OUR Hamilton Reviews — Page 3

Sutton Ross said: "poisonivy2 said: "Becayse it cannot be said enough:

Philipa Soo + Renee Elise Goldsberry >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Lexi Lawson/Mandy Gonzalez (the Eliza/Angelica I saw). Omg."

All day every day until the end of time. The original cast is the very best cast of Hamilton. Not up for debate."

Speaking to that, how does this affect the stage show when it opens back up. Who is going to be lining up to see the stage show now that this copy exists? I kind of burned myself out seeing it three times in the opening year, but could have seen myself revisiting it on a tour or something in a few years. But why would I spend hundreds of dollars on that when this definitive version exists?

Fosse76 said: "I thought the show was ok, and the film certainly didn't change my opinion. It's not the greatest thing ever written. It is certainly overhyped. A "shiny" recording doesn't distract me from the show's flaws. But that really neither here nor there."

Yeah, that makes sense, and I understand that Hamilton isn't everyone's favorite show. I was more interested to see if they would nitpick little things about this recording itself just because they didn't like the show.

Also, not for nothing, Disney has never won a Best Picture Oscar, so there’s no way in hell they won’t submit it if it’s eligible. In addition, the Oscars air on ABC, which is owned by Disney, and Hamilton would be an automatic ratings booster for the ceremony.

 

Updated On: 7/3/20 at 07:02 PM

schubox said: "Speaking to that, how does this affect the stage show when it opens back up. Who is going to be lining up to see the stage show now that this copy exists? I kind of burned myself out seeing it three times in the opening year, but could have seen myself revisiting it on a tour or something in a few years. But why would I spend hundreds of dollars on that when this definitive version exists?"

It's inevitable that it will have some effect, and the makers clearly had that in mind when they delayed selling the film for so long after it was made. When reports first began circulating about it in 2018, potential buyers were being asked not to show it until 2020 or 2021, presumably to protect the stage show. But at the same time, film and theater are very different, and many people will still want to see something live. Why do people go to revivals of Grease or The Sound of Music or any property where a beloved movie already exists? Seeing something live in a theater still has a particular magic all its own (thankfully for all of us rooting for the industry to get back up again).

dramamama611 said: "I cried early on, unexpectedly, too. I think it might have to do with the gift so many have been given.

It was made with so much love and care.
(Sorry for my uncharacteristic sappiness.)
"

Go ahead and be sappy, I have been blubbering for weeks about our "new normal" (and part of it is the social change but also the fact that for the first time since 1986 I was unable to make my normal 15 day Spring end of theater season trip to NYC.

As for this Hamilton film/video, it is pretty much what I expected and really awesome. Renee Elise Goldsberry and Daveed Diggs are still my favorites and the rest of the cast and the production is as dazzling as when I saw this in November 2015.

Fred Astaire used to insist that his dance pieces be filmed from head to toe to give the viewer the full effect. The close ups and various camera angles in this production definitely enhance the nuances of the performances, like you are part of the ensemble. I saw this front row Mezzanine in Nov 2015 and my view was pretty good, but I feel these add something extra.

I do have other DVD's of filmed Broadway productions and this compares with some of my favorites (Into the Woods, Sunday in the Park with George, Company) and avoids the wooden feel of the ones I didn't like (and I won't be "catty" and name it/them LOL). It is a definite treat to see the individuals who originated their roles. I wish more productions would film the originators for public consumption (Hadestown being one specific recent show).

Lastly, not sure a film adaptation would have been as good, but the trailer for In the Heights looks pretty awesome so I could be wrong on that. And as far as Emmy vs Oscar recognition, don't really care as no other accolades could make this any better than it is right now.

 

Updated On: 7/3/20 at 08:04 PM

When I first saw Hamilton on Broadway in 2015, it felt like a natural extension of having Barack Obama as our President.

When I saw it again (3x in Chicago, 2x in OKC), it felt like a revelatory reaction to the new administration.

And now watching it today, it feels like an embodiment of the current environment we live in with the re-emergence of BLM.

