Stars: 4.5 / 5
This Oscar-nominated musical just might inspire you to go out and join the circus. Going in, you have to be ready for a musical in all its glory. While I was taken back by just how much singing there was, this rendition of the story of P.T. Barnum had me in awe throughout.
Director Michael Gracey took on the task of telling the story of the birth of show business and he really hit the mark. The casting of Hugh Jackman, Zendaya, Zac Efron and Keala Settle is just one of the many great decisions made by the production team, another being making it a musical.
Hugh Jackman stars as P.T. Barnum and you get to see how his vision for one of the greatest shows on earth started when he was a little boy. However, before he could even think of making his dreams a reality, he pursued his first love, Charity Hallet, played by Michelle Williams. It wasn’t until he was in his early 20s did he begin his journey to becoming the greatest showman.
Set in mid-19th century New York, Branum faces many challenges due to the people he put in his show. Everyone he put in his show had been cast out of society for reason or another and Barnum gave them a place where they could unapologetically be who they were. He gave them a home.
While the plot in itself is inspiring, the music really rounds it out. Every song progresses the story along with an added level of emotion. The bass gets your heart pumping and the voices deliver so much intensity, you feel as though you are there experiencing what they experience and feeling what they feel.
The song “This is Me” was recently nominated for best original song at the Oscars and it is truly deserved. It’s delivers a message to the world. The singers are saying “this is who I am and I will not apologize for it.” The song encourages people to be exactly who they are no matter what others have to say about it. With there being so much music involved, a taste for musicals is a necessity in watching this film. To truly appreciate the story, you have to be willing and ready to listen to the words that are being sung.
Because there are so many stars in the film, I was initially hesitant to see it. I feared it would be overdone but later realized it was a film about one of the greatest shows on earth. The visual extravegency is what made the creation of the Barnum and Bailey circuses a story worth telling. The stars they casted gave the film the attention it deserved and I believe I speak for many when I say that Zac Efron’s return to the world of musicals was long overdue.
Overall, the film celebrates life and encourages people to embrace what makes them stand out. You see what happens when you stop trying to get everyone to love you and live for yourself. It’s the story of how a man who started with nothing was able to bring happiness to so many others. It shows that no matter you shape, size, color or background, you have a place in the world.
