“Are people born wicked? Or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?” The conundrum of theodicy has lengthy plagued humanity, simply as it’s plagued the Ozians of Munchkinland. Just like the supply novel and Broadway musical, Jon M. Chu’s movie adaptation of half one of Depraved (penned by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox) doesn’t dig into the existential nitty-gritty of the query. But it surely makes its place on the matter as blunt as the theatrics are dazzling: no, individuals are not born depraved. It’s thrust upon them by circumstance or, extra particularly, the powers that be.
As all followers of the musical already know: we start on the finish… of The Wizard of Oz. The Depraved Witch of the West has been defeated and the munchkins are rejoicing like they’ll by no means rejoice once more. They’re throwing the largest social gathering ever seen this facet of Emerald Metropolis. Munchkins hoot and holler throughout the Yellow Brick Highway, singing and dancing and finally rolling out a large wicker witch, intricately woven and taller than the homes round them. Quickly sufficient they set it ablaze, burning the wicker girl with all of the cult-like fervor of a creepy village individuals who have been chronically lied to, who know solely propaganda (however don’t understand it).
Glinda the Good Witch of the North (Ariana Grande) is their north star of the second, in order that they direct the theodical query towards her. As legend goes that the Good Witch and the Depraved Witch have been as soon as buddies, the Munchkins ask her about that, too, sending the movie right into a feature-length flashback that traces the connection between Glinda (named “Galinda” for many of the movie) and Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) at Shiz College, the place Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) reigns supreme in her sorcerous educating.
In idea and design, Shiz is a Hogwarts-esque magic-harnessing faculty. It’s so Hogwartsy that it’s straining in each manufacturing design and academics’ hair, make-up, and costuming to not evoke Harry Potter––a troublesome activity, it seems. (Although one can’t assist questioning if J.Okay. Rowling pulled Hogwarts inspiration from the Depraved novel, which was printed two years earlier than Sorcerer’s Stone.) The place it escapes Harry Potter, it embraces Lord of the Rings, the varsity in the end wanting like Hogwarts-meets-Rivendell.
That stated, Nathan Crowley’s manufacturing design is nothing to balk at. The identical will be stated of Paul Tazewell’s costumes. The hand-made units are one of probably the most spectacular parts of the movie, Chu choosing as a lot carpentry and concrete actuality throughout the shoot as attainable (against filming every little thing in entrance of inexperienced screens). Every set is ornate and contributes to the legitimacy within the blocking and framing of every scene, one thing usually misplaced on tasks that depend on CGI wherever attainable.
As soon as at college, the rivalry between Galinda and the green-skinned Elphaba begins. Elphaba is taken below the wing of Morrible, Galinda’s dream, whereas the varsity takes Galinda’s lead in chiding Elphaba over her pores and skin coloration. Furthermore, Morrible flat-out tells Galinda that Elphaba shall be her solely protégé, heightening rigidity between the scholars. Regardless of the 160-minute runtime, it isn’t lengthy earlier than their rivalry breeds finest friendship, Elphaba receives an invitation to fulfill the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum), and the 2 are off to Emerald Metropolis to fulfill probably the most highly effective man in Oz.
Regardless of how a lot cash was poured into the manufacturing––or maybe as a result of of it––Depraved feels as stale as blockbusters will be, hitting each main storytelling trope. But the songs are participating (the riveting “Defying Gravity” climax is undoubtedly the film’s finest second, one Chu stated took as a lot out of him as directing the remaining of the film) and the leads are terrific.
It’s not laugh-out-loud humorous, however there’s a real attraction upheld by the 2 lead performances and constant self-aware punchlines. (“Why don’t you just teach us history, and stop harping on the past?” Galinda pleads with their historical past professor.) Erivo fills Elphaba out completely. However Elphaba is a subdued character (a minimum of within the first half of Depraved). Grande, then again, performs a way more electrical half, bringing a deeply felt confidence and luxury in entrance of the digital camera.
Provided that she bought her begin on TV, it’s no shock that she’s comfy, however even probably the most skilled actors can’t conjure chops like Grande’s out of their confidence. She’s additionally taken on a task that requires an excellent deal of self-awareness. She has to play the half with a way of real-world irony that comes by way of however doesn’t interrupt the character. Between her pure appearing expertise and sense of humor about herself (see: her latest SNL episode), she’s proving somebody to look ahead to on movie.
At its core, Depraved is about propaganda, miseducation, pretend information, and the individuals’s ardour borne from it. It makes an enemy out of the recognition of thoughtlessness, chosen stupidity, and misinformation––a ripe (if not eternally ripe) subject for the occasions. But it surely relegates its thematic strengths to the nook of mockingly inconsiderate household enjoyable leisure that seeks to please and assuage the place different tasks may examine the theme and go away you with a way of concern over the real-world parallels with out sacrificing leisure. As they are saying, “Life is fraughtless when you’re thoughtless.”
Possibly Depraved: Half II will give us a bit extra to consider.
Depraved opens on Friday, November 22.
