Way back in December of 2017 I heard that a movie called The Greatest Showman was coming out. I didn't really care. I saw the trailer, and thought that it might be kind of fun.
In January of 2018 a blogger friend of mine told me that she had seen it in theaters and thought it was great. "You should see it and review it for your blog!" she wrote.
In February of 2018 I saw the song "This is Me" performed at the Oscars and thought that it was great, and only wished that I could see the movie.
June of 2018 I finally got our librarian to get a copy. Then I watched it. Then I was amazed.
Now, in July of 2019 I am finally reviewing it. Why? You know me, there has to be a special reason and it turns out the July 5th was P.T. Barnum's birthday! How appropriate, right?
My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless I give you warning.
The Greatest Showman (2017):
Based on: The life of P. T. Barnum.
After growing up poor, and the company that he works for going bankrupt, Phineas T. Barnum has a brilliant idea. He wants to make a museum of people, and that idea turns into a show of a kind. He finds people who are different, who have talents, and he makes them the stars of his new "circus". When he gets distracted and different difficulties arise, the question is this: will the show still go on?
After growing up poor, and the company that he works for going bankrupt, Phineas T. Barnum has a brilliant idea. He wants to make a museum of people, and that idea turns into a show of a kind. He finds people who are different, who have talents, and he makes them the stars of his new "circus". When he gets distracted and different difficulties arise, the question is this: will the show still go on?
Genre: Musical, Romance, Biography.
Length: approx. 105 minutes.
Costumes: 8, there are some that are a little low, but there are so many that they did a great job on, it's amazing!
My favorite: They are all amazing, but since I love blue so much I love this one of Anne's:
Script: 7, there are a few swear words, mostly in just one song.
Crew:
Directed by: Michael Gracey.
Written by: Jenny Bicks, & Bill Condon.
Starring:
Hugh Jackman as P. T. Barnum.
Michelle Williams as Charity Hallett-Barnum.
Zac Efron as Phillip Carlyle.
Zendaya as Anne Wheeler.
Keala Settle as Lettie Lutz.
Rebecca Ferguson as Jenny Lind.
Sam Humphrey as Charles Stratton.
James Babson as Charles Stratton (singing and speaking voice).
Paul Sparks as James Gordon Bennett.
Daniel Everidge as The Lord of Leeds.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Radu Spinghel, Timothy Hughes, Luciano Acuna Jr., Danial Son, Yusaku Komori, Nick Jantz, Kenneth Chan, Martha Nichols, Jonathan Redavid, Shannon Holtzapffel, Jeremy Hudson, Taylor James, Caoife Coleman, Mishay Petronelli, Chelsea Caso, Khasan Brasilford, Alex Wong, Julius Rubio, Vincent-Oliver Noiseux, DeAnna Walters, Jessica Castro, Najla Gilam, & Christina Glur as Various Ensemble Dancers.
Ellis Rubin as Young P. T. Barnum.
Ziv Zaifman as Young P. T. Barnum (singing voice).
Skylar Dunn as Young Charity.
Eric Anderson as Mr. O'Malley.
Byron Jennings as Mr. Carlyle.
Betsy Aidem as Mrs. Carlyle.
Fredric Lehne as Benjamin Hallett.
Kathryn Meisle as Hannah Hallett.
Gayle Rankin as Queen Victoria.
Shuler Hensley as Lead Protester.
(Man, there are a lot of actors!)
Hugh Jackman as P. T. Barnum.
Keala Settle as Lettie Lutz.
Rebecca Ferguson as Jenny Lind.
Sam Humphrey as Charles Stratton.
James Babson as Charles Stratton (singing and speaking voice).
Paul Sparks as James Gordon Bennett.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Radu Spinghel, Timothy Hughes, Luciano Acuna Jr., Danial Son, Yusaku Komori, Nick Jantz, Kenneth Chan, Martha Nichols, Jonathan Redavid, Shannon Holtzapffel, Jeremy Hudson, Taylor James, Caoife Coleman, Mishay Petronelli, Chelsea Caso, Khasan Brasilford, Alex Wong, Julius Rubio, Vincent-Oliver Noiseux, DeAnna Walters, Jessica Castro, Najla Gilam, & Christina Glur as Various Ensemble Dancers.
Austyn Johnson as Caroline Barnum.
Cameron Seely as Helen Barnum.Ellis Rubin as Young P. T. Barnum.
Ziv Zaifman as Young P. T. Barnum (singing voice).
Eric Anderson as Mr. O'Malley.
Byron Jennings as Mr. Carlyle.
Betsy Aidem as Mrs. Carlyle.
Fredric Lehne as Benjamin Hallett.
Kathryn Meisle as Hannah Hallett.
Gayle Rankin as Queen Victoria.
Shuler Hensley as Lead Protester.
(Man, there are a lot of actors!)
Cinematography: 10! All the dancing is so incredible, I can't even imagine the work that they put into it. But it also has a weird way that the songs are filmed. I'm okay with it, but my mom and dad don't really like it.
Cinematography by: Seamus McGarvey.
Music: 10! I love the songs! "A Million Dreams" is probably my favorite, but I love "This Is Me" and "Never Enough". I'm actually listening to the soundtrack while I write this review. For some reason I didn't used to like "Rewrite the Stars" but now I do! I just love them all.
Music by: John Debney & Joseph Trapanese.
Quotes: 9. "You don't need everyone to love you, Phin. Only a few good people."
Storyline: 8, so there is a very sensitive topic in here, but they handled it wonderfully! There is also some drinking, and fighting, but I think that's it.
Good For: Musical lovers, people who feel like they are different and not loved, everyone!
Age Range: I really think that any one of any age would love the music and setting!
Overall Score: 8.5!
Bonus thoughts:
I think that all of us at sometime in our lives have felt that we are worthless, that we are weird, "freaks", that no one could ever love. This movie shows that the world can be harsh, but that doesn't mean that we aren't loved. It might not be 100% historically accurate, but it is just such a fun and lively film with such an uplifting message that I love it!
"Another critic might say that it was a celebration of humanity."
The photos that I have here really don't capture it, you need to watch it!
Have you seen this movie? What do you think? Thank you so much for reading!
MovieCritic
"Another critic might say that it was a celebration of humanity."
The photos that I have here really don't capture it, you need to watch it!
Have you seen this movie? What do you think? Thank you so much for reading!
MovieCritic
