In the Heights

 In the Heights
Starring Anthony Ramos, Corey Hawkins, Leslie Grace, Olga Merediz
Directed by Jon Chu

America is the land of opportunity, a melting pot of hundreds of different cultures, beliefs, values, dreams, and ethnicities that have come together to achieve that which would've been impossible to find anywhere else in the world. Lately, however, this view of America has been tarnished with minorities being treated with disdain and contempt, leading to a divided country based on race. It's in this politically heated climate that we get "In the Heights" - a film adaptation of the Tony-winning play - and much like the physical heat that the characters go through in the film, so too does the Latinx community face on a personal and private way in their own lives. As their culture becomes overshadowed, they demand to be heard, seen, and respected - and this film wonderfully does all that and so much more.

In the predominantly Latino community of the Heights, everyone is searching for their own sueñito (little dream). Usnavi (Anthony Ramos) is a bodega owner who dreams of returning to his native land of the Dominican Republic while pining for the headstrong Vanessa (Melissa Barrera). Vanessa herself dreams of being a high-end fashion designer and getting out of her dead-end job at the local beauty shop led by the equally headstrong trio of Daniela (Daphne Rubin-Vega), Carla (Stephanie Beatriz), and Cuca (Dascha Polanco). Nina (Leslie Grace) dreams of strengthening her Latino heritage as she attends the mostly-white Stanford, while Benny (Corey Hawkins) dreams of being with her. Usanavi's cousin Sonny (Gregory Diaz IV) dreams of making it big for himself, but as an undocumented immigrant he finds it almost impossible, while Nina's father Kevin (Jimmy Smits) dreams of a better life for Nina than he had. All these dreams are heard by the barrio's matriarch Abuela (Olga Merediz), who herself dreams of maintaining the Latino heritage and dignity in small ways while maintaining a firm belief in paciencia y fe (patience and faith).

"In the Heights" is pure and simply a celebration of the Latinx community and showcases the importance of family - especially those who aren't blood related. The citizens of the Heights all have their own dreams and passions, but are equally invested in each other in deep ways, forming a tight-knit community that you wish you were a part of. The film manages to incorporate its ensemble cast in passionate ways, where no character is overshadowed by another and each one is equally important to the fulfillment of the dreams of everyone involved, and there's no story left untold. Each character will touch your heart in different ways, and will latch on and burrow deep down in your soul so that even after the film ends, you still think about these characters as real human beings, people with their own dreams that deserve to see them fulfilled.

The film was a work of passion and zeal, delivered with perfection by "Crazy Rich Asians" director Jon Chu, screenwriter Quiara Alegria Hudes (who also wrote the book the stage musical was based on), cinematographer Alice Brooks (who provides a deeply passionate look into the Heights), editor Myron Kerstein (who provides quick-paced editing that makes the 143-minute film feel as fast as a New York minute), production designer Nelson Coates (who turns the Heights into its own lively character), and costumer Mitchell Travers (who creates some of the most beautiful costumes). You can tell that this film was more than just a cash grab or something they did on the side - it's a pure masterpiece from start to finish, a film that's deeply personal and profound, filled with eye-dropping choreography and toe-tapping songs that will remain in your head and make you purchase the soundtrack on iTunes. You won't be able to escape this fierce, loud, perfectly timed film - and it's not something you'd want to leave in the first place.

Throughout the film there's the concept of people wanting to leave the Heights for better opportunities. Usnavi wants to return to the Dominican Republic. Vanessa wants to move to a more fashion-centric town. Daniela wants to move her beauty shop to a more profitable location. This idea isn't new to the film, as everyone at one point or another felt that they needed to leave their hometown, spread their wings, and soar. Yet home is where the heart is, and it's only after you really think about it that you realize that home isn't really all that bad, as it holds your memories, family, friends, and culture. It's where your most cherished moments occurred, and where your biggest disappointments hit - but even in those darkest times you were never alone. The cast fully encompasses the feel of community, as each one works so well off one another that you almost feel they've been living in the same community for decades.

Anthony Ramos has an infectious youthful zeal while maintaining a sweet sense of shyness especially around Usnavi's love interest Vanessa. Corey Hawkins charms his way through the film as Benny, while Leslie Grace showcases intelligence, perseverance, and compassion in spades. Melissa Barrera gives Vanessa a strong sense of purpose and hardheadedness but also showing compassion in her own right. Yet the film's glue comes from Olga Merediz, who is the only actress to reprise her Tony-nominated role from the stage musical to the screen as matriarch Abuela. If anyone this year deserves an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, it's her. She purely shines as the heart of the Heights, a purely sweet and thoughtful woman who also embraces her own journey that she took to get to this point, and it's absolutely infectious to see her perform.

A musical is nothing without...well...the music, and "In the Heights" starts off with a homerun and just keeps hitting them out of the park. From Usnavi's lively introduction to the film ("In the Heights"), to Nina's inner turmoil brought to screen ("Breathe"), to the lively crowd-pleasing "96,000," Abuela's journey ("Paciencia y Fe") and celebration of the community ("Carnaval del Barrio"), there's not one song and dance number that's underutilized and each one is loud, proud, and memorable. The choreography is out of this world, and each song is deeply personal and will run the emotional gambit from pure joy and celebration to deep reflection and tender emotion. Each song was written and created by the great Lin-Manuel Miranda (who also brought the equally amazing "Hamilton"), and you can feel his soul in each number. The long run time might discourage you, but it's well worth the time, and it doesn't feel half as long as it was - if anything, it left me wanting even more.

As a celebration of the Latinx community, "In the Heights" tells a culturally relevant story through the use of memorable songs, expert choreography, passioned performances and set pieces that'll leave your eyes in wonder.

The Score: A+