I feel like there are two types of people in the world: people who love and adore Hamilton, and people who can’t stand it. Okay, maybe that’s a slight oversimplification, but sometimes it can feel like it. Personally, I first became a fan of the musical my sophomore year of high school. I memorized every word and somehow convinced my parents to see it on Broadway with me. When I heard it was being recorded, I was a little confused as to how they would bring such a complex musical to the big screen. I’ve seen it three times on Disney+ since it first aired in July of 2020, and I feel like I’m at a good point where I can put my words together.
The first thing I want to applaud the creators of the “Hamilfilm” (as they’re calling it) for is being open to change. For as long as Broadway has been around, there have been very few musicals that were filmed and transferred into movie format. And none of those musicals were anywhere near the hype that Hamilton had. I think this actually helped the cause because people weren’t concerned about people not wanting to see the musical even if they had already seen it on Disney+. Because of its fast-paced lyrics and complex choreography, the production is endlessly rewatchable. Additionally, the cast that they have performing for the film isn’t just any cast — it’s the original cast, the people that originated each of the roles. There’s always a certain magic about watching an original cast perform, especially when you’ll never be able to see them all perform together again after they take their leave and move onto other things. But now, anyone with a subscription can watch the original Hamilton cast anytime.
My favorite part of the movie is probably the way it’s filmed. It seems like the camera dances with the characters, zooming in for intense emotional moments and widening the frame for the larger musical numbers. I did some research and apparently, they filmed the whole thing twice: once with larger shots encompassing all or most of the stage and then once with the cameras on the stage with the actors. It’s clear that they spent a lot of time planning the perfect balance and it truly does the musical justice.
A lot of people’s biggest apprehension about Hamilton is its strangeness — a two-and-a-half-hour rap production about the founding fathers isn’t something you see every day. But for anyone on the edge, I implore you to give it a try. Yes, it moves fast, and it may be hard to understand the actors if it’s your first time hearing the music, but it is extremely well done. It tells the story of our country’s birth in a way that’s never been seen before. The emotions are real, the acting flawless, and the story enriching. All I ask is you give it a try. Who knows? In the end, you might find yourself just as big a Hamilfan as I am.
Spoiler Alert is an Opinion culture column used to give reviews for movies, television shows, or other related media.
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