It opened in classic 4:3 black and white, a story unfolding
about a magician, Oz (James Franco), who has dreams of greatness. After a visit
from the woman he loves detailing her pending marriage, the Wizard seems torn
between the simple life he rejected and the show business life he’s barely
living. The opening moments embrace the film style of the 1930s, and subtle
satire is the motivation behind nearly every line. We all know how cheesy some
classic movies can be, and apparently so does Raimi, who has every actor in the
prologue overdoing it in the most perfect way.
Oz is a bit of a scoundrel; one who seems to have a weakness
for beautiful women. He’s pulled the same absurd line about his grandma’s music
box a few too many times, and it’s all about to blow up in his face. After a
less-than-successful magic act, he finds himself being chased by the new man of
a former love interest – who happens to be the strongman in the circus.
