Hamilton - Review

Released: July 3, 2020

Wow

The most famous Broadway show in the past half-decade, Hamilton, amassed a large following. It felt like if you hadn't secured a sold-out ticket, you listened to the soundtrack on Spotify. For about a year, it was the most talked-about thing people wanted to go and experience. Having been released on Disney+, it is now available to all and just in time for the 4th of July weekend. While I can't answer if this matches up to seeing the musical in person, as I never had the chance to, I can recommend this version. 

One of the many advantages of going to a live production is choosing where to look. A set designer can try and focus the audiences' gaze, but it's ultimately up to the individual where they decide to look. This was the first hurdle I struggled with when the program started. I tried to focus on the set and the ensemble cast, but the camera's focus was on the main singer's face. When there was a moment that allowed me to see more of the stage, there would be a cut to a different angle. Eventually, I gave up on this endeavor and stuck with where the camera was pointing, but this is because the

set never changed. There were no background replacements, meaning there was never a reason to look back around. There was also a lack of engaging choreography for a production that had a lot of actors moving around. These factors helped to translate the experience to the more edited version that is now available.

The bulk of my entertainment started to manifest after the first hour. While that first part is fine, the momentum really picks up afterward. There is much more drama in the second half, and the quality of the music goes up as well. What really ties everything together is the recurring pieces of music that narratively build up characters and their motivations. When the curtain call happens, I looked back at and appreciated my time getting to experience the musical. It earned my time, and I felt good having watched it.

Hamilton is a great watching experience despite the more focused approach. While the music is good, it was the performance of Daveed Diggs and the small appearances of Jonathan Groff that made me believe in seeing it rather than listening to it. Aside from the historical aspects, it's a well-told biography that's engaging and keeps you interested. It earns the runtime, and you can finally understand why people wouldn't stop raving over it, though you might not end up as enamored as they did.

7.5/10
​The best thing to come out since quarantine started