Connect with us

Film

I saw “Wicked” and finally understood all the songs I’ve been singing for over a decade

Published

on

wicked film cynthia erivo musical, wicked, cynthia erivo, ariana grande, Wicked musical, Wicked prequel, wizard of oz prequel, what is wicked about, is wicked worth seeing in theaters, thegrio.com

Kanye West introduced me to “Wicked.” Not in person, after all, but many moons ago a video of Kanye West surfaced in the studio fiddling with the rhythm with a sample of the song “Popular”, sung by Kristin Chenoweth, who played Glinda in the original solid recording of the Broadway musical “Wicked.” As far as I know, nothing ever got here of this rhythm – nor should it have; so far as Kanye’s productions go, it felt more like a throwaway at this point – but the sample was so intoxicating that I had to listen to the source material. I looked it up on (probably) Spotify and the rest is history.

I love a good musical. While this will likely be problematic for many reasons, I still take heed to “Hamilton” in the automobile and on the TV. I know all the Disney musicals and have made my kids love musicals too. We are a dramatic, singing house. “Wicked” was my jam. After finding the Wicked soundtrack, every single day I would hop into my 2008 Dodge Magnum – with the Hemi – plug in the aux cable and let the songs transport me and my daughter to the wonderful world of Oz. There was just one problem: until recently, I literally had no reference points for what was really happening in the show.

While I loved the soundtrack, I never made it to Broadway (or anywhere else for that matter) to see the play. I desired to, but for some reason I didn’t go to see it. So despite knowing the words to all the songs and singing “Defying Gravity” at the top of my lungs at a stoplight, causing confusion amongst various driving demographics in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, with none clues from the lyrics, the plot was a bit lost for me.

Advertisement

So you may imagine my joy when I came upon that the film adaptation of “Wicked” was hitting theaters. I was much more excited because the two foremost characters, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, are powerful singers, which appeared to me to be based on songs I knew. Well, I finally watched the movie – and baby, it’s me.

First of all, Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba? It worked. Phew, Chile. Ariana Grande looked like she had a great time playing the role of Glinda, also generally known as Galinda. Plus, as a kid who grew up watching The Wizard of Oz on VHS, it was pure pleasure to have a story that explained the history of so many things. I love a good narrative reframing and reimagining, so I’ll all the time be impressed by a super creative addition to an already compelling fiction. That’s why I’m so completely happy that Percival Everett won the National Book Award for his bestselling novel “James,” a retelling of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” from Jim’s perspective.

Watching Elphaba’s story was each emotional and insightful. Gaining access to the inner workings of a person’s mind, their journey and discovering how a good person “goes bad” shall be an investment ten times out of ten. Damn, I was rooting for the Wicked Witch throughout the entire movie. By the end of the movie I desired to burn Oz myself. It also made me rethink the opening scenes and the opening song “No One Mourns the Wicked”, you already know, perspective and all that jazz.

In hindsight, this really touched me because (I assume EVERYONE knows that the Wicked Witch of the West is killed in The Wizard of Oz) the movie opens with the entire community – Munchkinland – excitedly celebrating the death of Elphaba, who (spoiler alert ) As we learn, he got here from the same streets and was principally a freedom fighter who opposed the system and then became an enemy of the state. In fact, she would most definitely fight tooth and nail for these people. Seeing her burnt effigy after learning what we learned moved me. I’m not saying I cried, but I’m not saying I didn’t cry either. It’s complicated; leave me alone.

Advertisement
Will Smith Says He Regrets Feud With 'Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' Aunt Viv's Janet Hubert

That’s why I cannot wait for Wicked Part II to be released next yr; because I have to see where (perhaps if?) things modified. At the end of the first a part of “Wicked”, Elphaba realizes that she must forge her own path based on her morals and principles, and since she has learned about all the fiction behind the mythology of Oz – a discovery that Dorothy may even later make. How far people will go to keep up a lie and their evil ambitions, Elphaba discovered; her powers and abilities make her a threat, and the power structure in Oz was ready, willing and capable of publicly insist on characterizing Elphaba as just that – a danger. I wonder if I’ll still be rooting for her in the same way at the end of the next movie.

All I know is that I want more repetition, thought, and villain perspectives. For example, Disney did a good job; the entire “Descendants” film series, featuring the fictional children of Disney’s most famous villains, brilliantly pulls back the curtain (pun intended) behind the stories of the misunderstood and unfairly judged.

While I’m waiting, Elphaba is above every thing, darling. Defy gravity, girl! Defy gravity!


Panama Jackson theGrio.com

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com

Film

Denzel Washington celebrated after a tense meeting on the red carpet: “It was a great evening”

Published

on

By

Denzel Washington’s “Great Evening” in Cannes, which included an unexpected honor and standing ovation, began with a heated exchange on a red carpet.

On Monday, May 19, on the red carpet for the premiere of the movie Neo-Niir from Spike Lee “Highest 2 lowest”, through which Washington and $ AP Rocky perform, Washington talked to Lee when a member of paparazzi caught his arm.

Advertisement

Based on Material from this incident When making rounds on the web, the 70-year-old actor turns and warns the man to “stop”. When Washington turned to return to posing along with his Rocky star, the man did it again. This time Washington’s answer is rather more intense.

