Cinema #56: In The Heights

Hey Gang!

Last Friday, Boy Wonder and I went to go see In the Heights! I have been excited about this film since I saw the first trailer all the way back in February of 2020! I was working a shift at the movie theater and it came on and I was glued to my spot, ruckus going on, kids running up and down the stairs, I even fell on my ankle weird that day but nothing even mattered because that trailer had filled me with so much serotonin nothing was going to be able to bring me down.

Then Covid happened, and I wasn’t sure if it was ever going to come out, thought it might have gone the way of Black Widow moving indefinitely, or even worse, the Kingsman film, which still doesn’t have a new release date. Thankfully, about 3 weeks ago, I saw a new trailer with a new release date, and into my Calendar, I went!

In The Heights, is an original musical written by Quiara Alegría Hudes and Music by Lin Manuel Miranda. It went to Broadway in 2005. There are several differences between the film and the Broadway musical, so if you are knowledgeable about that, the film will throw you for quite a loop, but I’ll go into that more in-depth in another post.

In The Heights at its heart, is a story about a community, a family of people who were and were not born here in New York City, and how the culmination of the melting Pot method that made America, deals with the undulating change of policy, gentrification, and not being rich that alters their very fabric of time and experience.

It takes place in a borough called Washington Heights, North of 96th Street in New York City, and you follow along with a colorful cast of characters as they deal with trying to achieve their dreams in a time and place when it seems like everything is trying to stop them.

Narrated by Bodega owner, Usnavi, we learn about each character, what they’re going through and what their dreams are. The musical is bright and airy until the lights literally go out, and even at that point it still manages to tell its story with its music and its acting.

The resulting story is full of emotions of home, family, and community. I loved every minute of it. Happiness Sadness, and the almost uncontrollable urge to dance in my seat, were just a few of the myriad of emotions I enjoyed as the film scrolled by.

My favorite part of the film is the music, of course, but there is something to be said about the stories told as well! Nina being a first-generation college student in a PWI, Benny wanting to change his station, Usnavi daydreaming about a country he only has childhood memories of, and Vanessa dreaming about creating fashions that will make her a household name.

My favorite songs are In The Heights, Blackout, Breathe, and 96,000. The cinematography and choreo that went into the film below? How could you not enjoy it?!

I thoroughly enjoyed this film as a whole and give it 4 out of 5 stars! Highly recommended, and you should go see it just so you can form an opinion for yourself! I’ll be darned if you leave the theater NOT humming any of the songs in this film. It’s been 4 days since I’ve seen it, and I randomly burst out in the following, but not in any particular order, VANESSA! SOMEBODY BETTER OPEN THESE GODDAMN DOORS, or PACIENCIA Y FE!

If you’ve seen the film, tell me what you thought about it?! I need more people to talk about Musicals with.

Until Next Time,

Moriartie

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