SEE THIS MOVIE: "In the Heights"!!!

[CTyankee]

I cannot tell you how remarkable this film is. See for yourself. You can get this film streaming (how I saw it).

This isn't "West Side Story" despite its ethnic resemblance (Dominican not Puerto Rican). A lengthy, beautiful dance sequence is bit of a resemblance to those of us who recall how West Side Story astonished us with its cultural and esthetic themes. I think it is far more serious and more eloquent than what was attempted in WSS.

I very much appreciated the montage sequence featuring the abuela and her revered status in her community. Her montage sequence is perfect. Nothing more is said. You have to see it and feel it.

I am going to avoid going into the controversy into the values of ethnicity. I am not qualified to hold a judgment one way or another, altho I do appreciate the complexities of the arguments and how they surround this film. My family and I were outsiders. Later we watched the filmed stage version of "Hamilton" to see more of Miranda's fine artistry.

If you saw this film, please comment.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

1. It is a great movie

I saw at a theater a couple of weeks ago

[FM123]

2. It was wonderful, my daughter and I just thoroughly enjoyed it!

We saw the touring Broadway show a few years ago (not exactly the same as film version) but we loved the movie JUST as much. As big fans of Hamilton, we loved the little nods to it like when Mr. Rosario was put on hold the song playing on the muzak was King George's "You'll Be Back".

[CTyankee]

3. Oh, that was delicious. I really loved King George's appearance in "Hamilton."

[FM123]

5. Yes!

And speaking of delicious - I loved seeing the piragua vendor and the Mr. Softee ice cream man together again in the Heights movie! I will not be a spoiler, so that is all I'm going to say....

[CTyankee]

7. That was pointed out to me, otherwise I would have totally missed it.

[AngryOldDem]

24. I laughed out loud.

And I can attest that that is a genuine Mr. Softee truck. That brought back many fond memories. Mr. Softee had the best ice cream, according to my 6-year-old palate — even better when it would stop in front of my house!

[jimfields33]

4. Unfortunate I will not see this.

I’m on the side of the neighborhood that the movie portrays. They were not happy with the movie. I have to go with the marginalized instead of rich Hollywood. Not sure why liberals would support this.

[CTyankee]

6. I only support the amazing talent of those who made it, appear in it. Their fine work.

But if you feel any support is flawed, I will respect that. I simply am just too uninformed of the underlying issues to go any further than describing the film's effect on me. I am still trying to correct my racial ethnic flaws. I realize the cultural hegemony at work here and that I don't really know what I think I know. I am somewhat speechless...

[jimfields33]

16. I totally get that and agree

Have a great day!!!!

[NoRethugFriends]

8. See Summer of Soul!

[CTyankee]

9. Tell me about it. I've heard of it but not read up on it.

[NoRethugFriends]

12. Below

I copied what is below. What it does not say is how it intertwined the history of the era, highlighted the marginalization of black people then (and this continues of course now), talks about how this event was ignored, showed great music, and highlighted in depth the activism of some of the performers, especially Nina Simone.
===========================================================================
Summer Of Soul (...Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised) is a feature documentary about the legendary 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival which celebrated African American music and culture, and promoted Black pride and unity.

SUMMER OF SOUL is part music film, part historical record created around an epic event that celebrated Black history, culture and fashion. Over the course of six weeks in the summer of 1969, just one hundred miles south of Woodstock, The Harlem Cultural Festival was filmed in Mount Morris Park (now Marcus Garvey Park). The footage was never seen and largely forgotten-until now. SUMMER OF SOUL shines a light on the importance of history to our spiritual well-being and stands as a testament to the healing power of music during times of unrest, both past and present. The feature includes never-before-seen concert performances by Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Sly and the Family Stone, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Mahalia Jackson, B.B. King, The 5th Dimension and more.

[CTyankee]

14. I lived through much of that culturally. I remember Nina Simone: she astonished me.

[NoRethugFriends]

18. Hot to admit I didn't know about her activism.

And I am certainly old enough to have remembered.

[LonePirate]

10. The movie bored me after about 45 minutes.

I enjoyed the early numbers at the salon and the pool; but soon after the movie fell apart for me. There was a good dance number near the end on a building but I was already divested by then.

[CTyankee]

11. I was completely caught up in the film's zeitgeist (am I using that term correctly?).

It captured that film's treatment of life as it is lived by people in a culture I do not know.

[NoRethugFriends]

13. Gotta agree with LonePirate (nt)

[mnhtnbb]

15. I was mesmerized with the choreography.

Fabulous. Love, love, loved the hair salon scene, the Busby Berkeley water number, and the reminiscent Fred Astaire anti-gravity dancing on the side of a building scene.

Such dance talent!

Surprise ending.

[CTyankee]

17. Yep.

Its use of homage, especially in the anti-gravity sequence, is just delightful.

[AngryOldDem]

23. The ending was perfect.

[Corgigal]

19. I enjoyed it.

Just a light summer movie. The love story part, was sweet.

[elleng]

20. Thanks. It was Dad's growing up neighborhood,

and my brother recently trekked 60 miles to Iowa City to see it; haven't heard his review yet.

[CTyankee]

21. Reactions are different. This movie dealt with the Dominican community. I learned something about

their identity that I didn't know at all.

[AngryOldDem]

22. I LOVED it!

Oh my God, it is the best movie I’ve seen in a long time. The choreography was stunning, the songs affecting, and acting excellent, Anthony Ramos in particular. It definitely hit me “in the feels”, especially Abuela Claudia.

Lin Manuel-Miranda is this generation’s Gershwin, Rodgers & Hammerstein, and any other musical theater genius you can name. I would love to see this on stage.

from me.

(By the way, if you get a chance to see “Hamilton” live, do so. Well worth the price of a ticket. I think touring resumes in most cities in 2022, if you’re not within proximity to NYC.)