The Greatest Showman (2017)

 

The Greatest Showman tells the story of how P.T. Barnum (played by Hugh Jackman with his usual musical theater bravado) created what would become the American-style circus. The movie, much like Barnum, tries to have it all. Barnum himself never seems satisfied with what he has. He always wants more: to be richer, to be more famous, to be respected. The movie tries to encompass issues of race and class and diversity and oppression and acceptance, never quite addressing all of the topics that it raises. Barnum was the son of a tailor, and he married a young woman named Charity (Michelle Williams, more subdued than necessary) who comes from a very wealthy family. Charity’s father never believes in Barnum, and as a result, the circus impresario keeps attempting to show that he deserves the wealth and fame that comes his way, at least temporarily. His initial attempt, Barnum’s American Museum, is too staid and boring; he begins to seek out so-called “freaks” to join him in a new kind of show. He’s the first to show them acceptance for who they are, and the film does make an important point about how we make our own families with this narrative thread. The most poignant relationship in the film might, however, be the one involving Zac Efron’s Phillip Chandler, a rich white playwright who becomes Barnum’s business partner, and Zendaya’s Anne Wheeler, a talented African American trapeze artist. Their romance crosses racial and class lines, and their duet of “Rewrite the Stars” features some gorgeous choreography. The soundtrack features several great songs, only one of which (“This Is Me”) was nominated for an Oscar. It’s easy to see how “This Is Me” was singled out, given its tuneful demand for acceptance, but for my taste, “Never Enough” would have been a better choice. Rebecca Ferguson performs it as famed 19^th century Swedish singer Jenny Lind, whom Barnum brings to America for her first tour. The musical numbers also chart the highs and lows of Barnum’s show business efforts, from the large audiences and popular attractions to the community revolts against the “freaks” that he hires and the non-stop criticism by the press. The film’s messages about the need to reach out to those who are different and the necessity of remaining allies regardless of the complications that come your way undoubtedly resonate with audiences, and the music certainly helps spread those ideas beautifully.

Oscar Nomination: Best Original Song (“This Is Me”)