In 2020, Disney+ released a filmed version of the Broadway sensation Hamilton. The musical about the life and legacy of American founding father Alexander Hamilton is filled with memorable songs, compelling characters, and important themes. It was praised for its diverse cast and reimagining of American history.
But before he created Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda made a name for himself with In the Heights, which has now been adapted into a movie. The story centers around a group of young New Yorkers who pursue their dreams and fight to preserve their block. Because both musicals were created by Lin-Manuel Miranda and have both been recently released, the two movies are bound to draw comparisons.
10 In The Heights: Timely
In the Heights contains messages about a variety of important relevant issues. Nina's storyline involving the racial prejudice she experienced at school, Sonny's difficulties coming up with the resources to pay for an immigration lawyer, Abuela Claudia singing about the discrimination and challenges her mom experienced when she came to America, and Daniela being forced to relocate her business due to gentrification are all relevant to real-world situations that people are facing today.
Additionally, the movie is also about learning to appreciate the small details that make people and places special. The song "Carnaval del Barrio" is about celebrating life and finding the strength to keep moving forward joyfully even in the face of opposition and loss, messages that are sure to resonate with audiences in 2021.
9 Hamilton: Timeless
Set in the late 1700s and early 1800s, Hamilton uses a historical story to communicate timeless messages. In one sense, the tale is about the role that immigrants played in building America. The musical prominently features Hamilton, who came to America from the Caribbean, and Marquis de Lafayette, a French military officer who was instrumental in the US winning the Revolutionary war.
The two characters come together to coin the iconic line "Immigrants - we get the job done." Additionally, the story also contains universal messages about ambition, legacy, and the way that history is written from biased perspectives.
8 In The Heights: Representation
In the Heights features a predominantly Latinx cast, with Benny as the only major character who does not speak Spanish. The film celebrates the individual countries of origin, with characters proudly flying the flags of the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and more, but also shows a united community in which people of different backgrounds come together.
The movie uses a combination of diverse casting, English and Spanish dialogue and lyrics, culturally specific food and drinks like piragua, and shared values to represent Latinx culture.
7 Hamilton: Representation
In Hamilton, the cast is comprised of mostly Latinx and Black actors, including Lin-Manuel Miranda as Alexander Hamilton, Leslie Odom Jr. as Aaron Burr, and Daveed Diggs as Thomas Jefferson. This casting choice challenges the traditional view of the narrative surrounding America's origin.
Christopher Jackson, who originated the role of George Washington, described the show's casting choices by saying "It represents the fact that our role in building this country has never truly been acknowledged." Hamilton's representation is less specific than that of In the Heights, but it is a reclamation of history for people of various backgrounds.
6 In The Heights: Musical Numbers
Because the theme of community plays such an important role in In the Heights, many of the musical numbers culminate in the characters coming together and singing and dancing alongside each other. As a result, the movie is filled with incredible musical numbers.
In the Heights takes full advantage of the fact that it is a movie, not a stage show, and executes numbers on a scale that is simply not possible on stage. Well directed, energetically choreographed, and beautifully shot, these big musical numbers offer something that Hamilton cannot.
5 Hamilton: Songs
While Hamilton's musical numbers may not be on the same scale as those in In the Heights, Hamilton benefits from having some of the greatest songs Lin-Manuel Miranda has ever written. Hamilton's soundtrack perfectly blends multiple genres of music and features a balance of solos and group numbers.
Nearly every character gets their opportunity to sing a showstopping song. Standout tracks include "My Shot," "The Schuyler Sisters," "Wait for It," and many others. When the original Broadway recording of the soundtrack was released in 2015, Billboard ranked it as the 11th biggest album of the entire decade.
4 In The Heights: More Cinematic
Directed by Jon M. Chu, In the Heights benefits from artistic creative choices that make the most of the medium of film. In addition to beautiful cinematography, the movie uses visual effects to transforms musical numbers, allowing the sequences to transcend their theatrical counterparts.
The imagery in "It Won't Be Long Now" allows the audience to see Vanessa's daydream, the visual drawings that appear during "96,000" illustrate the characters' imagination as they picture what they would do with the lottery winnings, and the magical realism of defying gravity as Benny and Nina dance in "When The Sun Goes Down" captures the elation they are feeling in that moment.
3 Hamilton: Unique Experience
The filmed version of Hamilton that was released on Disney+ offers a unique experience that combines theater and cinema. The movie is a blend of footage taken in front of an audience during several of the show's performances and other shots that were filmed specifically for the movie.
This decision allows the movie to benefit from the energy of the audience but also mixes in close-ups that highlight the incredible performances from the actors. Hamilton is filmed in a way that offers the best aspects of both mediums and succeeds where other recordings of plays fall flat.
2 In The Heights: Anthony Ramos
While Anthony Ramos has played significant roles in other productions, including Hamilton, In the Heights gives the actor the opportunity to fully demonstrate his abilities. As the lead character Usnavi, Anthony Ramos is electric. He delivers a powerful performance that shows off his versatility as he acts and sings in multiple languages.
His portrayal of Usnavi is cool, caring, and passionate, easily making him a great character that audiences are rooting for. He is the heart of the film, and the movie succeeds in large part due to his performance.
1 Hamilton: The Cast
While Lin-Manuel Miranda is very good as Alexander Hamilton, it is the rest of the cast of Hamilton that steal the show. Leslie Odom Jr. is a compassionate and sympathetic antagonist, Phillipa Soo is heartbreaking as Alexander's wife Eliza Hamilton, Jonathan Groff is hilarious as the condescending King George III, and Christopher Jackson is commanding and powerful as George Washington to name a few.
But the biggest standouts of the show are Daveed Diggs in the dual roles of Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson and Renée Elise Goldsberry as Angelica Schuyler. The show has helped launch the careers of many of the cast and it is not hard to see why. The incredible performances across the board make Hamilton a special film to watch.
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