Half certainly one of a two-part film that spans three hours in complete for the primary half of an uncompleted storyline, by no means has a film like Depraved felt so long as it has. Director John M. Chu, answerable for musical bangers like Within the Heights and popcorn comedy Loopy Wealthy Asians, tells the origin story of the Depraved Witch of the West and Glinda the Good, two women who shall be key gamers in The Wizard of Oz, one of the crucial necessary movies ever made. This goals to offer depth to Elphaba, an ostracized however defiant lady born with inexperienced pores and skin – while additionally fleshing out Glinda’s Galinda, an aristocrat born well-liked and right into a lifetime of privilege.
The movie may be very a lot conscious of its standing as an origin story. You get to see how the Depraved Witch of the West obtained her broomstick, flying monkeys, hat, right down to the letter – and the way the wizard of Oz made the yellow brick street. It’s a movie that takes away a few of the mysteries finest left unanswered in The Wizard of Oz, and is decided to stretch out its runtime for each single one. But it’s not even an entire origin story – half certainly one of a sequel that doesn’t arrive till subsequent yr leaves you feeling very a lot cheated in the identical approach Throughout the Spider-Verse felt, with the supply materials it attracts from – the broadway 2003 theatre play provides extra color to The Fantastic Wizard of Oz and opens, after the occasions of the ebook and the movie. Glinda the Good arrives on the Munchkin village to verify their hopes – the Depraved Witch of the Witch is useless – however there may be extra to her than that, they usually had been buddies as soon as. So what follows is Glinda’s viewpoint; regardless of the narrative being instructed primarily from Elphaba’s perspective.
I’d envy anybody who tries to show to this – and particularly this – musical from stage to display however it’s a credit score to John M Chu that it virtually works. The songs by Stephen Shwartz are earnest, rousing and show-stopping – Defying Gravity is the large showpiece second, however weirdly, it falls the flattest – the second that it’s deployed doesn’t land with the sense of liberation and freedom that it wants, as an alternative feeling just like the movie has to finish someplace. It goals for giant concepts – bullying is a key theme of the primary half, however there’s additionally that of populism, the necessity for individuals to have somebody in charge, the demonisation of a distinction and corrupt leaders that’s, very floor degree, however very well timed. It exhibits indicators of better depth – lingering simply beneath the floor – utilizing Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel Depraved: The Life and Occasions of the Depraved Witch of the West however giving it a Harry Potter-style coating. Elphaba is performed with wealthy company by Erivo who’s totally terrific – sharing unimaginable chemistry with Ariana Grande, who is excellent, and completely plausible at exhibiting simply how useless her character is – you purchase each second of her unparalleled confidence irrespective of how absurd it will get – and Chu doesn’t waste time in working headfirst into the madness and leaving nothing to play. Grande particularly makes use of her pure fame as a popstar – albeit, one which has fallen behind the curve because of the sheer success of Charli XCX, Chappell Roan, Beyonce and Sabrina Carpenter in 2024 regardless of releasing a brand new album to ship a crowd-pleasing, lavish efficiency that exhibits her present for bodily comedy that Charlie Chaplin could be happy with – even right down to the hair toss, it’s timed to perfection. I would wish to see her tackle extra appearing roles, she’s treading down that well-trodden path fantastically.
Her appearing abilities ought to earn her all of the plaudits – she’s capable of maintain her personal in opposition to the incredible Erivo; who steals the highlight in her personal approach – the rendition of Defying Gravity is nice, if the enhancing decisions imply it’s considerably lacklustre in execution. Her efficiency of Elphaba is spot on, she’s been spurned by everybody, her personal father, her personal sister, and is aware of she will be able to by no means have a cheerful ending. In that world, she’s virtually doomed from the beginning – circumstances of destiny strip away the nostalgic romanticisation of Oz – and present it because the flawed society that led to a Depraved Witch’s rise within the first place. Bear in mind – evil should come from someplace; and everybody has a unique perspective of it.
