Actors: Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron,
Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya.
Rating: 9 out of 10, I comfortable
enough in my skin to admit that I love movie musicals and I really liked The
Greatest Showman. It provided a nice lift on a cold winter night and had me
tapping my feet several times. The film involves a highly fictionalized story
of the life of PT Barnum the quintessential American showman. I’m always
surprised to see Hugh Jackman sing and dance instead of skewer someone with
adamantine claws. He’s the life blood of this and exudes charisma ably assisted
by Michelle Williams and Rebecca Ferguson. I’ve always been a fan of Zac Effron
but this was the first time he was clearly fighting well above his weight;
strong testimony to just how good Jackman can be. I liked the story of
inclusion and rejection of class distinctions. Barnum is such an American
character which may explain why I liked it. There was a very clear rejection of
prejudice from both ends of the political spectrum – aimed squarely at both
Trump and the elites alike. The first half drags a little bit but whenever
Jackman is surrounded by his circus troupe the movie soars. I couldn’t help
smearing an unlikely smile on my face throughout.
MVP: Jackman as the Australian playing the
American everyman
