Heads up there’s a post credit scene!
It's like when I was young and I would listen to my favorite song over and over and over again, except this time I don't really like the song.
Wait, we all agree it's the same song being played for 2 1/2 hours, right?
Meh.
I didn't get all the hype.
I'm not crazy about musicals so that might be it.
Oh my God. I can't believe I paid for watching this. Well, I didn't pay the ticket but I paid the food. It is absurdly boring. Extremely long. The choreographies are the only great thing here.
Pretty good, I didn't hate myself while watching this one bit. Watch it if you like musicals, but it is a little too lengthy.
In the Heights isn't perfect. Lin Manuel Miranda's self indulgence is well on display. It's not enough for him to cameo and get a number, he has to meaningfully pop up next to Usnavi's loved ones as part of his motivation for his big choice, is randomly there for Anthony Ramos to stare lovingly up at for a strangely long time in Carnival del Bario, and gets the post credits scene. Every time he was on screen I winced. Can he just chill for five seconds? Where was I?
Oh, yeah. His other flaws show too. www.theroot.com/lets-talk-about-in-the-heights-and-the-erasure-of-dark-1847064126 This article and interview sums up the inexcusable erasure of darker skinned black Latine in a movie about a community filled with them. And his actions in Puerto Rico cast a shadow over the film's progressive aims, the liberalism of talking a good talk but walking the other way.
But the joy of this film still rises above. From the choreography and visuals (96,000 is a standout) to a charming cast led by Anthony Ramos, there's still a sense of unbridled passion to it all. A passion for the Heights, a passion for the musical and musical film. I can't lie and say there wasn't a giant grin on my face through the ending. And I personally think many of the story changes enhanced the story and kept it fresh, giving extra depth to characters like Sonny and Vanessa. Just because we critique and interrogate something doesn't mean we can't feel seen by it, and I think many Latine people will do both. There's worth in that.
But the responses of many black and Afro-Latine people show the limits of LMM’s approach. They even cut out the subplot of Nina’s dad not approving of Benny because he’s black, as if afraid to touch the issue of colorism that infects the film. The gay rep is just sad, and notably despite Sonny and Graffiti Pete being originally written as gay, LMM did not take this opportunity to finally show that. This film, as joyful as it wants to be, is a shining example of how we do need more than the Crazy Rich Asians and the In The Heights. We should demand more.
You know what screw this bumping it down to two and a half stars, it’s just inexcusable.
The most energetic movie EVER, absolutely loved it!
This is a movie/musical about immigrants and/or their children trying to fit in this country. It follows their dreams and showcases the struggles and emotions that they experience along the way.
At the end the main characters discover a way to fulfill their dreams and stay true to their identity.
In a way this movie can be viewed as the path that immigrants from all over the world take in order to find their place in a new country. While the details are certainly different for the different nationalities, the general experience is the same.
It’s flaws are apparent but no task to ignore because of how contagiously energetic and emotionally effective this film is. I doubt any film will even come close to rival this film’s spot as the most fun and satisfying film of 2021. It’s a knockout that’ll sweep the Oscars.
If you like musicals, you NEED to see this. If you don’t like musicals, it likely won’t be your thing. But I really enjoyed the music, the story it told, and overall one of the more enjoyable musical movies in recent memory!
Rating: 4/5 - 8.5/10 - Would Recommend
Warmed its way into my cynical heart
i loved it. there are some points that they changed from the original, and i think it would've been better with them (AKA MORE EMPHASIS ON BENNY AND NINA HELLO?) and also didn't love the Afro-Latinx erasure. but i think it's great that more stories are being created like this.
This will be a masterpiece for some people but sadly, I’m in the wrong demographic. I’m not a fan of musicals and the setting was alien to my experience so this film didn’t do much for me
I don't really get all the criticism. I thought it was a really fun film that addressed some hard issues. The music was so fun and upbeat and the dancing was AMAZING! It is long and there is a lot of singing (conversations rapped rather than talked) which was my husband's chief complaint. But I really enjoyed it, more than Hamilton actually
The scale of the movie is huge! Great story, fantastic cinematography, cool choreography and a smart direction. It is an accomplishment! I felt it lacked a dramatic breath, energy is almost 100% full time. I mean, the story needs to cool down in one or more moment, so we can absorb what's going on.
This movie would have benefited from more structure and orchestration. Miranda has a distinct, if not potentially overbearing, style that needs to be complimented and rounded out by whomever is expressing it. I found it incredibly hard not to think of Hamilton throughout the entire movie. To be sure, I'm in no way suggesting the movie is "bad" as much as it feels "flat." I don't recall anything in particular sticking out songwise. I did not feel the stakes for any given character were that high. I did not mourn their losses. It's unclear to me why 2 or 3 entire numbers in particular, let alone smaller scenes, could not have been cut from the movie altogether. A couple of the characters seemed to overdo it even for a musical (Looking at you 9-9).
