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Film,  Music

Review – Hamilton: An American Musical

Hamilton is a hip-hop musical based on the life of the United State’s first Treasury Alexander Hamilton (Lin-Manuel Miranda). The film shows us the life of Alexander. A young, scrappy, and hungry teenager is willing to give his life for his country’s freedom. We see his early years to his death.

Without going into spoilers [can you spoil history?], Hamilton is a film about legacies, ambition, sacrifice, and loss. The rivalry between Alexander and Aaron Burr (Leslie Odom Jr.) is the plot’s driving force. Two different world views from very flawed individuals.

The entire cast is phenomenal. Leslie Odom shines as Burr and delivers the film’s best performance. Then we have Phillipa Soo (Eliza Schuyler) and Renée Elise Goldsberry (Angelica Schuyler), who also bring the show to a whole new level with their beautiful voices.

The songs and dances are incredible, and director Thomas Kail does a fantastic job of capturing the magic on stage. This filmed version of the play is an entirely different experience from the Broadway production. The camera placement immerses us into every single scene. It’s truly something to behold. As someone who has seen the Broadway production, this was incredible to watch.

The show brings us a diverse cast and something unique to the musical genre. For example, you love to see Daveed Diggs’ (Marquis de Lafayette) firey performance during Guns and Ships. Or hear Miranda’s fierce rhymes in My Shot. The music is non-stop, and you love every single second of it. Honestly, the only small complaint is that Miranda is the cast’s weakest link. He does a good job, but everyone else is on a whole other level.

Hamilton is one of the best shows to ever land on Broadway and is now of the best musicals on film. I still believe the live performance is something everyone should see, but this is a very close second. If you’re a fan of musicals, film, storytelling, hip-hop, or history, this is a film you need to see.

Hamilton stars Lin-Manuel Miranda (Alexander Hamilton), Leslie Odom Jr. (Aaron Burr), Renée Elise Goldsberry (Angelica Schuyler), Phillipa Soo (Eliza Schuyler-Hamilton), Daveed Diggs (Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson), Christopher Jackson (George Washington), Anthony Ramos (John Laurens/Philip Hamilton), Okieriete Onaodowan (Hercules Mulligan/James Madison), Jonathan Groff (King George III), Jasmine Cephas Jones (Maria Reynolds and Peggy).

You can stream Hamilton July 3rd on Disney+.

Michael Thomas
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