The Wiz

Lumet and his inspired collaborators have succeeded in fabricating and navigating one majectic, rabble-rousing Mother Ship of a musical, a sublimely happy moviegoing experience. [27 Oct 1978, p.D1]

The movie has great moments and a lot of life, sensational special effects and costumes, and Ross, Jackson, and Russell. Why doesn't it involve us as deeply as The Wizard of Oz? Maybe because it hedges its bets by wanting to be sophisticated and universal, childlike and knowing, appealing to both a mass audience and to media insiders. The Wizard of Oz went flat-out for the heart of its story; there are times whenThe Wiz has just a touch too much calculation.

Director Sidney Lumet has created what amounts to a love letter to the city of New York, which he equates with Oz.

Whenever I see this film, Pryor's look of what-am-I-doing-here? panic echoes my feelings exactly.

A lot to look at, little to contemplate, and nothing to hum.

This film brings out all the weaknesses of its director, Sidney Lumet, and none of his strengths. The whole production has a stagnant atmosphere, and the big dance numbers are free-form traffic jams.

Whatever fun this funked-up Wizard of Oz had on Broadway is erased by miscasting and a hideous design (Oz as a New York slum).

This movie comes from a guy that makes 12 Angry Men and Dog Days Afternoon, 2 of my favorites movie of all time, The Wiz has no charm at all, it has no magic, the movie was ugly, it was an overlong Musical fills with lot's of unnecessary song, Diana Ross ugly present at the film and her atrocious acting, she is truly one of the worst actress i've ever seen, and Richard Pryor was also awful, despite a couple of catchy song, Michael Jackson fine performance as Scarecrow, Nipsey Russell and Ted Ross ok performance both as Tin Man and Cowardly Lion, The Wiz was a piece of garbage, an unnecessary adaptation to The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz, it's ugly, it's pathetic.