However, despite the hot exchange, Washington’s representative said People magazine“It was a great evening.”

A moment later, proving how happiness can change in ten centuries, Washington received the unexpected honorary Palme d’Or, the festival’s highest honor and standing ovation during acceptance.

“It’s a total surprise for me, so I’m a bit emotional, but I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart” Washington said. “It was a great opportunity to work again with my brother – brother from another mother, Spike.”

Advertisement

He continued: “You know, we are simply blessed beyond measure, I am blessed beyond measure, until my heart thank everyone. Thank you.”

Before the premiere of the red carpet, Washington joined Rocky and Lee to take a photo Since then, this has turn into popular due to the contagious show of joy. Three men, with wide smiles and coordinating white and black bands-in a white suit competing with Ton Montana, Washington in a black T-shirt and dark rinsing, and Lee in a white shirt and creamy pants-a series of funny shots. In a few shots, Rocky is inside older men, and in other shots all three are having fun with silly poses and faces.

“The highest 2 lowest”, reinterpretation of the Japanese thriller of the crime Akira Kurosawa from 1963 “High and low”, set in modern New York, means the fifth cooperation of Washington and Lee. The film has a buzzing forged, including Rocky, Jeffrey Wright, Wendell Pierce, Ice Spice of their film debut and more. “The highest 2 lowest” is to be released in cinemas on August 22 and will probably be available for streaming on Apple TV+ from September 5.

With stopping at Denzel, Spike will present the

(Tagstotransate) Cannes Film Festival (T) Denzel Washington (T) Spike Lee (T) ASAP ROCKY

Advertisement
This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
Continue Reading

Film

With stopping at Denzel, Spike will present the “highest 2 lowest” in Cannes

Published

on

By

Denzel Washington he noted a visit to the air trumpet to Film Festival in Cannes Between Broadway performances for the premiere of the “top 2 lowest” Spike Lee on Monday.

Cannes overturned a few of the plans to accommodate Speedy France Trip in Washington, which took place his lonely day while performing “Othello” in New York. “The highest 2 lowest” premiered on Monday evening in Cannes. And although the festival’s photographic phones often occur the next day, Cannes hosted one for the “highest 2 lowest” earlier Monday.

Advertisement

Washington, jokingly posing to Lee and the star A $ AP RockyHe showed no signs of the jet after arriving on Monday. Washington is predicted back to New York immediately after the show.

The indisputable fact that Washington would find a way to travel was some extent stuck for Cannes. When the festival was the first announced his composition last month“The highest 2 lowest” has not been announced. However, inside a number of hours Lee himself announced that the film was heading to Cannes. Festival representatives said they were waiting for confirmation that Washington was attending a walk on the red carpet.

“The highest 2 lowest”, remake of the film Akira Kurosawa from 1963 “High and low”, will be released in cinemas by A24 on August 22 before the broadcast on Apple TV+ 5 September.

Advertisement

(Tagstranslate) @AP

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
Continue Reading

Film

The trailer of the upcoming film by Tythera Perry “Straw” is available, and his “Set It Off” meets “John Q” Vibes

Published

on

By

The point is not that Tyler Perry cannot stop, because he won’t stop.

Leaving the very busy 2024, wherein he released three full-length films-“Mea Culpa”, “Divorce in black” and highly recognized “The Six Triple Eight” together with all his television programs and the introduction of a brand new series, corresponding to “Beauty in Black”-Mogul Mogul showed no signs of slowing down in 2025.

Advertisement

The “Tyler Perry’s Duplicity” psychological thriller appeared on Amazon Prime Video, and in June he drops “Straw” on Netflix. The trailer of “Straw” has recently been released and looks downs.

“Straw” is Taraji P. Henson as Janyah, a single mother fortunately, who is thrown out of her apartment, which reaches the last straw and decides to take matters into her hands. The configuration resembles the character of Thandiwe Newton in “Good Deeds”, which is able to win an identical fate, except that she met Wesley Deeds (Tyler Perry), who modified happiness and life with his generosity.

Based on the trailer of “Słomka”, it almost appears to be a version of the “Good Deeds” of the parallel universe wherein no wealthy businessman with the heart of gold appears. In “Słomych” Janyah reached a breakthrough.

Advertisement

Basically – and simply in response to the trailer – it appears that evidently “good deeds” are met “setting IT”, he meets the situation “John Q” … which implies that on June 6 I’ll prepare my popcorn.

Taraji P. Henson is not alien to work with Perry; She appeared in three of his other movies: “The Family That Proys” and “I can do all in myself” (two of his highest rated movies on Rotten Tomatoes), in addition to “Ballyhoo’d” Acrimony “(one of his lowest movies rated on the same platform). The film also includes Sherri Shepherd, Teyana Taylor, Glynn Turman, Sinbad, Rockmond Dunbar, Ashley Versher and Mike Merrill.

“Straw” debuts at Netflix on June 6.

Taraji P. Henson played in the upcoming thriller Tyler Perry
Advertisement

(Tagstranslate) Netflix

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
Continue Reading
Advertisement

OUR NEWSLETTER

Subscribe Us To Receive Our Latest News Directly In Your Inbox!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Trending