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The Greatest Showman
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams, Zac Efron, Zendaya.
Director: Michael Gracey
Genre: Musical drama
Rating: PG-13
RUNTIME: 119 Mins
Like an expert tightrope walker, Hugh Jackman’s passion piece, The Greatest Showman, perfectly balances the boundary between magic and reality.
This musical biopic is inspired by the imagination of P.T. Barnum, who in his life was highly controversial, yet heralded as one of the first great showmen of the modern age. Hugh Jackman’s portrayal takes inspiration from the grandiose persona rather than historical fact, and his Barnum is a wide-eyed dreamer, creating wonder from the unremarkable and unwanted.
Phineas Taylor Barnum (Jackman) is a man of vision, both for himself and the world. He and his wife, Charity Barnum (Michelle Williams) have two daughters, and barely a nickel to their name. So when Barnum is unexpectedly let go from his monotonous career, he decides to invent a new one: show business.
He begins the search for ‘unique and curious persons’ to star in the greatest show on Earth.
These include, but are not limited to, a bearded lady with a big heart and even bigger singing voice, Lettie (Keala Settle); a talented, headstrong trapeze artist, Anne Wheeler (Zendaya); and a larger-than-life little person, Tom Thumb (Sam Humphrey). Barnum also enlists the help of Phillip Carlyle (Efron), a suave member of high society who falls in love not just with the show, but with one of its beautiful performers.
The audience is taken on an unforgettable journey into the birth of the circus, seeing the characters go through the highs of fame and fortune as well as the lows of prejudice and narcissism.
Jackman plays his version of Barnum as a man with as much depth as he has unending passion for the remarkable. He never fails to remind us of his difficult beginnings and how far he’s come, and he’s so charming he has us rooting for him even when we realise how far he has yet to go.
Williams’ Charity Barnum can best be described as his loving partner-in-crime, as they dance through their life together. If Barnum is the untempered ocean, then Charity is his lighthouse keeper.
The Greatest Showman also brings us new stars to watch out for in the future. Settle is vulnerable and empowered as Lettie, a bearded lady once in hiding for her appearance, now shining bright and beautiful for all to see. Rebecca Ferguson plays Jenny Lind, a revelation in the guise of the ‘nightingale of Europe.’
Efron and Zendaya’s chemistry is electric, and director Michael Gracey does an excellent job of remembering the context of the time in which it’s set. We see Anne Wheeler struggle against prejudice and hardship, one of the film’s powerful reminders of ordinary people’s potential for cruelty.
What is wonderful about the film is the overarching message of reaching for the stars, no matter the opposition you face or the person you are. There is a place for everyone here, and it’s often the outcasts of a society that are its most colourful characters. As they sing in one of the movie’s catchiest songs, the runaways are running the night now.
Watching it feels like dreaming with eyes wide open, seeing exuberance come to life in the glittering set pieces and strong vocal performances. The dance-pop numbers will light a fire in you that keeps burning long after you’ve left the cinema.
The soundtrack itself sets the tone right from the beginning: a modern day collection of big-top anthems, about loving your craft, your family, and yourself.
Perhaps the only slight downfall of this movie is that, much like the film’s greatest critic character claims, it doesn’t feel entirely real enough. There are a few plot points that seem a little forced, and this makes it seem disjointed at times.
I’m willing to excuse it though, because the rest of it just brings you so much joy. The story might be all about the sparkling showmanship of the circus, but it’s also so much more than that. Just be careful you don’t run away with it.
Now showing in: Cineco, Seef II, Saar, Wadi Al Sail, Al Jazeera, Dana Cinemas
Anna’s Verdict: 5/5
