♥♥♥♥♥♥
+ Best American Movie of the Year + Best Musical of the Year + Best New York Movie of the Year + Best Romance of the Year
 |
| The four young leading characters made into a mural on this delightful, colorful poster for Jon M. Chu's In the Heights |
Usnavi is a young man about to turn 30, working in a convenience store in Washington Heights, New York, while dreaming of a future far away. And dreams are plentiful over-all in the latino-dominated neighborhood.
In the Heights is written by Quiara Alegría Hudes (My America (2012, TV-series)), adapting the same-titled 2005 musical by Hudes and Lin-Manuel Miranda (Clayton's Friends (1996)), and directed by Californian master filmmaker Jon M. Chu (Step Up 2: the Streets (2008)), whose 10th feature it is.
In the Heights is like a shot of really good vitamins, the very top shelf of cinema vitamins, as this is a musical that is brimming with vitality, musicality, physical expression, meanings, romance and great values.
The story is a journey of personal development, especially of lead Usnavi, SPOILER who has to face that he already belongs to a wonderful community, and that his dreams are built on the unnecessary illusion that he has to start completely over in another country which he doesn't really know. But there are faceted stories around his as well: Especially of Vanessa, his secret sweetheart's doubts about her prestigious education at Stanford University and her wish to unburden herself from her father's huge expectations. The musical takes it upon itself to introduce its audiences to a general identity for the latino immigrants, and Usnavi's adoptive grandmother Claudia exemplifies this strong-willed, hard-working individual who is hell-bend on making a good living for herself in the US.
The film is a spirited musical and swinging from the get-go, fueled by an urban rhythm that goes on and explodes in countless absolutely fabulous set-piece song and dance numbers: 96,000 (at the public pool), Pacienca y Fe and Alabanza are just some of the terrific show-stoppers that are truly soul-lifting pieces of entertainment, like balm to the cinema-lover's soul after the crushing months of China Virus lockdowns.
The cast is a sensational group of performers who all deserve credit: Anthony Ramos (Monsters and Men (2018)) is a hell of a charmer as our dopey hero with the strange name Usnavi, (get the explanation for that in the film); Melissa Barrera (L for Leisure (2014)) is strong as Vanessa, who deals with many issues; of search for identity, racism, a strained father relationship and uncertainty as to her future and purpose in life; Corey Hawkins (The Walking Dead (2015-16)) is a gift to the screen as Benny; and Leslie Grace holds her own fine as his romantic interest Nina, who dreams of being a clothes designer and live downtown. They all sing and dance like a dream. There's Olga Merediz (Custody (2016)), wonderful as Claudia, a loving heart for the film; Jimmy Smits (Cane (2007, TV-series)) is tremendous as Vanessa's father, and young Greogry Diaz IV (Unbreakable Kimmie Schmidt (2018, TV-series)) has a bright performance as Usnavi's cousin Sonny.
Rarely does a film for adults push out the first kiss between its romantic center for as long as happens here, but In the Heights makes it work for it, as we have been too involved and entertained during the long wait to roll our eyes, and when the thing really takes place, a whoosh went through the packed, heatwave-stricken theater that I saw the film in, as hearts raced inexorably in the patrons in their seats. Emotions soar, there's laughter and tears and so much rampant joy and humanity at its best to celebrate in In the Heights: This is a film you do not wanna miss at a cinema!
Related post:
Jon M. Chu: 2021 in films - according to Film Excess
Watch a trailer for the film here
Cost: 55 mil. $
Box office: 39.7 mil. $ and counting
= Uncertain but looks to become a huge flop
[In the Heights premiered 9 June (USA, Iceland, Indonesia) and runs 143 minutes. The film was supposed to be directed by Kenny Ortega in 2008, but plans stalled without a major latino star attached. Shooting took place from June 2019 - ? in New York, including in Washington Heights. The film makes several changes to the story and characters from the stage musical. The release was postponed for many months due to the China Virus pandemic, and the film was eventually released simultaneously to theaters and as streaming at HBO Max. The streaming service announced that it only was streamed at 693k households during its first weekend. It opened #2, behind holdover hit A Quiet Place II, to an 11.5 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it left the top 5 in its 2nd weekend and has grossed 28.8 mil. $ to date. Its 2nd and 3rd biggest markets at the moment are the UK with 5.3 mil. $ and Australia with 2.5 mil. $, while most other foreign markets are listing tiny receptions. Several markets are opening soon: 22 July (Germany, Italy), 30 July (Japan), 19 August (Hungary, Slovakia), 20 August (India) and 9 September (Russia), but the film is falling far, far behind in terms of breaking even or becoming a hit. Reportedly 50 mil. $ was additionally spent on marketing it. Chu has 4 films slated as director in pre-production. Ramos returns in In Treatment (2021, TV-series), Blindspotting (2021, TV-series) and theatrically in Distant (post-production); Barrera in Scream (2022); Hawkins in The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021), and Grace does not have an announced next gig as an actress yet. In the Heights is certified fresh at 95 % with an 8.30/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]
What do you think of In the Heights?
No comments:
Post a Comment