in theaters against a $30 million dollar budget. Plus Disney animated movie musicals like Moana andEncanto are extremely critically acclaimed.

There arebeloved movie musicals in the recent past, just less so with the stage to screen adaptations."

Can you imagine if the cinematography was half as good as La La Land's?

[theatretenor2]

Posted: 11/24/24 at 10:18pm

rg7759 said: "
Can they fix the color before this is released?"


I wish they could fix the lighting. I have no idea why you’d shoot “The Wizard and I” in flat, whitelighting. Imagine if that song had been shot while the sun was going down at Shiz, with a sky of purples and oranges and pinks? Instead she runs out into a washed out field of bone dry hay and an overcast sky. Missed opportunity."

Imagine how we would have ripped it to shreds for wizard and I having the same exact lighting as defying gravity. This is seriously what people are complaining about?

Just out of sheer boredom?"

No, we just know what it could have been from a technical standpoint. It's a near perfect film, but the technical shortcomings are plenty and are why it won't get the kind of awards love it could have. Look at the color in the behind the scenes specials from Dancing Through Life and other clips and then watch clips from La La Land and tell me you don't see a difference in the lighting and colors.

[rg7759]

Posted: 11/24/24 at 10:25pm

The point I'd people love to complain, even if you loved it. Like you had a whole year of complaints in a jar ready to unleash this weekend, and are almost disappointed that you can't use all of them.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 11/24/24 at 10:27pm

Jay Lerner-Z said: "Thanks, Ermengarde and AEA. That is interesting to read. I wonder what the Daldry version would have been like, but oh well, it all worked out eventually."

I have to imagine the Daldry version would have been a little more self-serious & less fun. And one part.

Daldry's career is funny, it seems like he really wants his populist younger-skewing franchise project ($$$$$$).

• He was slowly developing WICKED for years
• He was in talks to replace Alex Timbers as director of FROZEN, but then that job went to a different middle-aged Brit man (Grandage)
• He was attached to a Star Wars movie that didn't happen but he got a producer credit on the Obi Wan TV show)
• Now he finally seems to have his young people's franchise moment with the STRANGER THINGS play. And he's certainly made plenty off THE CROWN too.

[theatretenor2]

Posted: 11/24/24 at 10:32pm

rg7759 said: "The point I'd people love to complain, even if you loved it. Like you had a whole year of complaints in a jar ready to unleash this weekend, and are almost disappointed that you can't use all of them."

For the record, I LOVED the movie. As a fan of the technical aspects of film, I wanted more.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 11/24/24 at 10:37pm

rg7759 said: "The point I'd people love to complain, even if you loved it. Like you had a whole year of complaints in a jar ready to unleash this weekend, and are almost disappointed that you can't use all of them."


You’re actually the only one complaining. The rest of us are offering our opinions. It’s a discussion board.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 11/24/24 at 10:46pm

rg7759 said: "The point I'd people love to complain, even if you loved it. Like you had a whole year of complaints in a jar ready to unleash this weekend, and are almost disappointed that you can't use all of them."

Sounds like you've had this paragraph in a jar for a year to unleash this weekend and did just so because you're referring to situation that isn't happening in this thread...

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 11/24/24 at 10:50pm

Jonathan Cohen said: "La La Land won 6 Oscars, not even counting the one it only won for 5 minutes. It made$472 million in theaters against a $30 million dollar budget. Plus Disney animated movie musicals like Moana andEncanto are extremely critically acclaimed.

There arebeloved movie musicals in the recent past, just less so with the stage to screen adaptations."

That you're able to point to La La Land as an exception and Disney Animated Musicals really shows that Musicals DO face an uphill challenge of being taken seriously even when they are good. 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 11/24/24 at 11:00pm

I thought the ‘whiteness’ of “The Wizard and I” was a wonderful contrast to the whole Emerald City act of the film. The Emerald City is all glitz and glamor, but it’s all a show. Elphabas arch in “The Wizard and I” is still hopeful that the Wizard will help her save the animals, it’s more subdued and authentic. I also thought it was interesting she ran through a thriving wheat field when, supposedly, the animals were the cause of droughts and decreased crop yields…

 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 11/24/24 at 11:14pm

Elphaba is fantasizing about the wizard taking away her greenness, not helping her save the animals. She doesn’t even know they’re in danger yet. This is a classic “I want” song, and I think warmer visuals would have suited Cynthia’s performance much better than flat white light.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 11/24/24 at 11:27pm

Call_me_jorge said: "I also thought it was interesting she ran through a thrivingwheat field when, supposedly, the animals were the cause of droughts and decreased crop yields…"

Let's go back to this, we had a lot of extra time this movie. I think it really needed to expand on the problems Oz was having and how the animals are being used as Scapegoats (lol). It's one thing when you've got 90 minutes to get through the first act and be content, it's another when you have 2:40 for it and none of it is used to expand, just made more wordy.

