I know I am very late watching this film, but I recently went home from uni and took a trip to the cinema with one of my closest friends. There was no doubt that we were not going to watch The Greatest Showman. I had heard so much hype, positive thoughts and nothing but good things about the movie, so I was so excited to see it myself. It certainly lived up to my high expectations!
Musicals definitely seem to be back in fashion with Les Miserables and last’s years La La Land. I have always been a huge lover of musicals and have been lucky to experience many on the West End in London; I love the feel-good factor when I leave. The songs are always so catchy too! The Greatest Showman sees Hugh Jackman star as the iconic PT Barnum alongside an all-star cast including Michelle Williams, Zac Efron, Zendaya and Rebecca Ferguson.
Although we are only in February, I think I may have found my favourite film of the year and its definitely one of my favourite movies that I have seen in a long time.
The film tells the story of how Phineas T. Barnum, a poor tailor’s boy, with a mind full of dreams and huge ambitions. He grows up to marry his childhood sweetheart, Charity, and together they raise two daughters, Caroline and Helen. When the trading company where Barnum works goes bust, he sets out to get a $10,000 loan from the bank to open a museum; Barnum’s American museum. The museum filled with oddities, initially fails to take off. It’s not until his young daughters suggest that he should display more ‘alive things’ that things really tured around for Barnum.
After recruiting a cast of ‘unique persons’ who are viewed as outcasts by the rest of society, they put on a musical number that wins over the crowd and leaves people coming back for more and more.
As Barnum’s show goes from strength to strength, he changes the museum to ‘Barnum’s Circus’ and purchases a grand mansion; the childhood dream house of Charity and Phineas. Barnum recruits a partner, the young Phillip Carlyle and the show and cast gain such a reputation that Queen Victoria, Queen of England invites them to her court. It is here where Barnum meets the incredibly talented Swedish opera singer Jenny Lind who he manages to persuade to come to the States and participate in his show.
After seeing the audience’s reaction to Jenny’s performance, Barnum decides to leave Carlyle to take over as ringmaster of the circus so he can embark on a tour with Miss Lind. Barnum, however, does not realise his performers are in trouble, suffering from frequent and vicious attacks from local protesters. On the night that Barnum returns from his tour, a particularly vicious fight breaks out between the circus cast and the protesters which results in a fire that completely destroys the circus and leaves Barnum wondering what he is going to do. I won’t say how it ends, but if you haven’t seen the movie already, I very much urge you to!
I have been listening to the soundtrack non-stop as it is such an uplifting sequence of songs that really does make you smile and sing-along. I was listening to the soundtrack before I watched the film and I’m so glad I did as I was able to join in in my head and the familiarity added to the overall experience for me. I was hooked from the musical opening sequence! I love how the actors took the audience on the emotional and magical story with them; we came along for an amasing ride.
If you have seen this film already, what did you think?
Rachel
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