Wicked (part one) opened

Wicked Released: November 3, 2024 Studio: Universal Pictures Genre: musical Box Office (numbers in millions): Domestic: 472.52 Worldwide: 727.84 Adjusted for Inflation: Domestic: -- Worldwide: --

Directing: Jon M. Chu Screenwriting: Winnie Holzman, Dana Fox Starring: Cynthai Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum Review: Wicked is the first of a two-part adaptation of the 2003 stage musical by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman, a “Tony-winning origin story for the witches of Oz.” IGN That musical was loosely based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, which was a reimagining of the Oz book series and the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. The musical offers the back story about Elphaba (Erivo) and university classmate Galinda (Grande) who go on to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch in the Land of Oz. When they get the opportunity to meet the Wizard, Elphaba realizes he is a fraud with no magical power and that he is persecuting the animals in Oz. She steals a spell book and flees, leaving Glinda behind. IGN.com’s Alyssa Mora says the movie, “defies some incredibly high expectations.” IGN Director Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights) “unwinds Wicked with tremendous insight” IGN and Grande and Erivo “deliver masterful and passionate performances…no small feat for roles originated by Broadway legends Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel.” IGN “The intricately designed sets elevate the choreography of each musical number” IGN and “triumphantly translates the joy of seeing Wicked live.” IGN “Choreographer Christopher Scott brilliantly plays to the remarkable production design from Nathan Crowley.” IGN Sources: IGN IGN.com movie review by Alyssa Mora WK Wikipedia

Awards/Honors/Lists: Eras: Box Office: Awards: Oscars: Wins: 2: Best Production Design, Best Costume Design Nominations: 10: Best Picture, Best Actress (Erivo), Best Supporting Actress (Grande), Best Film Editing, Best Makeup and Styling, Best Original Score, Best Sound, Best Visual Effects First posted 3/2/2025.

Today in Movies (1963): 8 ½ (Otto e Mezzo)

8 ½ (Otto e Mezzo) Released: January 2, 1963 Studio: Cineriz (Italy), Columbia Films S.A. (France) Genre: comedy/foreign Box Office (numbers in millions): Domestic: 0.098 Worldwide: 0.201 Adjusted for Inflation: Domestic: -- Worldwide: 0.68

Directing: Federico Fellini Screenwriting: Federico Fellini, Tullio Pinelli, Ennio Flaiano, Brunello Rondi Starring: Marcello Mastroianni, Claudia Cardinale, Anouk Aimee, Sandra Milo, Rossela Falk, Barbara Steele Review: “After achieving international acclaim with increasingly expressionistic portraits of the world as he saw it — from the simple circus performers of “La Strada” to the decadent Roman nightlife of “La Dolce Vita” — Italian maestro Federico Fellini lost confidence in his capacity to create. Instead of giving up, he channeled that artistic despair into his most uninhibited triumph: a freewheeling and shamelessly autobiographical movie about a philandering filmmaker’s crippling case of directile dysfunction, full to bursting with past mistresses, childhood memories and psychoanalytic symbology. From the opening anxiety dream, in which Marcello Mastroianni (as Fellini’s self-flattering/flagellating stand-in) claws his way out of a traffic jam, to the climactic rondelet around the rocket set, the blocked director found surrealistic inspiration in his subconscious.” VY Sources: VY Variety.com (12/21/2022). “The 100 Greatest Movies of All Time”

Awards/Honors/Lists: Oscars: Wins: 2 (Best Foreign Language Film, Best Costume Design) Nominations: 5 (Best Director, Best Writing, Best Art Direction/Set Decoration) Dave’s Movie Database Lists: Dave’s Movie Database Genre Lists: Awards: Other Lists/Honors: Experts’ Picks: First posted 2/24/2025.

