The Greatest Showman (2017)
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| Photo from https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NyVYXRD1Ans/maxresdefault.jpg |
Rating: PG
Length: 1 h 45 min
“The Greatest Showman”, directed by Michael Gracey, took on the story of circus master P. T. Barnum. The film used top actors Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams, Zac Efron, and Zendaya. The star of the film being Hugh Jackman, who played P. T. Barnum himself, stole the stage with his singing and dance performance he brought with him from his past theater experience. “The Greatest Showman” included musical composers Justin Paul and Benj Pasek, owners of Oscar and Tony trophies from their work on “La La Land”. With the number of amazing people incorporated into this film production, “The Greatest Showman” was a hit before even hitting the box office.
Based on Michael Gracey’s past directed work of “Naruto” and “Natasha Bedingfield: Unwritten” (IMBd) little was known of how he would do directing such a large project. With an estimated $84 million dollar budget, while not very much for a film production, was more than expected for someone of limited directing history. Gracey though pulled through with his limited budget and created one of the best films of 2017. Hitting open week with an $8.8 M in revenue and getting a total $100 million in the United States. With the release reaching a worldwide the film gained a total revenue of $200.4 million (IMBd). Going on to win a Golden Globe for the best original song ‘This is Me’ composed by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (Wikipedia). The film also received Golden Globe nominations from best motion picture within in musical/comedy field and for best performance by an actor in a motion picture of musical/comedy with the performance of Hugh Jackman.
Based on Michael Gracey’s past directed work of “Naruto” and “Natasha Bedingfield: Unwritten” (IMBd) little was known of how he would do directing such a large project. With an estimated $84 million dollar budget, while not very much for a film production, was more than expected for someone of limited directing history. Gracey though pulled through with his limited budget and created one of the best films of 2017. Hitting open week with an $8.8 M in revenue and getting a total $100 million in the United States. With the release reaching a worldwide the film gained a total revenue of $200.4 million (IMBd). Going on to win a Golden Globe for the best original song ‘This is Me’ composed by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (Wikipedia). The film also received Golden Globe nominations from best motion picture within in musical/comedy field and for best performance by an actor in a motion picture of musical/comedy with the performance of Hugh Jackman.
The bases of “The Greatest Showman” was the life of P. T Barnum back in 19th century. Starting from Barnum’s childhood and into the beginning of him creating the great Barnum and Bailey Circus. You get to experience his childhood dream of making it big and being accepted by the world. Barnum’s marriage to Charity Hallett nee Barnum (played by Michelle Williams) and their two daughters. The film takes off once he buys a museum of “oddities” in his New York home. With the suggestion of getting live “oddities” from his daughters to gain customers, you start to meet the “strange and unusual” people that are outcast from society. As you watch Barnum accept ridicule from society and make it big you also see his fall into wanting society to accept him. This prompts Barnum to bring in playwright Phillips Carlyle (Zac Efron) who ends up in a love story with African American trapeze performer Anne Wheeler (Zendaya). When Barnum meets famed Swedish singer Jenny Lind (Rebecca Ferguson) you watch him going touring across the United States with her and fall off the track of his beginning goals and go after society’s acceptance of him. Finding himself, Barnum heads home back to his family and circus. Barnum goes through some more struggles that challenge him and becomes partners with Carlyle in recreated the circus in the vision’s original beginnings.
“The Greatest Showman” is a family fun film that sends messages of self-acceptance and empowerment. But at the same time takes away from the real history of P. T. Barnum and his circus. The film makes sure to keep cursing and violence out and play down what must have been violent times. The worst against them being people picketing against them and a few through punches the film skips out on. The theme sticks to do your best and be yourself through the actions of Barnum and his troupe. The bearded lady (Keala Settle) and the rest of the circus troupe breaking out into the song of “This is Me” in their way of accepting themselves. The film stays in a vibrant light with avoiding topics of animal cruelty, the “fake” attractions Barnum brought into his circus, and the harsh reality of society. The songs break out of traditional themes and gravitate into pop and despite even the saddest moments stay positive in self-acceptance themes.
