The Greatest Showman is arguably one of the most talked about films of 2018 so far, so after countless people telling me I should go and watch it, I went to see what the hype was all about. Coming from someone who isn’t particularly into the type of films where there’s a musical number every five minutes, I was pleasantly surprised and can say it one of the best films I’ve seen in a long time. The storyline is loosely based on the real-life showman P.T Barnum who founded the Barnum & Bailey Circus in the 19th century. However, the film is far from a boring historical tale.
In the film, P.T Barnum comes from a working-class background and after the shipping company he works for goes bankrupt he finds himself without a job and unable to provide for his family. After a leap of faith he takes out a bank loan and buys a museum which he hopes to turn into a tourist attraction, but there is little interest from the public and he finds himself struggling.
Through the course of the film, Barnum turns his life around and creates a circus-like show filled with people with unique characteristics, featuring a woman with a beard, the shortest man in the world and a man with hair covering his whole body to name a few. However, Barnum is still not satisfied as he receives scathing reviews from upper-class critics and begins to seek praise from society’s elite. He begins neglecting his original show and the cast and mingling with the upper class, touring the world with famous singer Jenny Lind (Rebecca Ferguson) and bringing in more money than he thought he would but ending up unhappy and distant from his family.
The Greatest Showman is a heart-warming tale about accepting yourself and your unique characteristics, with uplifting music that definitely adds to the spectacle of the film. With a star-studded cast featuring Zac Efron, Zendaya and Hugh Jackman this is one not to miss. You’ll definitely be buying the soundtrack!
Edited By Niamh Perry
Images
http://www.indiewire.com/2017/12/the-greatest-showman-review-hugh-jackman-musical-1201906828/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1485796/
Sources