Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)

A small-time magician is swept away to an enchanted land and is forced into a power struggle between three witches.

Director:

Sam Raimi

Writers:

Mitchell Kapner (screenplay), David Lindsay-Abaire (screenplay),

Stars:

James Franco, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz

1 win & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Franco	...	Oz
Mila Kunis	...	Theodora
Rachel Weisz	...	Evanora
Michelle Williams	...	Annie / Glinda
Zach Braff	...	Frank / Finley
Bill Cobbs	...	Master Tinker
Joey King	...	Girl in Wheelchair / China Girl
Tony Cox	...	Knuck
Stephen R. Hart	...	Winkie General
Abigail Spencer	...	May
Bruce Campbell	...	Winkie Gate Keeper
Ted Raimi	...	Skeptic in Audience
Tim Holmes	...	Strongman
Toni Wynne	...	Strong Man's Wife
Rob Crites	...	Firebreather

Storyline

Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz. At first he thinks he's hit the jackpot-fame and fortune are his for the taking. That all changes, however, when he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz), and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone's been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity-and even a bit of wizardry-Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well.

---

Plot Keywords:

magician | wizard | circus | illusion | kansas | 

---

Taglines:

Oz will amaze.

---

Genres:

Adventure | Family | Fantasy

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for sequences of action and scary images, and brief mild language

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 March 2013 (USA)

Also Known As:

Le monde fantastique d'Oz

Filming Locations:

Michigan Motion Picture Studios, 1999 Centerpoint Parkway, Pontiac, Michigan USA

Box Office

Budget:

$215,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$79,110,453 (USA) (8 March 2013)

Gross:

$234,176,728 (USA) (14 June 2013)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Pictures, Roth Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

130 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Datasat Dolby Digital

Color:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is the second time Zach Braff has starred in an Oz themed production: in the Scrubs episode 'My Way Home' he plays the role of Dorothy in a Wizard of Oz parody. His Scrubs character JD also mentions that he appeared in his school's production of the musical version of The Wizard of Oz titled 'The Wiz'.

---

Goofs

When Oscar takes off, the hot air balloon would not have traveled far as the burner was off.

---

Quotes

Glinda: Well done, Tinker, your machine works beautifully!
Master Tinker: That's just workmanship. What he displayed was true courage.

---

Crazy Credits

The closing credits are seen behind a stage curtain (at first in different colors, then for the remainder it stays green).

---

Connections

Referenced in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #21.107 (2013)

---

Soundtracks

"Almost Home"
Performed by Mariah Carey
Written by Simone Porter, Justin Gray, Lindsey Ray, T.E. Hermansen (as Tor Erik Hermansen), Mikkel S. Eriksen (as Mikkel Eriksen) and Mariah Carey
Produced by Mariah Carey, T.E. Hermansen (as Stargate) and Mikkel S. Eriksen (as Stargate) for 45th & 3rd Music LLC
Mariah Carey appears Courtesy of Island Def Jam Music Group/Universal Music Group

User Reviews

Wondrous, and then some.

Jeez. The haters are out in full force on opening day concerning Oz, The Great and Powerful. If you don't enjoy fantasy films, why did you go? If you were expecting this new vision to be the 1939 Judy Garland classic, why did you go? No one should have expected director Sam Raimi to adhere to the rules, "Evil Dead", anyone? Raimi has crafted a pretty wondrous Oz here, best viewed in 3D. He gives many, many nods to the the 39' MGM classic if you're smart enough to catch them. The color saturated images that match the 39' version, the 4.39 black/white/sepia opening that moves out to color (especially in IMAX), and especially Mila Kunis' re-imagining the Witch of the West with very affectionate tribute to the long gone Margaret Hamilton (especially in the first shadow appearance of the Witch). What's not to enjoy here? The story? It did its job, since everyone should have expected it to unfold as it did. So many posters here evidently wanted "War and Peace" or "Out of Africa"....this was not the venue.

Raimi has given us a gorgeous Oz. He has given us the information we need to segue into the Garland classic. His Oz is both beautiful and dangerous, as the fans of the books already knew. He draws interesting and understated performances from his cast, even Franco and Kunis, who are being unfairly crucified by viewers who wanted unbridled histrionics from the actors. Franco was properly sleazy, and Kunis was properly bipolar.

I am a huge fan of the 1939 classic, but never expected the loving connections Sam Raimi so adroitly wove into the landscape of this tribute to an American film icon. If you just relaxed,gave in to your inner child, and stopped being so bitchy, you would have had a wondrous and fast moving experience in magic. Props to Michelle Williams as Glinda, the real (and very moving) heart of this movie.