In the Heights (2021) - A complete winner

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+ 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?

Straight Outta Compton (2015) - Gray's N.W.A. biopic is excellent

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+ Best Music Movie of the Year

The cool poster for F. Gary Gray's Straight Outta Compton plays on the group's controversial image

Straight Outta Compton is one of the big hit movies of the year and an absolute must-see for any hiphop-fan out there.

We trail the story of the creation of the rap group N.W.A. in Compton, California in the 1980s, as they shed honest and foul-mouthed light on their environment of drugs, guns, crime and police harassment.

The film jumps right at us with an excellent opening scene that leaves you panting in your seat and hooked for the rest: The N.W.A. story is rife with drama and strong moments that justify the film's long playtime (147 minutes), which doesn't feel long at all. The film thrives on an immediate energy, authenticity, big heart and a great sense of detail and overview. Debuting writer Jonathan Herman and Andrea Berloff (World Trade Center (2006)) has penned the screenplay.
The saga is set in an era that is at the same time several decades in the past and yet still feels very present day in some ways, especially the scenes of racial tension, institutionalized racism and the fear, hatred and rebellion that it creates, - which regrettably still isn't a past item in American history yet.
F. Gary Gray (The Italian Job (2003)) has done a great job of reining in a film that could have spiraled off in many less interesting directions and also of getting a batch of young actors to really perform. This powerhouse of youthful and creative spirit and moral ambiguity for the thoughtful audience member has son of N.W.A. member Ice Cube, O'Shea Jackson Jr. portraying his own father in his movie debut. Both he and Corey Hawkins (Non-Stop (2014)), who portrays Dr. Dre, do very well, but it is Jason Mitchell (Contraband (2012)) as Eazy-E who takes the price. He and Paul Giamatti (Sideways (2004)) as manager Jerry Heller. It is wonderful to see Giamatti again breath life into a character that feels so real and layered.
In a supporting part as Suge Knight, who comes off as a violent maniac, R. Marcos Taylor (Life of Crime (2013)) is very convincing as well. Knight was actually involved in more violence during the making of the film, as he carried out a hit-and-run that left one man dead and another injured, reportedly following an argument on the set of the film.
Criticisms have been raised about the film's truthfulness, its leaving out several characters, (which most biographical films that cover a large gallery of people and events will most often have to do), and its failure to include certain sides of its protagonists. Dre's problem of being abusive to women isn't portrayed for instance. The film feels honest, but it walks a fine line, and the protagonists could have easily all have lost our involvement in their history, if we actively disliked them, which the creators of the film have pretty deftly managed to make sure most of us wont. Dre, Cube and other N.W.A. members and affiliates act as producers and consultants for the film.

The director's cut version is a good deal longer and includes more of the great stuff that makes up the original film, although it lacks some of the shape and was understandably cut down.

Related posts:

2015 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED IV]

2015 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED III]
2015 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II]
2015 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]

Watch the excellent 'global trailer' for the film here

Cost: 28 mil. $
Box office: 197.8 mil. $ and counting
= Huge hit
[The film began development at New Line Cinema in 2009 and was kicked around for some years before landing with Universal and Gray. It was shot in August 2014 - January 2015 in California. The film was released with heightened security in its premiere weekend at some venues, because it was feared that it might spark violence, (none occurred.) Dre has released a highly successful album, Compton, inspired by the film. The film raced to an impressive #1 spot with a 60.2 mil. $ first domestic weekend. It held on to the top spot for two more weeks and has become both the biggest music biopic of all time in the US, crossing Walk the Line's (2005) 119.5 mil. $ with its 120.9 mil. $ and has also crossed Walk the Line's #1 status worldwide. It is also the highest grossing film by a black director ever in North America, surpassing Keenan Ivory Wayans' Scary Movie (2000). It has grossed 160.7 mil. $ (81 % of the total gross) in North America. Its second and third biggest markets are the UK (12.2 mil. $/6 %) and Australia (8.7 mil. $/4 %). Straight Outta Compton is certified fresh at 90 % with a 7.5 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes. Gray's arguably best film to date has refueled his career in a big way: He has gotten future gigs Furious 8 (2017) and Black Panther on its strength. It will be interesting to see if Compton will be remembered and honored come Oscar time...]


What do you think of Straight Outta Compton?
Other hiphop biopics that you want to recommend?