Jeri Jacquin
This week on Bluray/DVD and Digital from writers Jenny Bicks
and Bill Condon along with director Michael Gracey and 20th Century
Fox Home Entertainment comes THE GREATEST SHOWMAN.
P.T. Barnum (Hugh Jackman) has promised the lovely Charity
(Michelle Williams) that he will give her a wonderful life. Spending the first
few years together struggling, Barnum has two more lovely reasons to succeed in
daughters Caroline (Austyn Johnson) and Helen (Cameron Seely).
That’s when he decides to start his own circus business and
invites the bearded woman Lettie (Keala Settle), Tom Thumb (Sam Humphrey), Anne
Wheeler (Zendaya) and W.D. Wheeler (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) among others to join
in his vision of the unusual in entertainment. He also brings Phillip Carlyle
(Zac Efron) to learn and help manage the business and immediately he is taken
with Anne.
While on a trip to Europe ,
Barnum and the troop meets the famous Jenny Lind (Rebecca Ferguson). He knows
that this is a pure act that will show the nay-sayers like journalist James
Bennett (Paul Sparks). Taking Jenny on the road means being away from his
family and leaving the show in the care of Phillip.
When Jenny abruptly stops the show, Barnum returns to see
what a vengeful crowd can do to his dream. The dream begins to unravel when he
discovers that those who helped bring the circus to life are the same people
who will see it rise from the ashes.
Never forget who you really are!
Jackman as Barnum does what he does best – embrace a
character, make it larger than life and do it while singing and dancing. There
are complexities in being a big dreamer who embraces things that are different.
That also means dealing with people who clearly are afraid of those differences
and getting a little lost along the way to the top.
Williams as Charity always believed that her husband would
succeed and at the same time was never unhappy with their life. She is
absolutely lovely in this role and patient with a man who sees everything
larger than life. Ferguson
as Jenny is a woman who is swept up in the romance of becoming world renowned
at the hands of Barnum. Being beautiful with a voice doesn’t stop pain from
dropping a curtain.
Efron as Carlyle gets wrapped up in everything that Barnum
wants in entertainment. He is also working against people who have nothing
better to do than ruin a good time for all. It doesn’t stop him from making it
work and finding love with the lovely Anne. Zendaya as Anne finds a family in
the circus and even when confronted for being different, she knows who truly
loves her.
Settle as Lettie is a powerful presence and her voice just
rocks this film to its core. Her character also focuses on keeping the family
together and never letting anyone say they are not amazing human beings.
Humphrey as Tom Thumb is sweet and hilarious at the same time.
Other amazing cast includes Eric Anderson as Mr. O’Malley,
Ellis Rubin as the young Barnum, Skylar Dunn as the young Charity, Daniel
Everidge as Lord of Leeds, Radu Spinghel as O’Clancy, Will Swenson as Philo
Barnum, Timothy Hughes as the Strong Man, Linda Larson as Mrs. Stratton, Byron
Jennings as Mr. Carlyle, Betsy Aidem as Mrs. Carlyle and Gayle Rankin as Queen Victoria .
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment brings
award-winning global product and new entertainment to DVD, Bluray, and Digital
HD. There amazing collection offers fans an opportunity to expand their own
home libraries with the best films. To discover what other titles they have
please visit www.fox.com.
The Bluray/DVD and Digital experience includes over two
hours of Special Features with a Sing Along, The Family Behind THE GREATEST SHOWMAN, The Songs, The Spectacle, Music Machine with Sing Along and so much
more!
THE GREATEST SHOWMAN was nominated for an Academy Award this
past season and won a Golden Globe for Best Original Song “This is Me”, winner of the Heartland Film Truly Moving Picture
Award, winner of Favorite Movie Actress for Zendaya from the Kids’ Choice
Awards and eighteen other nominations ranging from Best Performances and Best
Song to Best Music and Best Costuming.
This is the reason why musicals will never die! A
combination of great story telling, spectacular eye candy, songs that stick and
a cast that melts together in such a way that the tale embraces the heart.
It must be said that the films costuming, cinematography and
set designs are absolutely stunning to see. Colorful, beautiful and dramatic
the film in striking adding depth that engrains itself in the tale being told.
I absolutely loved the dresses with the detail and flow that would make any
woman feel regal and gorgeous.
If you are fond of Friday night movies at home then THE
GREATEST SHOWMAN needs to happen!
In the end – this is where the impossible comes true!
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