P.T. BARNUM HUMBUG?
Fierce. No, I’m not dreaming about Beyonce. Actually, it’s Keala Settle who summons this apt descriptor. She positively radiates star power in her role as the Bearded Lady (Lettie Lutz) in “THE GREATEST SHOWMAN”. If this were a live performance, one could say that she “stops the show” with her anthem of self-acceptance.
I first became aware of her potential on the stage at La Jolla Playhouse. She studied theatre in the nationally-renowned graduate program at University of California San Diego (UCSD). In particular, I remember with fondness her performances in HANDS ON A HARDBODY and SIDE SHOW. In this movie, therefore, I celebrate her breakout performance in the world of Cinema.
Leading the pack as P.T. Barnum in this high profile movie, Hugh Jackman triple threats his way to astonishing heights “one brick at a time”. Is there anything this man can’t do? And he gets to sing quite a few impressive Pasek & Paul songs. It must be admitted: Without Hugh, there isn’t a movie (that’s the long and short of it). Reason?The money people at 20th Century Fox would not agree to fund an 85 million dollar movie, and – let’s be honest – very few actors could carry a movie musical without this man’s skillset. Incidentally, Broadway geeks will recognize Will Swenson early in the film in the role of Philo Barnum.
The lovely Michelle Williams (Charity Barnum) centers Phineas whenever his instincts send him over the cliff as she nurtures his family in the midst of his chaotic life. The camera is in love with this lady no matter the project. A deserving focus to be sure. Their deep and abiding love creates tension in the screenplay penned jointly by Bill Condon and Jenny Bicks.
Leaving behind his legacy from the “HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL” series, Zac Efron (Phillip Carlyle) offers a multi-layered performance as the playwright turned entrepreneur who steadies the erratic impulses of his eventual partner at the Barnum & Bailey Circus. Oh, and he didn’t even need to bare his chest this time (his movie “go to” as of late)!
Zendaya, as trapeze artist Anne Wheeler, thrills all with her aerial maneuvers, expanding her fans’ perceptions of the talent repertoire at her disposal. For this moviegoer, she serves as the biggest surprise. The public may be bowled over at the discovery of her acting range.
Joining Keala Settle among the panoply of special attractions in Barnum’s arsenal is Rebecca Ferguson as Jenny Lind (“The Swedish Nightingale”). If it isn’t already obvious, another voice handles the singing chores for this character. Sorry for the spoiler for some, but this lady with the powerhouse vocals (Loren Allred, a previous finalist on “The Voice”) deserves a smidgen of credit (at the very least).
Shout out to Ashley Allen and Shannon Holtzapfell who are responsible for the stunning dance elements in the production. When Barnum cries in his beer following the devastating fire, the cast manage to show him another direction without tossing in the towel. That resonant, athletic dance that amplifies this key scene is a sequence that lights a fire under the “Prince of Humbug”. A highlight of the film!
There has been a great deal of critical carping about the fact that Barnum in real life had been far from the humanitarian that he demonstrates on screen. Poppycock (I love this word!)! All film buffs actually require is a terrific story. Other concerns should manifest within the pages of a biography.
Cinematographer Seamus McGarvey paints some amazing picturesque moments. Take, for example, that magical scene as Barnum’s family cavorts among the hanging backyard sheets. Wow…just wow!
Director Michael Gracie pulls all of the disparate elements together. This achievement cannot be underestimated given the complexity of this venture. Is this movie destined to become a Broadway musical show? Stay tuned.
“THE GREATEST SHOWMAN” hits the bullseye in my estimation. A nagging question, though, shrouds my appreciation just a tad. Tell me, where is Joice Heth, George Washington’s 161-year-old mammy, who happened to be a key attraction in the real P.T.’s stable of oddities? That would have been Side Show heaven!
Buttering the Popcorn…Reflections on both Marketing Lightweights and Heavyweights from the Contemporary Movie Cornucopia
