markgorman

I mostly liked Wicked, although it's a little too long if I'm honest. I was blown away by both Ariana Grande's performance (quite wicked) and even more so by Cynthia Erivo (barely wicked at all).

The origin story revolves around good and evil of course but it's a bit unsatisfying that the end of the movie is essentially only the interval so that makes it a five hour movie.

For me the first act split into three. Act one, the establishment in the Emerald City (land of Oz) is simply brilliant, proper old fashioned MGM Musical magic rendered absolutely 21st century with apparently, a lot less CGI than it appears. The dance numbers are breathtaking and my wee pal from her youth theatre days Kirsty Anne Shaw knocks it out of the park in her two line cameo.

Act two loses pace and found me distracted before the pace changes dramatically as Erive heads towards wickedness. I can imagine this act is a little scary for younger children, it's verging on jump scare horror but it's effective and pacy, unlike act 2.

I really wasn't expecting Grande's excellent, cheeky, Heatherish performance at all and loved her. Eviro was new to me and she blew me away as the undoubted star of a decent movie.

It's clever to use a black actress made up green to evidence outsiderism (essentially racism) in society and was a bold and welcome decision that adds gravitas to a movie that is otherwise purely escapism.

I will go see Part 2 next ye.

Had I not read Robert Harris' source novel very recently I think I would have enjoyed this more. That said, it's a beautiful; and accomplished piece of work that stays unbelievably faithful to Harris' inspiration, indeed he is a script consultant.

Italian Dean of the Vatican, Lomeli, is transposed to the English Archbishop and Cardinal, Lawrence, to allow for the casting of Ralph Fiennes who puts in a compelling performance as the architect of a highly political Conclave upon the death of the incumbent pope.

All the leads (Tucci, Lithgow, Castelitto, Msamati and Diehz) perform well and Isabella Rosselini is good (but not as good as the reviews) as Sister Agnes .

But it is director Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front) and his DOP especially (Stephane Fontaine) that should win the real plaudits. It's beautifully directed, at a laconic pace that the story calls for and the cinematography is out of this world, The scene with the Cardinals proceeding through a rain shower with their white umbrellas is quite the thing.

All in all, a good solid movie that's worth seeing, but maybe not quite up to the hype.