Title – Hamilton (2020)

Director – Thomas Kail (feature debut)

Cast – Lin-Manuel Miranda, Daveed Diggs, Phillipa Soo, Jonathan Groff, Chris Jackson

Plot – Telling the story of one of America’s founding fathers Alexander Hamilton (Miranda), the hit Broadway musical comes to life at home with this recorded live feature.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is your king”

Review by Eddie on 17/07/2020

Setting the stage world ablaze when it premiered and continuing to do so in years since its initial release, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s passion project Hamilton has finally been made accessible to all thanks to Disney+, who have released a filmed version of the musical production onto their streaming service in light of their planned cinematic runs being cancelled due to the ongoing Covid-19 epidemic.

Filmed by Thomas Kail and his capable crew at New Yorks Richard Rogers Theatre, this cinematic capturing of Hamilton reunites the original Broadway cast in stunning fashion as the life of one of America’s founding fathers Alexander Hamilton comes to life in vivid form.

When one thinks of stories just waiting to be adapted for the broadway treatment, that of Hamilton’s and his work in the freedom of slaves, his battles in America’s independence from Britain and his colorful love life doesn’t seem like the most sure-fire of tales to be given a musical once-over but Miranda and his fellow-cast members, along with some mind-blowing stage play make this experience one you won’t soon forget.

While there’s no doubt a slight decrease in the magic one would feel sitting in a live audience of this play, Hamilton as we get to witness in the comfort of our own homes still possesses great charm and character, with Miranda as Hamilton and the likes of Daveed Diggs, Jonathan Groff, Chris Jackson, Renée Elise Goldsberry and Phillipa Soo bringing their A-games to the play with countless set-pieces and showstopping tunes that will have you glued to the screen.

At well over 2 hours, Hamilton is a long experience and one that wanes at brief moments but with its eclectic mix of hip hop styled music that molds with more typical classical tunes, its a unique offering that covers off numerous years in Hamilton’s life as well as American history, all with a verve and energy not often found with such historically minded offerings.

It’s hard to fathom just how the various cast members and all the other added elements thrown in together managed to gel so well together or even how the cast could hit so many beats and dialogue cues, Hamilton the play and the film which we now get are both clearly examples moving forward of what the stage musical and the captured version of that can be.

Final Say –

A phenomenon for a reason, Hamilton as a play is unlike anything we’ve seen before and now this Disney+ movie manages to transport us to that world without us needing to remortgage the house to do so. Filled with a stunning array of incredible performers and career defining work from its leading man, Hamilton is an unforgettable experience for a variety of reasons.

4 1/2 duels out of 5