Into the Woods (2014)

 

Into the Woods is the film adaptation of the famed Stephen Sondheim musical that weaves together the disparate fairy tales of Cinderella (Anna Kendrick), Rapunzel, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Little Red Riding Hood into the story of a baker and his wife (a lovely Emily Blunt). The barren couple wish to have a child and are given a chance to break a curse by the witch (Meryl Streep, having a delightful time) who lives next door. The adventures and misadventures that follow are some pretty dark stuff dealing with parents and children, spouses, regrets, revenge, growing up—all of the stuff of contemporary musicals. The woods themselves become this metaphorical space of self-discovery and revelation, and I must say that this is one of the first movie musicals in decades to resonate powerfully with me. It grapples with the issues that real humans face even though the fairytale setting might suggest otherwise. The songs are, as expected, a major draw, and almost all of them are performed with great enthusiasm and precision, a necessity with the tongue-twisters that Sondheim creates. I particularly enjoyed “Agony” sung by the two princes played by Chris Pine and Billy Magnussen. Who knew Pine could be so delightful and could sing so well? (And who could have predicted just how good leather pants would look on both of the princes?) “On the Steps of the Palace” and “No One Is Alone” are also shining moments with the latter one bringing tears to my eyes. By the end of the film, many characters have seen their lives overturned, but expecting the fairy tale ending of “happily ever after” in a Sondheim musical will only lead to disappointment. However, knowing that not all stories end happily means you can better appreciate what the filmmakers (and the people who created the original Broadway musical) achieve here.

Oscar Nominations: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (Meryl Streep), Best Achievement in Production Design, and Best Achievement in Costume Design