Brokeback Mountain loses Best Picture Oscar to Crash

Brokeback Mountain Released: December 9, 2005 Studio: River Road Entertainment, Focus Features Genre: romantic drama Box Office (numbers in millions): Domestic: 83.03 Worldwide: 178.04 Adjusted for Inflation: Domestic: -- Worldwide: --

Directing: Ang Lee Screenwriting: Larry McMurtry, Diana Ossana Starring: Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, Michelle Williams, Linda Cardellini, Anna Faris, Randy Quaid Review: Brokeback Mountain is a “2005 neo-Western romantic drama” WK adapted from a 1997 short story by Annie Proulx. “Its plot depicts the complex romantic relationship between two American cowboys, Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist, in the American West from 1963 to 1983.” WK The story starts in 1963 when Ennis (Ledger) and Jack (Gyllenhaal) are hired as sheep ranchers in Wyoming. Jack makes a pass at Ennis one night after they’ve been drinking and Ennis eventually becomes receptive. He insists, however, that it was a one-time thing. The two move on. Ennis marries Alma (Williams) and they have two daughters. Jack marries Lureen (Hathaway) and they have a son. Jack and Ennis get together over the years for private fishing trips and when their marriages disintegrate, Jack tries to convince Ennis that they should build a life together. Cinematically, “the landscapes astound. The woods and mountains of America’s West convey a sense of serenity, as well as an air of promise.” HC The relationship between Jack and Ennis seems to be comprised of “aggression, conflict, and confused passion” HC without “any significant emotional or interpersonal growth.” HC Sadly, these are men locked into worlds of silent masculinity that keeps them from expressing themselves with complete honesty. The film generated several controversies. While the movie is now seen “as a turning point for the advancement of queer cinema into the mainstream” WK it faces criticism and censorship from conservative media outlets at the time. It was also considered a shock when it lost the Best Picture Oscar to Crash, which has now become infamous as one of the least-deserving wins in Oscar history. Sources: HC The Harvard Crimson review by Julia J. Hynek WK Wikipedia

Awards/Honors/Lists: Dave’s Movie Database Lists: Genre Lists: Eras: Awards: Oscars: Wins: 3: Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score Nominations: 8: Best Picture, Best Actor (Ledger), Best Supporting Actor (Gyllenhaal), Best Supporting Actress (Williams), Best Cinematography Lists: Hall of Fames: First posted 3/5/2025.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind released in theaters

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Released: March 19, 2004 Studio: Anonymous Content, This Is That, Focus Features Genre: sci-fi/romance Box Office (numbers in millions): Domestic: 34.40 Worldwide: 73.35 Adjusted for Inflation: Domestic: -- Worldwide: --

Directing: Michael Gondry Screenwriting: Charlie Kaufman Starring: Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Kirsten Dunst, Mark Ruffalo, Elijah Wood, Tom Wilkinson Review: Michael Gondry directed this movie based on a story by him, Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation), and Pierre Bismuth that Kaufman then turned into a screenplay. The title of the movie comes from Eloisa to Aberlard, a 1717 poem by Alexander Pope. WK The story uses “elements of psychological drama and science fiction and a nonlinear narrative to explore the nature of memory and love.” WK Joel Barish (Carrey) finds out his former girlfriend, Clementine (Winslet), had a procedure to have memories of him erased. He goes to the company, Lacuna, to do the same. As the memories are being erased, however, he starts to remember happier times as they go farther back and decides he doesn’t want to forget her after all. He “would rather the memories of Clementine be unpleasant in context with their relationship, rather than…not existing at all.” SP “The genius of the film is not its concept, but the way it uses reality and memory to tell the story, in a liberal and intertwining fashion that will disorient viewers.” SP “The story so gracefully retells the relationship that the bizarre backwards transitioning feels completely natural and flowing rather than sudden and confusing.” SP “The movie is genuinely funny, tragic, and trippy, all at the same time.” SP Carrey and Winslet’s performances “have fantastic psychological nuance to them.” SP Between their story as well as some subplots about Lacuna employees, the movie leaves the viewer with the idea that even if the memories are gone, the attraction is still there and could resurface again. Sources: SP ScenePointBlank.com review by Jeff WK Wikipedia

Awards/Honors/Lists: Dave’s Movie Database Lists: Genre Lists: Eras: Awards: Oscars: Wins: 1: Best Original Screenplay Nominations: 2: Best Actress (Winslet) Lists: Hall of Fames: First posted 3/5/2025.