But all that aside, props to Smitts, Ramos, and Hawkins for acting as anchors. The kid Diaz provided numerous laughs. I feel bad that my only instinct is to say the girls were cute and could sing. They, technically, had central roles, but it seemed like they were positioned to kinda of exist as incidental bodies in them, not bring something in particular, beyond their similar vocal range and capacity as the 2nd tier girls from Hamilton, to the role.
As with all of the "pride for my neighborhood/culture/qualifier" movies or shows go, so does this one. You can champion representation and spin positivity in service to more creative examples and general familiarity and acceptance. You can also not-so-low-key end up creating a message that says humble your dreams if you're poor and try to overly romanticize the only things about you that feel stable in a loose association of cultural identity markers.
Full of joy and colour, I highly recommend. I liked it much better then the stage version. Film suits this musical better as the WH neighborhood of Manhattan can range be brought to life. Ramos is perfect. The music infects you, especially since it's almost constant. Fab.
Enjoyable movie but way too long. The musical bit is sub-par given that the songs are basic beat construction (similar to what producers create for popular candy pop songs). You can tell that LMM basically uses the same song formats for the stuff he makes. I guess he learned from Michael Bay, if you found a formula that works just reuse it for all your projects. People will keep paying money for it.
I feel like nothing happened in this movie tbh but the music was nice
It’s a fun movie. Fan of the the play and translated well to the big screen. The role seems like it was always meant for Anthony Ramos as he plays Usnavy almost like it was written for him (it wasn’t) as he plays him so well. Songs are great to listen too have played the soundtrack many times.
Him choosing to stay home for a girl that was hella stubborn and wanted him to give up his dreams just for her:neutral_face: terrible ending.
Another take on the subject of immigrant communities. A lot of emotions, but too much rapping, but well, that's the fashion now...
If you love musicals, this is a must see movie. It is a film adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony winning Broadway play and it’s everything you could want in a big production. Fantastic cast (who knew Jimmy Smits could sing?), great dance numbers, incredible singing and harmonies, a celebration of Latino American culture, a love song to NYC’s Washington Heights, poignant moments balancing the carnival celebrations. I give this film an 8 (great) out of 10, but a 10 (complete) out of 10 for a musical. [Musical Drama]
How to not love Lin-Manuel Miranda? It was truly magical. So powerful and meaningful. I love it.
It captures the feeling of an immigrant Latino community and the spectacular nature of the songs composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, but the director's tendency to edit short shots does not let the music breathe and suffocates the choreographies. This relevant defect also affects the script, because its lack of effectiveness makes the weak wickers on which the story is based more evident.
So happy to see Daphne Rubin-Vega performing on film! She has originated so many roles on stage! What a powerhouse!
A bit all over the place. There certainly are some strong numbers with plenty of catchy lyrical hooks and impressive dance numbers, but there are just as many, if not more, disjointed songs that break up the flow and leave the collective set feeling piecemeal and problematic.
In The Heights attempts to highlight that everyone in Washington Heights has dreams, but many of those minor players would be best left on the cutting room floor or streamlined into more cohesive collectives. It makes an otherwise straight forward story of gentrification and a search for identity within a community feel more tired and less original, despite the pieces of flare that do excel. It's clunky bones with some impressive glitter.
In the end, we're here for the music. There a few standouts that will stick in your head, but it's not enough to keep you rewatching the film like you would other standout classics. Despite the fancy footwork on the screen, it never finds its stride and comes up short.
Also, seems like a lot of effort to keep your bodega open to now serve the invading army of hipsters, but you do you Usnavi.
Shout by Nelly JicaVIP 2BlockedParent2021-06-11T17:34:52Z
I absolutely loved it! I have been a fan of the musical since it came out on stage and this movie did it justice. I can see many people not “getting” it or having trouble finding the appeal and thats fine. This movie may not be for everyone. It has very particular and defined themes that not everyone will be able to comprehend. You have to live that life in neighborhoods like shown in the movie to really appreciate the subtle homages of the cultures they portray here. As a nuyorican, this movie made me proud.
That being said, was the movie structurally perfect? No. There were some janky transitions here and there and some lines didn’t need to be added. But on the flip side, some scenes were portrayed masterfully and more beautiful than my mind could’ve imagined listening to the soundtrack. A must watch.