The pandemic forced many to put their goals and aspirations on hold. Based on Lin-Manuel Miranda‘s first Broadway show, In The Heights is all about dreams deferred and realized.
Quiara Alegría Hudes script, John M. Chu‘s energetic direction, unforgettable music and this unbelievable cast makes In The Heights one of the best film’s of the year. In most musicals, the non-musical scenes lack the energy and emotion of the musical numbers. That’s not the case here thanks to the ensemble.
Anthony Ramos is no stranger to Miranda’s style having starred in Hamilton. Ramos delivers a star-making performance. He has plenty of charisma, but there’s a sweetness in Ramos’s performance that makes Usnavi such a sympathetic character. Olga Merediz delivers a performance as Abuela Claudia worthy of an Academy Award nomination. Corey Hawkins also excels as Benny. A friend of Usnavi’s who has worked his way up through hard work. You might think his dreams are smaller in scope, but they’re just as important to him. Hawkins shares the best choreographed musical number with Leslie Grace. As a father willing to do anything for his daughter to succeed, Jimmy Smits is the coloring on top of this gorgeous snow cone.
Grace as Nina Rosario and Melissa Barrera as Vanessa are sensational. Each of these characters represents different ends of the dream spectrum. One has realized what she thought was her dream outside of Washington Heights but isn’t so sure anymore. The other is doing all she can to leave the neighborhood.
There are a couple of minor issues in the film. Unless you count gentrification, there’s no antagonist. There’s also very little conflict in the film. When there is conflict, it’s smoothed over far too easily.
In The Heights forces you to take a hard look at your dreams. What are you willing to give up to achieve them? The answer to that question requires “paciencia Y fe,” (patience and faith) which is the message of this unforgettable film.
With the overview out of the way, let’s dive deeper into the dreamers of In The Heights. Please note there will be some minor spoilers. In The Heights is available in theaters and streaming on HBO Max until July 11.
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The Character of Washington Heights
Choosing to film in Washington Heights was a brilliant decision. The neighborhood isn’t just a character, it’s the beating heart of In The Heights.
When Nina returns from the West Coast, you can understand the allure of this neighborhood. There are a couple of instances where she tells Benny to be quiet so she can hear her neighborhood. Those moments when she’s soaking in the sound are some of the best moments in the film. For characters like Usnavi who are looking to leave Washington Heights, you also understand why so few dreamers actually leave.
There’s a sense of communal spirit in Washington Heights that makes you want to join in. One of my favorite usages of Washington Heights involves Vanessa. In her mind, she’s running through the streets of Washington Heights as sheets of fabric drape buildings on both sides of the street. It’s a truly gorgeous visual and beautiful use of foreshadowing. For those looking to leave or have left the neighborhood like Usnavi, Nina and Vanessa, Washington Heights will serve as inspiration whether they choose to stay or leave.
Music and Choreography of In The Heights
Miranda’s songwriting and Christopher Scott‘s choreography are unmatched. Every character is given an opportunity to showcase their outstanding singing and rhyming skills. With his Hamilton experience, Ramos handles Miranda’s rhymes with ease.
The best ensemble song is probably 96,000 which features the cast wondering what they would do if they won the lottery. The pool-side view makes for a magical background and there is even a great underwater shot used by Chu. “Paciencia y Fe” by Merediz is the most emotional solo performance. Vanessa and Nina’s songs do an outstanding job of capturing their mindsets at the beginning of the film.
The best choreography and duet goes to Grace and Hawkins in “When the Sun Goes Down.” The wonderful lyrics are delivered while dancing on the side of a building with the sun shining over the George Washington Bridge in the background. It’s a gorgeous shot and does a strong job of capturing the couple’s relationship.
The Small Dreamers
Using Usnavi as the narrator is one of the smartest decisions made in adapting this story. Usnavi telling this story to children as a song is a great way to introducing the audience to the constant singing and rhyming for those resistant to musicals.
Usnavi’s dream to restore his father’s bar in the Dominican Republic is his motivation to leave Washington Heights. However, there are a lot of people and responsibilities in Washington Heights pulling at him. His desire to support Sonny is one of the many warm characters relationships in the film. Nina is succeeding at Stanford, but the lack of community at the school and family finances makes her question returning for the next semester. Vanessa wants to live downtown to be a fashion designer.
Abuela Claudia serving as a mother to everyone on the block despite not having children of her own is where you will probably cry the most. She doesn’t hesitate to support her little dreamers.
For other character’s there dreams are changing due to gentrification. This storyline is felt most at the local hair and nail salon, which is before forced to relocate due to the high rent. In order to pay for Nina’s tuition, her father had to sell part of his storefront. Usnavi even mentions the dry cleaner that took over is charging outrageous prices for the neighborhood.
The only problem with the storytelling is the lack of conflict. When there’s conflict, it’s mostly should I stay or should I go internal consternation. When two characters do disagree, the conflicts are smoothed over without showing how the conflict was resolved.
There was plenty of room for conflict especially in the Usnavi-Vanessa relationship. Both characters are looking to leave Washington Heights, but are heading in two different directions. Their relationship goes from simmering to boiling too fast as well. Ramos and Barrera have such great chemistry you certainly buy the romance well enough, even if the character development doesn’t warrant the intensity of their relationship.
In The Heights Final Thoughts
Miranda’s first stage-to-screen adaptation is tremendous. The character, music and setting all work to create a film for the dreamer inside all of us.
The Review
In The Heights
PROS
- Fantastic leading performance by Anthony Ramos is bolstered by an unbelievably talented ensemble.
- Lin-Manuel Miranda's songwriting, Christopher Scott's choreography and John M. Chu's energetic direction captures the communal spirit of Washington Heights.
- I already praised the cast, but Olga Merediz's award-worthy performance is worth a separate call out.
- How the film explores dreams taking root and changing based on a community or neighborhood is special.
CONS
- There's no antagonist and very little conflict.
- The romantic relationship between Usnavi and Vanessa could have used more build up and tension. However, the performances by Melissa Barrera and Anthony Ramos mostly cover for the lack of character development.
