The Greatest Showman (2017)

2017, PG, 20th Century Fox, 105 Mins.

Casting Hugh Jackman as P.T. Barnum, the very first man of show-business, is a perfect match. Jackman started his career in Oklahoma! at London’s National Theatre before becoming synonymous as the clawed superhero Wolverine in nine X-Men movies. 
 The most recent of those, Logan, decidedly became very gritty, but The Greatest Showman is thankfully much happier fare: lighter, brighter, much more fun. 
In fact, I would argue it’s even a grand return to the more classical, traditional MGM Gene Kelly-style musicals of the fifties, ones which we haven’t really seen on screen for a while, such as Singin' In The Rain or An American In Paris. The fantastic score and joyous musical numbers have such an expert sense of glossy spectacle - so much so, that afterwards, even though it’s a deeply cinematic experience - because it’s also unashamedly theatrical, you feel as if you’ve just been to the theatre. Seamus McGarvey’s panoramically swirling cinematography, captures everything from trapeziums, to elephants and CGI lions, all encompassed within Nathan Crowley’s effortless production design. This theatricality, hits the audience like a shot of adrenaline from the dramatic opening shots - drum beats, Barnum in silhouette, directly addressing the audience, singing: ‘Ladies and gents, this is the moment you’ve waited for’. Those unaccustomed to the stumbling block musicals have, of characters suddenly bursting into song and not stopping, may take a while to acclimatise. 
The score itself, is written by the same lyricists of last award-season’s crowd-pleaser, La La Land, however I think this is a far more captivating film. 
It’s a score studded with rich textures of emotional resonance, showcasing fantastically assured performances, not just from a deservedly Golden Globe-nominated Jackman, but also a terrific Michelle Williams as his wife Charity, who’s been hiding this astounding voice, for her numbers A Million Dreams and Tightrope. My favourite, is Never Enough, the profoundly moving centrepiece for opera starlet Jenny Lind, portrayed brilliantly by Rebecca Ferguson.
  One of the very best films of 2017.

Rating: * * * *