The “Hamilton” Movie, released on Disney+ today, is something fans of the musical have been waiting for since before its announcement. The musical tells the story of Alexander Hamilton – the ten-dollar founding father – the American revolution and the rise of the American government we know today.
The film captured the show up close and personal, giving a more intimate experience than what an audience could normally expect while watching the stage.
“Hamilton”’s cinematography balanced between intimate close ups and ensemble shots. This strategy worked most of the time, although some close ups highlighted sweat and drool as much as performing skill. Since the “movie” was a recorded stage production, there are a few imperfections, albeit small ones. What mistakes it has are not enough to take away from the stellar performances of the cast and message of the show.
Leslie Odom, Jr. as Aaron Burr and Phillipa Soo as Elizabeth Schuyler stand out even among the professional Broadway cast. In terms of music and cast, the musical is a show full of diversity, and its message and themes are as relevant now as when it first debuted on Broadway five years ago. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s music excels at telling this story and the different musical genres engage the viewer. Although the show has a 2-hour 40-minute run time, the mix of high energy numbers contrasted by emotional heartfelt songs ensured I never felt bored.
The filmed version offers a better experience than just listening to the album, but it fails to capture the energy of a live theatre performance, which is something film as it is now will likely never be able to do.
The fFilmed version of Hamilton absolutely lives up to the hype built up around it. I wish more Broadway productions had done this because it makes theatre more accessible and allows people who may never be able to afford the cost of a Broadway ticket to see the show. If you’re a theatre or contemporary music fan, I would recommend watching the movie. If you have never watched a theatre production before, I can’t think of a better introduction.
Joey Cisneros can be reached at [email protected]