In the Heights
Read Time:3 Minute, 33 Second
In the Heights – 2021 (Drama, Music, Musical)
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– From the creator of “Hamilton” comes the newest musical extravaganza, “In the Heights.” So I loved “Hamilton,” it was one of the most original and action-packed experiences I’ve enjoyed recently. Sadly I haven’t seen the production in person, just the recording of the stage production on Disney+; however, that was amazing enough. I wish that they had gone forward with a live-action film of “Hamilton” instead of “In the Heights,” though. It’s not that there was anything bad about the movie, but it didn’t have quite the same punch as “Hamilton.”
I feel like the bar was set almost too high; this had a great cast with Anthony Ramos (“A Star is Born”), Corey Hawkins (“Straight Outta Compton”), Leslie Grace, Melissa Barrera, and more. Not to mention an incredible up-and-coming director Jon M. Chu (“Crazy Rich Asians”), who has found his footing lately.
The songs were masterfully composed, the lyrics had a great flow, and at the same time told the story to progress the film. With its lively beat, each piece of music allowed you to follow the movie’s flow and get lost in the music at the same time from start to finish. Being a musical, they are the heart and soul of the film; I honestly think that the worst part was the lack of cohesion from one song to the next. In “Hamilton,” each piece felt similar but different at the same time, almost to the point of being spoken word poetry (rap.)
Miranda has a unique talent when it comes to telling a story through song; it’s why even though the film suffered in some parts, the entirety of it was brilliant. You don’t need excellent character development or a super deep story if you’re able to keep your audience entertained throughout.
Escapism is one of the best parts of a musical from “La La Land,” “The Greatest Showman,” “The Sound of Music,” etc.; they all give you a feeling of experiencing the story without the same level of heartache that a straight drama would. When you experience sadness through song, it hits you differently than just straightforward dialogue. It’s why musicals tend to be hit or miss for me; if the music isn’t just right, then I tend to lose interest, and that’s nearly it. I can be pretty forgiving in my love for film, but when the primary aspect of a genre film doesn’t do what it’s meant to, I all but give up. It’s no different than when the action scenes aren’t impressive in an action film or if the horror elements don’t look natural or aren’t scary in a horror film, etc.
One of the most exciting things is that there is so much to look forward to with Lin-Manuel Miranda (the creator of both “Hamilton” and “In the Heights”). He’s got his hands in several projects from acting, directing, composing, and more. I think that we’ve only seen a small amount of what Miranda has to offer. I think I’m most excited for the live-action version of “The Little Mermaid” Miranda is writing songs and co-producing the film. If you remember, I’ve previously panned Disney’s live-action remakes, so I don’t mean to sound hypocritical here, but I think this has a unique opportunity. The cast alone has me excited to see what the film will offer (Halle Bailey, Daveed Diggs, Jacob Tremblay, Awkwafina, Javier Bardem, and Melissa McCarthy.)
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Im not the biggest fan of musicals but this was a lot of fun and cery well done
Appreciate the review. Musicals can be a really hard sell on audiences. But you did make this seem worth looking up 🙂