Review of Hamilton (2025) by Gamesvanderbeek — 05 Jul 2020

In a word, is Hamilton worth the praise that has been slathered over it for half a decade? Yes. Now to go a bit further into it. Not only had I actively avoided Hamilton before it's Disney+ release, but I also met idea of the show with a healthy dose of cynicism. I've long been a fan of music theatre who had grown increasingly aggravated by the form. So, Hamilton explodes across the pop culture landscape at a time when I was least receptive to the idea. That is to say that I went into the experience not as a fan and not even a neutral, but I was resigned to watch the show as it had finally become an inevitability.

I was foolish. The Hamilton film is not perfect. The sound balance is not quite where I wanted it. That could be written off by my equipment had limitations. Being a historical-based musical, it’s susceptible to criticisms of its omissions or things warped to serve story. Elephant in the room addressed, the founding fathers were great men who did terrible things. The show serves as an entry point. You are then free to research and make your assumptions but Miranda lifts them off the oil paintings. While it may not rightfully call all the characters to the carpet for there worst qualities, it is a far less sanitary depiction than the one we’re taught in school. As for the positive, of which there many, Miranda’s love and reverence of musical theatre shines through the heavy use of themes and motifs. To call it “the hip-hop musical” is a bit disingenuous. A far more accurate description is that it is contemporary in a true form as opposed to the type of musicals that often receive that label.

The genres of music are a rich tapestry that reflects itself in the cast itself. Tommy Kail knows the show from all angles and his film direction solidified that. While it’s difficult, if not impossible to completely recreate the live experience, this is still my preferred method of viewing musical films.

The energy of production will leap from tv or your computer or your phone. Whatever your means of ingesting entertainment may be, I highly recommend that you do. While it took me five years to come around to the idea of Hamilton, the wait was worth it. The hype is certainly real.