That’s the brilliance of Hamilton for me.

I got misty a few times, but totally sobbed (as usual) during Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story...

Having seen the OBC in 2015 (with exception of Groff (who was out to film the Looking finale movie so we got Andrew Rannells - not exactly chopped liver), it was nice to see them up close and personal like this as I saw the show from the last row of the rear mezzanine of the Richard Rodgers in 2015.

I remember pulling for LMM to win for Lead Actor at the Tony’s. Having seen it again today, I can fully appreciate why Odom Jr. won. That’s no disrespect to LMM who while not the most gifted singer, gives a nuanced, layered, emotional performance (the same one that reached me at the back of the RR in 2015). Other standouts among an all-Star cast for me: Renée Elise Goldsberry, Daveed Diggs, Phillipa Soo, Christopher Jackson, and Jonathan Groff.

poisonivy2 said: "If Hamilton wins any Oscars that means LMM gets his EGOT right?"

Only if it wins Best Picture, or he wins Best Actor. 

Updated On: 7/3/20 at 10:00 PM

That pick up/close up they do of Odom’s face in Non Stop right after Hamilton asks him to write the federalist papers with him is the kind of stuff you can’t see from the audience, so good

FlyHigh523 said: "Phillipa Soo, Daveed Diggs, and Leslie Odom Jr. give the performance of a LIFETIME in this. Wow, wow, wow. "

Agreed on all these, but also Renée Elise Goldsberry.  She totally earned that Tony.  So many standouts.  And I thought Anthony Ramos came across way better on film than he did in the theater.

poisonivy2 said: "CT2NYC said: "poisonivy2 said: "If Hamilton wins any Oscars that means LMM gets his EGOT right?"

Only if it wins Best Picture, or he wins Best Actor."

Couldn't it get nominations for Score and Song? And then LMM would win an EGOT if he won those."

No, the score and song have to be written specifically for the film to be eligible. The current rules are "an original song consists of words and music, both of which are original and written specifically for the motion picture," " [a]n original score is a substantial body of music that serves as original dramatic underscoring and is written specifically for the motion picture by the submitting composer(s)," and "the work must be recorded for use in the motion picture prior to any other usage, including public performance or exploitation through any media whatsoever."

Updated On: 7/3/20 at 10:59 PM

Fosse76 said: "CT2NYC said: "Fosse76 said:
“Actually, there's a marketing requirement that Hamilton might not have met. However, it's vague enough for them to argue that they've met it. And there is some vague wording for exempting the theatrical release requirement due to COVID-19. They use the term "initially released" for the exemption. Moviesmay still have to have a theatrical run. It's not very clear. And may be the main reason it was submitted for a rating.”

No, movies released online will not require a theatrical run afterward. It’s not vague.

https://variety.com/2020/film/awards/new-oscar-rules-movies-not-in-theaters-1234591702/"

I didn't say it was vague, I said there was some vague wording, in the actual rules. They use the term "initial release." That obviously means that it can't first show up as a DVD or Blu-Ray, But the Academy can come back and say that the initial release doesn't preclude a theatrical release. I doubt they would, but they could. Of course, they can simply change any rule."

You're just grasping at straws here. There is absolutely no reason why they would come back and say anything, or change the rule after the fact. Any wording that you might think is vague is clarified by Variety, a trade publication. I guess I just don't understand why you're arguing all the facts that are being presented, without presenting a shred of evidence to the contrary. "Because I don't think it should be eligible" isn't a good enough reason.

poisonivy2 said: "If Hamilton wins any Oscars that means LMM gets his EGOT right?

I would assume LMM would theoretically be eligible for Picture if he is producer (I seem to recall the he was listed as such in the credits) or Best Actor.  He would not be eligible for score, song, etc.  Movie musicals have been eligible for score or song only if they were written for the movie.

After seeing it, I am more than convinced (of course, I could be wrong) that this is not a movie.  It is more like the musicals that have been taped / filmed since the Carrie Underwood Sound of Music, all of which were nominated for Emmies.