Menzel in ‘Uncut Gems’
Welcome to the weekend frenzy. Each week, we’ll bring you a compelling title designed to keep you from going too crazy. Check back throughout the weekend for even more gloriously queer entertainment.
La Diva: the Idina Menzel film festival
With Wicked and Rent diva Idina Menzel further bolstering her reputation as a great diva this weekend at Cinderella, we’d like to make one more observation: She’s a terrific actress too. As Weekend Binge this week, we suggest you review some of the best parts of Menzel on the big screen. Of course, neither of them could substitute for seeing his fierce talent on stage. That said, they show off her incredible gifts as a singer and actress, which further solidifies Menzel’s already glowing reputation as one of the most exciting talents in the world.
To rent
For all of the flaws in Rent’s big-screen adaptation, the film has one very right thing: It allows Menzel to reprise her performance as Maureen, a role she created in the original stage production. Cynics complained at the time of the film’s release that Menzel, along with several other members of the original Broadway cast, had grown too old for the role. We strongly disagree: Not only does Menzel give a young and vibrant performance, but the fact that her Maureen looks more like a veteran bohemian than a naive post-teen underscores the character’s passion and gives her performance some depth. Her Maureen will be successful as an artist, even if it kills her. That Menzel can also wear the character’s iconic numbers doesn’t hurt either.
Streaming on HBO Max, Amazon, iTunes and VUDU.
delighted
Before Menzel stepped into two iconic fairytale roles, his work in this film hinted at his future success. In Enchanted, Menzel plays Nancy, the arrogant girlfriend of Robert (Patrick Dempsey), a lawyer who falls in love with a fairytale princess. Nancy also happens to fall in love with Edward (James Marsden), the conceited and slightly moron fairytale prince trapped in contemporary New York. Menzel approaches Nancy as a woman of confidence and intelligence, even though she has never stopped considering the meaning of true love. A lesser actress would have made Nancy a one-dimensional bitch. Menzel makes her a touching and poignant character.
Streams on Amazon, YouTube, and VUDU.
Frozen
Speaking of fairy tales, Menzel has become a true international superstar thanks to the arrival at the head of this animated film from Disney which became an unexpected success. The success of the film owes a lot to Menzel’s performance as Elsa, a self-loathing queen with a penchant for handling ice cream. It also helps that Menzel can sing the movie’s most iconic number, “Let It Go”. Apparently, Disney initially envisioned Elsa as the villain of the play. Then the producers heard Menzel sing the song and rewrote the entire movie to make his character a reluctant hero based on his performance. It says a lot about itself.
Broadcast on Disney +, YouTube and VUDU.
Uncut gems
Who would have thought that Adam Sandler would give his career performance in a heist drama about a jeweler? In the film, Sandler plays Howard, a gems merchant and gambling addict trying to pay off his debts. Menzel plays Dinah, Howard’s ailing but sophisticated wife, furious at her husband’s constant gambling and dating a young mistress. Menzel’s performance in the film walks a very fine line. Dinah has every reason to hate her husband and does so to some extent. At the same time, she still has a certain affection for him, sometimes allying with him in her plan to get out of debt. Menzel commands every moment she’s on screen and makes the most of Sandler reaching dramatic heights never seen in her previous work. The film remains an overlooked gem (excuse the phrase).
Streams on Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, and VUDU.
Cinderella
Menzel steals the film under his co-stars in this lavish reimagining of the classic fairytale. Considering the pedigree here – Menzel plays opposite Camilla Cabello, Pierce Brosnan, Minnie Driver and Billy Porter – it’s a hell of a success. Embodied as Cinderella’s stepmother, Menzel could easily have played the role of a flat-footed one-dimensional villain… much like every other portrayal of the character. She doesn’t. Writer / director Kay Cannon gives the stepmother a new layer of depth, and Menzel goes with her, making the stepmother a complicated, traumatized and loving woman whose talents went unrecognized due to her sex. It’s a profound performance… one that also gives Menzel a chance to sing tunes from Madonna, Gloria Estefan, and even a new ballad that she wrote herself. It’s good to know that someone is finally using Menzel’s talent to the extreme.
Streamed on Amazon Prime Video.
