John Pevoto

I think in the future, critics will reconsider, finding this musical much better than the current crop of critics have. First, I think the current crop has missed the accomplishment of Hugh Jackman, who in one startling musical scene goes from the depths of depression to hope, showing his range as an actor. Second, I don't care whether or not the story corresponds so closely to the real Barnum story. So what? This story has depth of character and meaning that I just think the critics have missed. Barnum almost loses his way but finds it again (in the aforementioned scene). The dominant themes, I think, are hope and redemption. Barnum experiences both. So do the others-- the performers, his wife, his partner. Only the one Judas-like character, who betrays him with a kiss, cannot experience that fulfillment or redemption, as exemplified in her theme song. Having fallen prey to that temptation to "own the whole world yet lose one's soul," she disappears into the night.

Not the typical somewhat corny conservative or Christian movie. This movie is a sledgehammer. Well-written, well-acted and cinematic. Very cinematic. Searcy knows what he is doing as director. It is devastating. In the theater (the only theater in my area of around 1 million folks that is showing the movie-- and the theater room itself held maybe 20 people), when the movie ended, no one said a word. We couldn't.