[MrsSallyAdams]

Posted: 11/24/24 at 11:40pm

Just watched a second time. Add me to the list of folks who hates how they broke up Defying Gravity. The stares into the middle distance. The communion with her younger self. All beyond indulgent. The only emotion it stirred was annoyance.

 

But then I’d have cut half the songs and released it as one film so I’m not the target audience. I think the stage show needed pruning. Not expanding. 

[rg7759]

Posted: 11/24/24 at 11:43pm

TheatreFan4 said: "rg7759 said: "The point I'd people love to complain, even if you loved it. Like you had a whole year of complaints in a jar ready to unleash this weekend, and are almost disappointed that you can't use all of them."

Sounds like you've had this paragraph in a jar for a year to unleash this weekend and did just so because you're referring to situation that isn't happening in this thread..."

Clearly. Because the 1 happening here is on a 1st grade level. 

[Musical Master]

Posted: 11/24/24 at 11:45pm

Finally got to see it. Now I can be added to the growing choir of those who absolutely loved it! So many things from the acting, directing, writing, editing, musical numbers, costumes, production design, and yes, even cinematography (my theater had a really good projector in Dolby Atmos) were firing on all cylinders. This may join Chicago and the 2021 version of West Side Story as the best film adaptations of Broadway musicals of this current century; and something that other Hollywood studios should study and analyze if they want their future film musical adaptations even more than half of the power that Wicked has.

Everyone from Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, and Marissa Bode were great choices who excelled in their performances. But it was Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande who clearly stole the show for how not only their singing were utterly perfect, but their acting was what I called special and a wonder to behold. Their chemistry together was perfect, and I don't have any notes to give.

I would give this a rare 10 out of 10. The hype is real, and I hope it's properly recognized this awards season. Now here's to a long, but wonderful one year intermission.

Updated On: 11/25/24 at 11:45 PM

[Jonathan Cohen]

Posted: 11/24/24 at 11:55pm

TheatreFan4 said: "That you're able to point to La La Land as an exception and Disney Animated Musicals really shows that Musicals DO face an uphill challenge of being taken seriously even when they are good."

I'm not sure I'd agree with that. In 93 years, 10 musicals have won Best Picture Oscars, with 46 musicals nominated. This year, it's looking increasingly likely that both Wicked and Emilia Pérez are going to Best Picture Oscar nominations (and Emilia Pérez isn't even good).  

Compared to a genre like comedy, where likely no comedies will get a Best Picture nomination this year, I think musicals are taken really seriously.  

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 11/24/24 at 11:59pm

rg7759 said: "Clearly. Because the 1 happening here is on a 1st grade level."

Do you know how to use your words? Could you initiate the discussion you want to be having? Like... what are you even asking for?

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 11/25/24 at 12:06am

Jonathan Cohen said: "I'm not sureI'd agree with that.In 93 years, 10 musicals have won Best Picture Oscars, with 46 musicals nominated. This year, it's looking increasingly likely that both Wicked andEmilia Pérez are going to Best Picture Oscar nominations (and Emilia Pérez isn't even good).

Compared to a genre like comedy, where likely no comedies will get a Best Picture nomination this year, I think musicals are taken really seriously."

There has been exactly one Musical winning Best Picture on over 50 years and only a small handful of nominations in that time frame.

Also, comedies get plenty of love at the Oscars. Everything Everywhere All At Once, Parasite, etc. There's usually at least one nominated a year. Just last year American Fiction, Poor Things, Barbie. Anora is absolutely going to be nominated this year.

Updated On: 11/25/24 at 12:06 AM

[Jonathan Cohen]

Posted: 11/25/24 at 12:37am

TheatreFan4 said: "There has been exactly one Musical winning Best Picture on over 50 years and only a small handful of nominations in that time frame.

Also, comedies get plenty of love at the Oscars. Everything Everywhere All At Once, Parasite, etc. There's usually at least one nominated a year. Just last year American Fiction, Poor Things, Barbie. Anora is absolutely going to be nominated this year."

Of those movies you're mentioning, I think only Barbie is a straightforward comedy, the rest are genre hybrids. For example, not only is Anora going to get nominated for Best Picture, I think it's going to win. However, as incredibly funny as it is in at times, without spoiling anything, comedies don't end with that type of final scene. 

But my larger point is proportional. By one estimation, between 1995 and 2023, 2,479 Comedies were released in the U.S. compared to 208 Musicals. Given the huge amount of comedies released and the comparatively low amount of Musicals, Comedies underperform in terms of awards recognition and Musicals proportional are doing pretty well.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 11/25/24 at 1:05am

Anora is a masterpiece and the best film of the year.

[RJ14]

Posted: 11/25/24 at 1:53am

I was the only person in the cinema chuckled at the Deer/Dear line. That was such a funny delivery.

And Jon M Chu deserves an Oscars for making Sentimental Man and Something Bad interesting to watch.

Updated On: 11/25/24 at 01:53 AM