A tornado, a yellow brick road, and three clicks before “The Wizard of Oz,” an unusually and exceedingly peculiar and altogether quite impossible to describe story takes place—a story of the good and the wicked, sisterhood, and “braverism.” Act one of the musical “Wicked,” a prequel based on “The Wizard of Oz,” has been “Galindafied” into a live-action film that has made its way out of Kansas and onto the silver screen.
The film has been in the works since 2012, and officially began production in 2021. This $145 million, 2 hours, 40 minutes project has garnered massive anticipation for the release of the film. With a dazzling emerald cast made up of gems such as Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba), Ariana Grande (Glinda), Jonathan Bailey (Fiyero), Michelle Yeoh (Madame Morrible), and Jeff Goldblum (The Wizard of Oz), along with unexpected cameos from the original pink and green Broadway duo Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, the excitement surrounding the actors brought existing and new audiences alike into the theater for the release. Each role was fittingly picked, but Erivo and Grande truly embodied Elphaba and Glinda, especially with their out-of-this-world vocals.
Erivo and Grande made the formidable and exceedingly difficult decision to sing each song live on set, but the effect resulted in a vibrant and addictive soundtrack. “What Is This Feeling?” is the first song Glinda and Elphaba sing together beginning with letters written to their parents about the less-than-preferable rooming circumstances, and then elevates into an ongoing argument between the two resulting from their “unadulterated loathing” for each other. The visuals and choreography paired with the already marvelous and harmonic song generates an unforgettable scene that introduces the nature of their relationship.
“Popular,” arguably one of the most popular songs from the original “Wicked,” is a makeover scene following a sentimental bond between Glinda and Elphaba. There is a bright, vivacious feeling to this song, bubbly almost. The strategic pink lighting and dancing in this scene makes for a dazzling spectacle.
The final stage of the movie ends with the chill-inducing, hair-raising, beautifully stentorian song “Defying Gravity,” taking place during the turning point for Elphaba where she decides to resist the lies and corruption in Oz and come into the full extent of her powers. The emotional song is enhanced by Erivo’s astounding vocal abilities. The music in “Wicked” is already fantastic, but the intricate details Grande and Erivo added throughout the f ilm make for a phenomenal soundtrack.
Furthermore, the styling of each character enhanced the production and experience. Each outfit by itself is beautiful, but the outfits for Elphaba also tell a story and emulate her inner turmoil and growth for example, Elphaba’s iconic hat, given to her by Glinda originally as a prank, becomes a visual representation of their friendship and Glinda’s ability to see who Elphaba really is. Costuming is an artform, and the designers for “Wicked” mastered the ability to do so while simultaneously telling a subtler story.
The film’s set design truly makes it shine. In a world overrun by CGI and lazy visual design, the director Jon M. Chu and production designer Nathan Crowley made the impressive decision to build the sets for Wicked in tandem with having scenes in front of a blue screen and adding them in post-production. Munchkin Land was hand built with a staggering nine million real tulips planted on set. Shiz University, The Emerald City, and the indoor sets were all recreated to achieve a genuine feeling for the film and allow for 360-degree filming. The sets in this movie are more than just complex and detailed, they are immersive. “Wicked” has something a lot of movies lack which is extreme effort on all fronts of production. Real sets were not necessary, but the effect they had created a masterpiece of a film.
“Wicked” is a sentimental masterpiece that balances a dichotomy between total detestation and familial love, answering the question: “Are people born wicked? Or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?” With astounding vocals, visuals, and storytelling, “Wicked” is a “thrillifying” screen adaptation, a dance through life in Oz, and a story of sisterhood that defies gravity.
