OKLAHOMA CITY – For the second year in a row, the entire global cinematic world has its eyes, ears, and hearts set on “Wicked,” as the second (and presumably final?) film installment of the worldwide phenomenon readies its stateside release for this weekend.
Regular readers will remember just how dominant last year’s “Wicked” was even in this column, where I offered my (mostly positive) thoughts on the arguably too-long box office smash and even offered some musical counterprogramming offerings for moviegoers that wanted to sing, but who were feeling the “Wicked” fatigue already.
Well, allow me to preemptively counterprogram the new “Wicked: For Good” as well, with a selection of films playing around town that tread similar ground, including unlikely friendships, societal woes, power imbalances, ostracized outcasts, and even rousing singalong musicals.
So follow me down this yellow brick road here and let’s see just how far I can stretch this premise.
‘Joise and the Pussycats’ – Oklahoma Film Exchange – Saturday, November 22nd
If you want a girl power-driven musical about the bonds of friendship, the evil of shadowy corporate overlords, and the unwitting manipulation of the masses, well, that movie was already made 24 years ago.
An underappreciated, unfairly forgotten time capsule of early-Millennium corporatism and pop culture domination, 2001’s “Josie and the Pussycats” grew to become a legitimate cult classic as its themes of hyper-commercialism and multimedia ubiquity grew alongside it.
What seemed at first to be yet another unnecessary adaptation of an old TV cartoon that no one really wanted turned out to be a surprisingly hilarious, shockingly prescient, and sharply pointed satire about corporations, governments, and militaries brainwashing American youth through the penetration of pop music.
It all feels obvious and even on –the-nose now, but it was clever enough to go over the heads of much of its audience upon release.
But with all of its themes now clear and unavoidable in the age of Tik Tok and The Eras Tour, and with its brand of hyper-stylized, colorful pop-punk songs exploding back into the mainstream, this wacky, cartoonish, fourth wall-breaking riot is more relevant than ever.
For showtimes and more, visit oklahomafilmexchange.com.
‘The Devil, Probably’ – Oklahoma City Museum of Art – Saturday, November 22nd
Here’s a film that no one ever expected to see in a list related to “Wicked,” but if you like the “Oz”-inspired musical’s confrontations of society and politics, but wish they’d go further, here’s a counter offer for this weekend.
OKCMOA has been quietly presenting a late-career retrospective of the works of French auteur Robert Bresson, offering a look at the stark, poignant, and subtly piercing films from near the end of his filmmaking life.
Known for his patient style and his unrelentingly minimalist approach, Bresson’s penultimate “The Devil, Probably” is among the most socially pointed, unapologetic, and perhaps bleakest films the French master ever made.
It’s an uncompromising look at the dire psychology of youth in late-70s Europe, following a woefully disillusioned student as he struggles to find connection, passion, or anything to make him care about his world on the path to a predetermined, tragic ending.
Along the way, Bresson examines the isolating effects of modern culture, exploring the alienation of city life, the growing distrust of religious and governmental powers, and both the allure and aimlessness of left-wing activism.
With the youth of today being so openly and easily targeted for isolationism and alienation more than ever before, “The Devil, Probably” stands as an early symbol of the toll that an increasingly fast-paced and confusing world can take from a young mind.
So while the “Wicked” films do admirably explore issues of societal alienation, racism, nationalism, and government distrust, their mass media appeal unfortunately leaves them pale and shallow in comparison to the slow, stark, minimalist work of Bresson.
Talk about counterprogramming.
For showtimes, tickets, and more, visit okcmoa.com.
‘Planes, Trains, and Automobiles’ – Harkins Bricktown – Tuesday, November 25th
If your favorite part of “Wicked” is the unexpected bond formed between Elphaba and Galinda despite their diametrically opposed and clashing personalities, then I’ve got the “unlikely friendship” movie you really need.
See, in all this talk about “Wicked,” we can’t forget that it’s also the Thanksgiving season, and that means it’s time once again for the best Thanksgiving film ever made.
That’s right, it’s John Hughes’ immortal 1987 road trip comedy “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles,” starring the dual blinding talents of Steve Martin and John Candy as a pair of hapless travelers attempting to traverse the country during the worst travel week of the year to be home in time for turkey.
But the real heart of Hughes’ comedy, just like in “Wicked” (see, I told you I’d be stretching this premise,) is the slowly developing friendship and compassion that the pair finds for one another through shared circumstances and joint trauma.
And sure, maybe Candy can’t hit the same high notes as Ariana Grande, but his driver’s seat rendition of Ray Charles’ “Mess Around” is every single bit as iconic.
For showtimes, tickets, and more, visit harkins.com.
Catch Brett Fieldcamp’s film column weekly for information and insights into the world of film in the Oklahoma City metro and Oklahoma. | Brought to you by the Oklahoma City Museum of Art.
Brett Fieldcamp is our Arts and Entertainment Editor. He has been covering arts, entertainment, news, housing, and culture in Oklahoma for 15+ years, writing for several local and state publications. He’s also a musician and songwriter and holds a certification as Specialist of Spirits from The Society of Wine Educators.