The supporting forged is incredible and rightfully charismatic. Jonathan Bailey is a rogue, Elvis Presley-type boy surprise, who has the perspective of a Footloose protagonist who’s introducing music to a city who can’t dance. A love triangle feels inevitable, but on the similar time, compelled and awkward. Michelle Yeoh is sweet as a lecturer who sees potential in Elphaba, however Jeff Goldblum simply turns up, does his shtick, and goes dwelling. You already know what you’re getting with him however the perfect factor to return out of his casting could also be his tried pronunciation of the phrase Cineworld within the multi-billion advertising and marketing scheme used to advertise the film.
And the enhancing decisions are the place the issues lie oh, the enhancing decisions. The color grading is stilted and odd, too dour and gray, missing the color that The Wizard of Oz had, one thing known as the Yellow Brick Highway shouldn’t look boring but it does. Emerald Metropolis barely seems to be prefer it’s worthy of the title. What the movie succeeds at is popping a stage play to display – you get added options just like the colourfully named Shiz College, a Potter-like faculty that has its personal issues, animals are on the verge of being stripped from their talking roles and demonised in favour of being servants and stored in cages. The only real animal professor, a goat – talks concerning the previous and why it’s so necessary to show it. It’s a testomony to Depraved that it feels so well timed.
You want to see Depraved on the large display to have a full impact, it’s giddy, infectious and drew applause from my screening who all appeared to like it (sans the one lone dad, who nodded off and began loud night breathing thirty minutes in), and its easy appeal and spontaneity earns the chance of casting a popstar within the lead position; and what a efficiency Grande provides. It’s let down by its size nonetheless and over-indulgence, the movie feels bloated and extreme in a approach that Peter Jackson would possibly even suppose was a bit a lot. A lot time is spent on the college but it’s the identical construction we’ve seen in each teen drama previously, magical or not – a Imply Women construction with out the necessity for being creative or totally different. Watching this on the small display is not going to have almost the identical influence, but on the similar time, its followers are about to observe it again and again.
Chu’s energy is within the musical numbers. The set-pieces are lavish and thrilling, and the reverence for the stage musical – anticipate actor cameos – and The Wizard of Oz is thick, however a bit too intensive. The usual Marvel humour is available in elements, however isn’t overbearingly so, and the humour right here feels purposely overbearing and awkward. But additionally humorous – I laughed. I appreciated it. However… did I like it? The important thing concern is in the way it seems to be – boring, devoid of color. Indefensible when The Wizard of Oz’s flamboyant, attractive technicolour renders it among the finest wanting American movies ever made.
The movie additionally ends with very a lot a “part one” feeling. There’s no decision. There’s no storyline, there’s no conclusion. It seems like simply as issues are getting fascinating, simply as they’re shifting past the origin stage, it’s over, but for 3 hours, the movie ought to really feel shorter. The dance sequences don’t actually have time to breathe and really feel rushed, lower to demise. The otherworldly nature of Oz doesn’t really feel fantastical – they’re meant to really feel actual, however not often do. It’s highschool drama with a unique coating and also you’ve seen 1000’s of highschool dramas earlier than – why ought to The Wizard of Oz be become one more one? There may be queer subtext right here, however floor degree and extra effort is put in by the followers slightly than the filmmakers. It by no means feels visually artistic; and the stakes are compelled and empty by the actual fact you inevitably know the place it’s going – there’ s no rigidity – there’s no actual intrigue.
For such a key plot level, the oppression of the speaking animals is never tackled. It feels prefer it dominates greater than it does of the movie’s first hour or so, however rapidly fades away and is forgotten about. Depraved may’ve had extra to say concerning the present state of affairs than it does – it’s very, very floor degree. It’s in the end exhausting to really feel glad as a result of there isn’t any decision, it doesn’t stand by itself as a film and it doesn’t exist as a lot else aside from a set-up for a sequel about penalties. There’s a extra artistic, labyrinthically and wonderous movie in right here that dares to have a way of enjoyable – and there may be proof of that; however it’s few and much between. Far an excessive amount of is dedicated to its have to hit an evidence for every thing that doesn’t should be defined in The Wizard of Oz, sure it’s good to have Elphaba’s story instructed – however there’s solely so many connect-the-dots you’ll be able to take. Fortunately, the musical numbers are licensed bops – and it is sufficient materials to maintain you entertained regardless of this.
