The 3 movies
Show notes
Jason Teasley, Chae Tate and Mark Radulich review movies currently on streaming services: The Wiz/Purple Rain/DreamGirls Movie Review! First up is The Wiz (1978). Then we move on to Purple Rain (1984). Finally we review Dreamgirls (2006). The Wiz is a 1978 American musical fantasy adventure film directed by Sidney Lumet. Adapted from the 1974 Broadway musical, the film reimagines the classic children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum with an African American cast. Dorothy, a 24-year-old teacher from Harlem, is magically transported to the urban-fantasy Land of Oz. On her travels seeking help from the mysterious Wiz, Dorothy befriends a Scarecrow, a robot called Tin Man, and a Cowardly Lion. The Wiz was theatrically released the following year on October 24, 1978, to critical and commercial failure. The film received generally negative reviews from critics, with many unfavorably comparing the film to its source material. Some critics criticized the casting of Ross as Dorothy, while others criticized the direction of Lumet, who was considered a poor choice for directing a musical. Despite its initial failure, critics have become more favorable in recent years, and it has become a cult classic among audiences, Ross's fanbase, Jackson's fanbase and Oz enthusiasts. Purple Rain is a 1984 American romantic rock musical drama film scored by and starring Prince in his acting debut. Developed to showcase his talents, it contains several concert sequences, featuring Prince and his band The Revolution. The film is directed by Albert Magnoli, who later became Prince's manager, from a screenplay by Magnoli and William Blinn. The cast also features Apollonia Kotero, Morris Day, Olga Karlatos and Clarence Williams III. It grossed $70.3 million worldwide, against its $7.2 million budget. The film won an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score. Publications and critics have regarded Purple Rain as one of the greatest musical films. In 2019, the film was selected
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