The Greatest Showman released in theaters over the holidays, and continuing what feels like a trend at this point, the film has proved to be very divisive among fans, and critics. While most agree that the film lacks an engaging plot, and maybe takes a few too many liberties with the life story of the always-controversial P.T. Barnum, there are some that have quite enjoyed the film.
How can a film be enjoyed without a cohesive plot you say? Well, the musical numbers are pretty amazing. Some are breathtaking, even. While not all of the music soars, there are some stunners in Hugh Jackman’s original movie-musical. One such number is “Rewrite the Stars”, featuring Zac Efron and relative-newcomer Zendaya. The number is technically impressive, and according to both performers, it was quite difficult to film. Talking to Cinemablend, they describe the work involved, and also the confusion involved, in capturing this moment on film:
Zendaya: “There’s one thing, to see it in your head, and then there’s one thing to actually deliver it and make it real. I could tell you what I want it to look like all day long, and we could tell you what we want to do, but at the end of the day, we have to physically figure out how to do it together… It’s almost like putting together a puzzle. But we can only see the image in our head. The pieces are there, but…”
Zac Efron: “And also to capture it on camera. There was no real way we could rehearse it, in terms of the other numbers, where it was, like, we do steps and they do the cameras at the same time and figure it out. We didn’t know what we were doing minute to minute [in this song], so… this is a testament to our camera guys, and to our grips, electrics and all of the stunt crew who helped us do the movie. But minute to minute, things were changing. We were up in the air. We were elevated, and they had to adapt and constantly change as we figured out what the number was, because we didn’t know what it was going to turn into… We don’t know the order, we can’t give you specifics. … And luckily, we had such creative people that they would come together. And once they saw a certain puzzle piece, they would know where that would fit, and they would want to explore it with us.”
Love it, or hate it (here’s what we thought), it’s hard to deny that The Greatest Showman features some amazingly talented performers. It’s honestly one of the most unique movie musicals to come out in recent years. Some of the music feels incredibly out of place in the story, while others almost feel sure to receive an Oscar nod.
What did you think of The Greatest Showman? Let us know in the comments!
“The Greatest Showman” is a bold and original musical that celebrates the birth of show business and the sense of wonder we feel when dreams come to life. Inspired by the ambition and imagination of P.T. Barnum, “The Greatest Showman” tells the story of a visionary who rose from nothing to create a mesmerizing spectacle that became a worldwide sensation.
The Greatest Showman features a cast that includes Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, Michelle Williams, Paul Sparks, Diahann Carroll, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Natasha Liu Bordizzo.
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Originally published January 2, 2018. Updated December 19, 2019.
