DEC 5, 2024 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | By Lilly Asano and Rachel Weissman
*Contains spoilers*
On our editor’s date night, we (Lilly Asano and Rachel Weissman) spent our first night back on campus after Fall Break at RoadHouse Cinemas on N. Nevada Avenue. Unlike the novel, which Weissman described as “unpredictably dark and not for children,” the movie’s PG rating drew all ages to the theater, and RoadHouse was packed for a Sunday night. We found our reclining and heated seats in the crowded theater for what Forbes Magazine determined a “Spectacular Cinematic Triumph:” “Wicked.”
Based on “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” (1995) by Gregory Maguire and Douglas Smith, Stephen Schwartz’s stage musical debuted on Broadway in 2003. The movie adaptation was released on Nov. 22, featuring the first act and 11 songs of the musical.
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s performance was unexpected and unforgettable — a career-defining film for both actresses. Grande, previously known for her pop stardom, started her career as Cat Valentine in Nickelodeon’s hit show “Victorious.” With two Grammys and the record for the most number-one debuts on the Hot 100, the world was watching.
Grande’s IMDB consists mainly of her own music videos, but her role as Penny Pingleton in “Hairspray Live!” in 2016 had us doubting her musical theatre range. Unlike costar Dove Cameron, Grande seemed to lack the depth Cameron brought to the production, the same depth that made Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth Broadway stars.
However, Grande shone in her performance as Galinda. Her brilliantly funny and naive portrayal of Galinda allowed viewers to both hate and adore her, engrossed and struggling with her desire to be loved.
While cast as Galinda in November 2021, the role may have always been Grande’s. In 2012, MIKA (a 2010s one-hit-wonder victim) released “Popular Song” with Grande after watching “Wicked.” The song took key elements from “Popular,” telling the story of a fall from teenage popularity in a similar style to “Skater Boy” by Avril Lavigne. While Grande’s musical and acting prominence likely landed the role, maybe “Popular Song” worked as a career manifestation, giving fans and producers a glimpse of Grande’s wicked world.
However, with Grande being a household name and Erivo gradually climbing towards Grande’s level of stardom — with a Tony, an Emmy, a Grammy and two Academy Award nominations, she is no underdog, and her performance in “Wicked” proved that. From her impressive vocals, to her excellent portrayal of Elphaba’s deceivingly strong exterior, Erivo was the perfect choice for Elphaba. Her heartbreaking desire to belong deeply resonates with viewers throughout the movie, flawlessly executing Elphaba’s goodness and pureness of her heart.
Like any good film released in 2024, “Wicked” wouldn’t have been complete without celebrity cameos, including Saturday Night Live’s Bowen Yang and the original Galinda and Elphaba, Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel. Yang plays Pfannee, Galinda’s sidekick who helps facilitate cunning pranks and social humiliation against Elphaba early in the movie. Yang was apparently told to improvise his lines, delivering lines like “such braverism” and “I don’t see color.”
Now, if you know anything about the press tour infused with controversy and negativity, you know about the infamous “holding space” interview. Journalist Tracy Gilchrist told Erivo “I’ve seen this week people are taking the lyrics of ‘Defying Gravity’ and really holding space with that and feeling power in that,” Gilchrist said, while Grande stroked Erivo’s acrylic nails. What does that statement mean? Erivo seems to be the only one with the answer as she responds, struck by the encounter, with intense glances exchanged with Grande, “That’s really powerful…That’s what I wanted.” This interview has taken social media by storm for its palpable awkwardness and comical response by Erivo, adding some humor contrasting the backlash from the “Wicked” press tour.
“Wicked” runs two hours and forty minutes, a notably long run time, but not unprecedented for a movie musical. With the highly saturated color grading alongside Grande’s over-the-top portrayal of Galinda, the film was exuberant and unaffected by precedent.
The film began with Grande’s “No One Mourns the Wicked” with extremely difficult operatic runs, not only executed perfectly, but executed live. Galinda’s whimsical and lighthearted exterior was immediately penetrated by the depth and grief for her fallen friend while singing the emotional ballad. Confliction permeated Galinda’s flawlessly updone hair and pale complexion while she questioned, “Are people born Wicked? Or do they have Wickedness thrust upon them?”
Bridgerton star Johnathan Bailey executed the arrogant and aloof character of Fiyero perfectly. His blush-inducing performance of “Dancing Through Life” left us crushing on Bailey from his vibrant performance. The casting directors of “Wicked” are simply top-tier.
Despite our high praise of this film, Elphaba and Galinda’s friendship earlier in the film was underdeveloped, and without prior knowledge of the musical, we would’ve been taken aback by the jump from enemies to best friends. A simple montage of the pair running across the Shiz quad or taking lessons with Madame Morrible would’ve satisfied the gap in the plot. The audience was given hints of their friendship in the opening and closing scenes of the films, but not while their bond was forming. Their friendship being the center of the film, showing the evolution of the friendship shouldn’t be a tall order.
When Galinda and Elphaba arrive in Emerald City, the girls are enthralled by its beauty and energy. They find themselves at the Emerald City Players’ performance of “The Absolute, Factual Story of Our Wonderful Wizard of Oz” during “One Short Day,” and are greeted by Menzel and Chenoweth to tell them the story of Oz. Menzel, the original Elphaba in the Broadway musical, takes Erivo by the arm while Chenoweth and Grande also share a moment. Menzel then performs her iconic riff from “Defying Gravity,” which Erivo will later execute flawlessly in the final scene, and the four women are joined in sisterhood. Menzel and Chenoweth pass the metaphorical torch to the next generation of wickedness and the show’s iconic legacy.
The film’s cinematography exceeded expectations, specifically the final scene where Galinda all but creates the Wicked Witch of the West as she gives the iconic black witch hat, and theatrical cloak, and convinces Elphaba to go to the Emerald City. Galinda is the catalyst for Elphaba becoming the Wicked Witch, adding to the complexities of her seemingly simple character — there is no one to blame but herself for the events in “The Wizard of Oz”.
Despite our previous qualms, the depth of the friendship was solidified in Wicked’s infamous battle cry—“Defying Gravity”—the epic finale that spanned fifteen minutes of the emotional push-and-pull of a strong friendship between Galinda and Elphaba, and creating Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West. One of us cried, but that identity will remain anonymous.
Our predictions for “Wicked’s” upcoming Academy Award Cycle: Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay (winner), Best Production Design, Best Visual Effects, Best Costume Design (winner) and Best Makeup and Hairstyling (winner). We’re also anticipating “Wicked” to take a number Golden Globe nominations, including Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy (winner), Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy (winner, Erivo) and Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture. No matter the nominations, “Wicked” is our movie of the year.