Wicked

One of my favorite films, without a doubt.
 First of all, you should know that Wicked is the adaptation of a Broadway musical released in 2003, which itself was inspired by a book published by Gregory Maguire in 1995. The story follows the adventures of two friends, Glinda and Elphaba—one a green-skinned witch with a special gift, the other an outgoing, “pinky” witch. Despite their differences, they eventually become best friends and go on to meet the Wizard of Oz. I saw Wicked in theaters shortly after it came out, in the original version with subtitles (I’m french), which I recommend. Even though the dub actors are talented, the actresses in this film (Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande) have extraordinary voices and deliver incredibly powerful performances of the songs. That’s understandable when you know they grew up with the musical and put their whole hearts into the film. Moreover, the sets and costumes are stunning. Paul Tazewell did a fantastic job and absolutely deserves his Oscar. The details on the dresses—even for the secondary characters—echo the musical, and it’s a beautiful tribute. Nothing was overlooked. Finally, I’ve never been so captivated by the ending of a musical. Cynthia’s performance carries the finale. The stormy sky symbolizing the tension between the characters, the Wizard’s castle destroyed by the battle, Defying Gravity… everything was perfect. That said, you need some patience because the first part is quite long and the film contains a total of 10 songs. However, I think even someone who isn’t a fan of musicals can enjoy the film (my father did). I can’t wait to see the end of Elphaba and Glinda’s adventures. So here’s my advice: dive into the world of Oz now!