Posted: 2/23/16 at 1:39am
wonderfulwizard11 said: part of the point of Hamilton is that these parts are being played by actors of color. Not only would it be insulting to Lin's work to cast white actors in the principal roles, I doubt he would allow it at all. Come on now.
Exactly. It literally wouldn't be the same show. The POC cast is integral to the show's core meaning.
Posted: 2/23/16 at 7:57am
If you had told me a little over a year ago that a hip-hop musical about the life of Alexander Hamilton would make a good stage musical, I would've thought you were insane. Just because something sounds like it wouldn't work doesn't mean it won't. You never know what creative people can do with any material--the movie may end up being genius and a smash hit.
Posted: 2/23/16 at 7:50pm
UrNotAMachine said: "If anyone hasn't seen it yet, someone made a storyboard version of "The world was wide enough" and I really love the cinematic take on it. https://vimeo.com/151533418"
That is frighteningly well done and is a good example of how this show could transfer to film. Though I always envisioned the "woosh" sounds as Burr's bullet moving closer and closer, not Hamilton moving through time.
I'm not sure why anyone would think the King George songs can't transfer to film. They're not too showy. Is it that George is essentially walking around "America" as the set never changes? You can easily cut to England for his numbers. You'll Be Back would be easiest, too. Just a shot of a messenger on horseback coming up the street. He holds out a scroll. POV shot of Hamilton, Burr and Seabury looking up at the messenger as he unfurls the scroll, taking up the frame and blocking Hamilton and company. Scroll furls back up and but now we see a closeup of Neil Patrick Harris (because c'mon) wearing a crown and a smirk, slowly zooming out revealing him sitting on a throne in a great hall, and now we're in Buckingham Palace.
Posted: 2/23/16 at 8:19pm
Hamilton is too theatrical to make a successful movie. Part of its genius is its use of stage space and the cast. That won't come across in a realistic movie with real houses and outdoor landscapes.
Best bet is to film the stage production with the original cast and release it when the national tour is done.
Posted: 2/23/16 at 9:46pm
I disagree. I think that with a good enough concept, something theatrical can easily become cinematic. Hamilton could be so well done and it doesn't have to be so literal (meaning exact period detail) it could be full of anachronisms and interesting visual concepts. It all has to do with who's making it. If it's someone like Tom Hooper, it'll fail because hyper-realism and perfect period detail is a mistake when adapting the material but maybe someone like Baz Luhrmann (just the first name that popped into my head) could have an interesting take on the material. I know Spike Lee loves the show. I'd be interested in his take.
Posted: 2/23/16 at 9:47pm
Spike Lee's RENT. What might have been.
Posted: 2/23/16 at 10:12pm
I've heard that Scorsese was considering it too. I can't imagine what that would've been like but I really would have taken any director over Chris Columbus. I probably would have preferred Wes Anderson's RENT.
Posted: 2/24/16 at 2:40am
I actually think I'd like to see a realistic-style period costume drama Hamilton film. I'm thinking the wackiness of King George's scenes and the entertainingly incongruous music styles might actually 'pop' better when surrounded by reverent period detail. Additionally, a reverent approach might be the most tasteful option when portraying the real-life battles and bereaved parents. The show is also about very specific people and places from history, so I wouldn't want it to start looking like a fable or similar. (There's already enough audience 'misdirection' through the multiracial casting and modern music styles, aspects of the show which I like, but I think a period take would be a good way to help ground a film version in actual history.) Although, somebody like Baz Lurhmann might be able to incorporate a period design without making the film seem too stuffy. (I wouldn't have thought of him for this, but the idea is growing on me. But how about Thomas Kail? Might he have more clout after Grease Live...?)
This might honestly just be my lack of imagination talking. I can't yet think of a concept other than traditional period drama that doesn't seem (to me) as though it would be terrible. Does anybody have any other ideas?
Updated On: 2/24/16 at 02:40 AM
Posted: 2/24/16 at 10:05am
"I can't yet think of a concept other than traditional period drama that doesn't seem (to me) as though it would be terrible."
I don't necessarily think the whole concept has to be changed as it's a very specific story but I think more energetic camera-work than your typical period piece would be important (Something like Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing with very rhythmic editing). I just can't see them taking the full-blown Les Mis approach to the story. The story and the period should remain the same but it should be shot and edited in a more modern way and allow for some anachronisms as that's where a lot of the fun comes from.
Posted: 2/24/16 at 10:11am
all of this prompts me to reiterate "ye of little imagination..." Seriously, while there are of course many ways to screw up the movie, at this point we should hope that the film is made with the same creativity as is the hallmark of the stage play.
Posted: 2/24/16 at 10:41am
And your incessant badgering in this thread prompts me to say there will never be a movie musical made. You heard it here first.
Posted: 2/24/16 at 10:54am
Liza's Headband said: "And your incessant badgering in this thread prompts me to say there will never be a movie musical made. You heard it here first. "
Yes, movie studios always decide whether or not to make movies based on the incessantness of "badgering" on the internet
