Dir. Jon M. Chu (trailer)
In the Heights is a colorful explosion of music and family, set in the predominantly Latinx community of Washington Heights. Based on Hamilton creator Lin-Manual Miranda's Broadway play, In the Heights is a film clearly made with love by all those involved.
The film follows the characters over the course of a sweltering summer in which the city experiences a blackout and the selling of a winning lottery ticket worth $96,000. Focusing primarily on Usnavi (Anthony Ramos), a young man who runs the local bodega and dreams of returning to his home island of Puerto Rico, the story is filled with funny moments among friends, but also covers many serious topics such as racism, gentrification, and D.A.C.A recipients. Many of the residents in Washington Heights are being priced out of their childhood homes and businesses, forced to sell and move across town to try and start over.
Director Jon M. Chu has used his eye for creating elaborate spectacles centered around large groups of people to make the neighborhood of Washington Heights come to life, mostly notably during an impromptu block-party scene involving the entire cast. Even though the film draws similarities with West Side Story, In the Heights provides genuine storytelling that makes it stand out all on it's own.
I recommend this film to fans of musicals, as this is one of the most fun musicals in recent memory!
Rating: ★★★★☆
Recommended for fans of: musicals, La La Land (2016), drama, Mary Poppins Returns (2018), The Sound of Music (1965)
0 Comments.