The times and tastes of mainstream moviegoers have changed so much. During the 1960s, FOUR of the Best Picture Oscar winners were big-screen versions of Broadway musicals: ''West Side Story'' (1961), ''My Fair Lady'' (1964), ''The Sound of Music'' (1965) and ''Oliver!'' (1968). Since ''Oliver!,'' only one screen adaptation of a Broadway musical has won Best Picture: ''Chicago'' (2002). And no musical, originally written for the screen or based on Broadway, has won Best Picture in the two decades since, not even the critical and box-office hit ''La La Land.''
If Hollywood versions of Broadway musicals are indeed dead, does that mean the upcoming movie of ''Wicked'' is doomed?
Musicals have always been anomalies. It seems easier for today's audiences to accept them as animated movies than as live-action vehicles.
But musicals aren't the only ones at risk. So is adult drama. Guillermo del Toro's ''Nightmare Alley'' just opened this weekend to $3 million. This film-noir crime thriller stars Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett and Toni Collette, directed and co-written by the Oscar winner behind ''The Shape of Water.''
Here's a look at the Best Movie of 2021 nominees at the People's Choice Awards. ''Black Widow'' won over a field of ''Coming 2 America,'' ''F9,'' ''Dune,'' ''No Time to Die,'' ''Shang Chi,'' ''The Tomorrow War'' and ''Venom: Let There Be Carnage.'' All action, sci-fi or comedy. Not one adult drama. |
