2018 Oscars Challenge: [34] “The Greatest Showman” – Best Original Song

“THIS IS ME” FROM “THE GREATEST SHOWMAN”
Music and Lyric by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul
Performed By Keala Settle

Director: Michael Gracey
Producer: Laurence Mark, Peter Chernin, and Jenno Topping
Writers: Jenny Bicks and Bill Condon
Editors: Tom Cross, Robert Duffy, Joe Hutshing, Michael McCusker, Jon Poll, and Spencer Susser
Composers: John Debney and Joseph Trapanese
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: October 13, 2017
Run-time: 105 minutes

FILM SYNOPSIS: In the mid-1800s, P.T. Barnum is struggling to provide for his family when he strikes on an idea to offer unusual entertainment in a new type of venue. Barnum assembles a cast of athletic performers and “freaks” shunned by society, but his ascension to stardom is marred by protests and a possible threat to his marriage.

Musicals can be tough gig in this day and age, but if “La La Land” proved anything last year, it’s that musicals are definitely not dead. You make the right musical and people will come out in droves and with it almost winning the Best Picture category last year and it still winning six Academy Awards, musicals even still have a place in awards. The fact that it took Hugh Jackman so long to get “The Greatest Showman” made shows that even Hollywood wasn’t sure about musicals. But “La La Land” likely opened the way for “The Greatest Showman” to finally see the light of day and I think we’re all better for it, as it is an exceptional film. Jackman plays the title character, P.T. Barnum as he puts together his first circus full of “freaks” like the bearded lady and acrobats. But the music is the make or break of the film and it definitely makes it.

Fresh off their win for the main song in “La La Land,” songwriters Justin Paul and Benj Pasek are back with one of the main themes from “The Greatest Showman.” Having already won the Golden Globe in the same category, I would say that despite competition from probably just the song in “Coco,” they have a pretty good shot of winning the Oscar. The song, in context of the movie, is very powerful. After accepting them with all their flaws, Jackman’s Barnum begins to search for widespread admiration, as many of the high-end class find his circus “revolting.” In an attempt to reach a more mainstream audience, Barnum brings a famous English singer to America and sets up singing dates for her, basically becoming her manager. But in doing so, he figuratively and then literally shuts the door on the freaks. Upon stopping them from entering an after party where many well-to-do guests are attending, the group of “freaks” set off with their anthem of being who they are and not letting anyone put them down anymore.

It’s a well written song and is performed even better by the actress playing the bearded lady, Keala Settle. The reason the song works so well is that it can relate to any group of disenfranchised, not just circus “freaks”. Zendaya, who also stars in the film and performs the song as part of the ensemble is using the song as an anthem for her interracial relationship not working out with Zac Efron, as she stares him down while singing it. The song is also so catchy, it works outside of the film completely. Anyone could hear that song and not have to associate it with the film. But even so, it encapsulates the biggest theme of the film.  Here are the lyrics:

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