The film was enjoyable with the dance numbers and circus performances. The pop songs gave a modern twist enjoyable for the whole family and catchy enough to stay in your head. The “oddities” that Barnum hires were amazing to watch perform and had you hooked with their interesting looks and stunts. The scene between Carlyle and Wheeler to the song “Rewrite the Stars” with the trapeze through in was heart gripping love that expresses so much emotion. The happy ending to show the Barnum circus we are more familiar with left us with a content end for a family fun film.
Though for those looking for a bit more substance in “The Greatest Showman” will be a bit disappointed. The dance number brings forth remembrance to “High School Musical” in the simplicity and group numbers. While the “oddities” are interesting to see there is no character development for them and we are left to wonder who they are. Animals, such as elephants and lions, used in the circus are completely glossed over and ignored. Even the scandalous moments of Barnum are glossed over and left forgotten with no true tell of what really happened.
Some other reviews of the “The Greatest Showman” have gone on and on about the amazing performance of Hugh Jackman. With his past work in theater productions like “Oklahoma!” and “The Boy from Oz”, everyone was ready to see more of him and film fanatics that only knew him as “Wolverine” got an amazing surprise. Sheila O'Malley from RogerEbert speaks of how even though the “Ringling Brothers may have closed up shop, [but] Barnum lives on.” O’Malley goes over the how the film shows a self-loving and empowering family fun film. While on the other side Nicholas Barber from BBC goes over some of the messages the film presented that might be controversial and even weak. They discuss how the film showed little harm against going against society and how characters of true “oddities” were left underdeveloped and made to look as they should be “grateful to a tall and handsome white hero.”
Despite the questioning and loose ends “The Greatest Showman” has the film is a family film must. The music, dances, and circus will keep everyone entertained. The kids will get a sense of self-acceptance as they did with “Frozen” and want to run away to the circus all at the same time. If you enjoy the acting of Hugh Jackman in his other theater productions or where, or still are, a fan of High School Musical this film will become one of your favorites for years to come. “The Greatest Showman” will allow the Barnum to live on and around the world to continue to enjoy his circus.
The film was enjoyable with the dance numbers and circus performances. The pop songs gave a modern twist enjoyable for the whole family and catchy enough to stay in your head. The “oddities” that Barnum hires were amazing to watch perform and had you hooked with their interesting looks and stunts. The scene between Carlyle and Wheeler to the song “Rewrite the Stars” with the trapeze through in was heart gripping love that expresses so much emotion. The happy ending to show the Barnum circus we are more familiar with left us with a content end for a family fun film.
Though for those looking for a bit more substance in “The Greatest Showman” will be a bit disappointed. The dance number brings forth remembrance to “High School Musical” in the simplicity and group numbers. While the “oddities” are interesting to see there is no character development for them and we are left to wonder who they are. Animals, such as elephants and lions, used in the circus are completely glossed over and ignored. Even the scandalous moments of Barnum are glossed over and left forgotten with no true tell of what really happened.
Some other reviews of the “The Greatest Showman” have gone on and on about the amazing performance of Hugh Jackman. With his past work in theater productions like “Oklahoma!” and “The Boy from Oz”, everyone was ready to see more of him and film fanatics that only knew him as “Wolverine” got an amazing surprise. Sheila O'Malley from RogerEbert speaks of how even though the “Ringling Brothers may have closed up shop, [but] Barnum lives on.” O’Malley goes over the how the film shows a self-loving and empowering family fun film. While on the other side Nicholas Barber from BBC goes over some of the messages the film presented that might be controversial and even weak. They discuss how the film showed little harm against going against society and how characters of true “oddities” were left underdeveloped and made to look as they should be “grateful to a tall and handsome white hero.”
Despite the questioning and loose ends “The Greatest Showman” has the film is a family film must. The music, dances, and circus will keep everyone entertained. The kids will get a sense of self-acceptance as they did with “Frozen” and want to run away to the circus all at the same time. If you enjoy the acting of Hugh Jackman in his other theater productions or where, or still are, a fan of High School Musical this film will become one of your favorites for years to come. “The Greatest Showman” will allow the Barnum to live on and around the world to continue to enjoy his circus.
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