Hamilton

Disney+ dropped Hamilton just in time for the Fourth of July. The Broadway play was shot over two nights in 2016 with most of the original cast. A lot of care has gone into the filmed performance to make it feel cinematic. The camerawork and editing allow the audience to get close to the story to see the emotions on the performer's faces.


The soundtrack has been on the charts for the past four years and this filmed performance gives a lot of viewers the opportunity to see the story visually. Lin Manuel Miranda's songs have a diversity in the musical styles and choices in each number. Every word in the musical is sung and he employs a combination of rap, r&b, and gospel in each song.


Director Thomas Kail captures the emotions of the actors with his camera work. Audiences can see the characters pour out their hearts in their performances. We are close to seeing Elizia wondering if she can compete with her husband's ambition. The viewer is always are that this is a live production with the audience's applause after every number. The camera also captures the audience which adds a feeling that you are there in the room.


The representation by the actors of color forces viewers to consider the what ifs if people who looked like the actors had a part in crafting America. Many years after the birth of the nation, people are still fighting to be in the room. It might be a musical but a lot of the themes are still found in society today.