Wonka really is a musical! — Page 2

Robbie2 said: "Timothee C eh...... he'snot that great in this so come on people what's all the buzz cuz he's dating Kylie Jenner????"

I mean, Chalamet is one of the youngest Best Actor nominees for the Academy Award, has consistently been working with some of the buzziest filmmakers nearly his whole career and has already headlined a blockbuster franchise with Dune. He's not just famous for dating a Jenner.

I thought the movie was pretty charming. Chalamet is fine in it, more successful when he leans into sincerity than quirkiness (quirky isn't really his thing), but the real stars are the characters actors that fill out the rest of the cast. Colman, especially, is really fun. Paul King has a way over wrapping up sentimentality and whimsy in the least cloying way possible; his movies feel like a warm hug.

Hiding singing in musical trailers is no new trend, I remember the groans and exclamations of surprise at the beginning of Sweeney Todd back in 2007.

rosscoe(au) said: "I spent the whole movie, just wondering when the announcement for the stage version was coming."

Same. I couldn't stop imagining this on Broadway with Casey Likes.

And don't forget the most famous author/director dispute of taste: "The Shining."

As tempting as it is to compare ''Wonka'' to the original, Paul King's marvelous new musical prequel can stand on its own as a wondrous fantasy with heart. Timothee Chalamet is so fun and infectious as the young Willy Wonka, and dances and sings with such delight. In interviews, Chalamet, who was just Golden Globe nominated, says ''this is the most physically challenging project I've ever done.'' And he credits working with musical supervisor James Taylor and Tony-winning choreographer Christopher Gattelli.

Which brings me to the other miracle worker in ''Wonka'': composer Neil Hannon. He's a singer-songwriter from Northern Ireland. He's written seven new tunes for ''Wonka,'' alongside co-lyricists King and screenwriter Simon Farnaby, and each one is a gem. Among them: ''For a Moment,'' a beautiful duet for Willy and Noodle (an orphan wonderfully played by Calah Lane); ''A World of Your Own,'' Willy's celebratory salute to his candy emporium, and ''You've Never Had Chocolate Like This,'' full of whimsical wordplay.

But my favorite song might be the jaunty and joyous one that opens the movie as Willy sings about his ''Hatful of Dreams.'' If there were any justice, one of the ''Wonka'' tunes would've been nominated for Best Song by the Oscars or the Golden Globes. Oh, well. They're in good company. Neither were ''Pure Imagination'' nor ''The Candy Man.''

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrfnOb2PX6U

Updated On: 12/24/23 at 04:37 AM

Enjoyed this and shed a tear or two but missed a bit of Dahl’s darkness. Olivia Coleman was definitely a treat for me. Gatelli’s choreography was a big plus.

Im really surprised at these reactions. I saw this earlier today and was dreadfully bored. I thought the songs were fairly dreadful, too.

Visually, the movie was stunning... And I don't think the fault is with the actors, but with the writing and pacing. I also think the film didn't know what it wanted to be. Ugh. My companion didn't like it, either.