The Big Picture · Review · Top Five · Interview
November 25, 2024/ 121 min/ Sean Fennessey · Juliette Littman
Sean Fennessey and Wicked superfan Juliette Littman argue over whether the biggest movie in the world is actually good, then each rank their five favorite movie musicals of the century. Plus a conversation with Malcolm Washington about adapting August Wilson's The Piano Lesson.
12 films across 4 segments.
AI-generated This episode was transcribed and analyzed with AI models. The matches aren't perfect — expect the occasional misheard title or a link to the wrong film.
‘Wicked’Sean Fennessey and Juliette Littman
Jon M. Chu's Broadway adaptation, $110M-plus opening. Juliette, a musical-theater devotee, calls it a faithful crowd-pleaser saved by Ariana Grande and a Defying Gravity finale; Sean, who reveres The Wizard of Oz but has never seen the show, is put off by the desaturated color and the IP-franchise structure. Both flag the silent Elphaba/Glinda dance sequence as a low point.
Sean's Top Five 21st Century Movie Musicalsrevealed worst to best on air
No. 1. A Lin-Manuel Miranda score he's watched 15-plus times, picked less for greatness than for the comfort and joy it gives him as a parent.
No. 2. Spielberg's remake, some of the best directing and choreography he's ever seen; he caught it in theaters twice.
No. 3. A Lonely Island comedy The Ringer claimed on its launch weekend; a full-blown rewatchable. He'd first considered Dancer in the Dark here.
No. 4, tied with the Coens' Inside Llewyn Davis: a Depression-set Odyssey riff with a chart-topping soundtrack.
No. 5. John Carney's Dublin band-formation movie that he likes more the further he gets from it.
Juliette's Top Five 21st Century Movie Musicalsrevealed worst to best on air
No. 1. Her favorite Reese Witherspoon performance; the film that opened up Johnny Cash's catalog for her.
No. 2. Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, a movie whose reputation grew fast heading into the pandemic.
No. 3. The lone true book musical on her list; universally strong cast, well-done camp, anchored by Queen Latifah's number.
No. 4. Her Lin-Manuel Miranda inclusion; the music sent her to the movie even without kids.
No. 5. Once the UK's highest-grossing film. Flawed but a great time, and a career turn for Amanda Seyfried.
In conversation
His feature debut, adapting August Wilson's play for Netflix with brother John David Washington and Samuel L. Jackson. Talks about breaking the stage-bound form with genre and flashback, a 100-page reference book on Afro-surrealism and Black Southern faith, and Ray Fisher and Danielle Deadwyler's performances.
Also mentioned raised along the way
The Wizard of Oz shadow The Wizard of Oz
Jon M. Chu's other films Step UpStep Up 2: The StreetsStep Up 3DJustin Bieber: Never Say NeverJustin Bieber's BelieveG.I. Joe: RetaliationJem and the HologramsNow You See MeNow You See Me 2Crazy Rich AsiansIn the Heights
Other musicals cited CatsLes MisérablesInto the WoodsChicagoHamiltonRentEmilia PérezMusic and LyricsEnchantedDisenchantedRock of AgesOnceFlora and SonDancer in the DarkInside Llewyn DavisGreaseCenter StageWalk Hard: The Dewey Cox StoryA Star Is BornWest Side StoryPitch PerfectNewsiesSingin' in the RainSeven Brides for Seven BrothersThe Band WagonMoana 2
Disney musical golden age Beauty and the BeastAladdinThe Lion KingThe Little Mermaid
Awards-season chatter Gladiator IIOppenheimerBarbieThe BrutalistBabygirlA Complete Unknown
In passing ItIt Chapter TwoRed OneDeath Becomes HerBack to the Future Part IIBohemian RhapsodyValley of the DollsWhat Men WantBedtime Stories
From the Malcolm Washington chat The Tree of LifeThe MasterPhantom ThreadIt FollowsUsBellyGummoMoonlightSullivan's Travels
Not films filtered out: TV, games, ads
TV She's Gotta Have ItPushing DaisiesStranger ThingsThe O.C.Arrested DevelopmentBeverly Hills, 90210
Theater Wicked (stage musical)Rent (stage musical)Miss SaigonThe Phantom of the OperaStompSunset BoulevardDeath Becomes Her (Broadway)Othello
Shorts & video art Until the Quiet ComesDouble Consciousness
Ads The McShay ShowSam's ClubStarbucks Frappuccino