Unlike the rest of the world, I missed seeing Deadpool in the theaters when it came out. Sometimes people get busy and forget about movies, well, I am no different from those people since it happened to me. Thank goodness for the marvel of DVD and Blu-Ray and that they can be produced and released within months, unlike VHS copies that almost took a year to hit the shelves after a movie came out back in the day. I just know that I was a little skeptical when I went to buy this, despite my friends telling me it was worth it and I’m glad I believed them. Because this movie is just a joy and it is one I like to pop in often, since it knows how to put a smile on my face.

Wade Wilson is a mercenary for hire, but he is not only in it for the money, he is in it to do the right thing. After helping out on a bleeding-heart assignment, Wade returns to the bar where mercenaries like himself show up to get jobs. With their running Dead Pool to be bet on, Wade is trying everything in his power to win the jackpot, but the fights only leave the other participants bloodied up, not dead. When he is ready to leave, he gets an invite from a working girl to have all of his dreams come true, little do either of them know what that will entail.

Wade and Vanessa find common ground on how their relationship will work and not being able to make it through any holiday without celebrating properly, Wade thinks it is time to pop the question. Asking Vanessa to marry him, of course she says yes, but the bliss is short lived when Wade finds out he has cancer. Trying everything within their power to get him cured, there is only one option on the table that might work as a recruiter offers him a second chance at life. Arriving at a secret facility where superheroes are made, Wade gets injected with a serum that will activate his mutant powers, but his body must activate these powers on its own and the only way that can happen is to be pushed to the brink of dying.

After receiving his normal beatings, the doctor, Ajax knows that there is only one sure way to activate the serum inside of Wade, by taking his breath away. Sucking all of his air out of a hyperbaric chamber, Wade’s mutation comes alive, but at a cost as his body reacts violently to the lack of oxygen. Being pitted and scarred from head to toe, Wade choses his next assignment very carefully, to exact revenge on the man that has taken his good looks, thus his life away from him. Being able to escape the facility, Wade takes to the streets to find Ajax once again and get his rugged good looks back so he can face the love of his life without fear. But the road is a long and hard one as nobody wants to give up the whereabouts of Ajax, much less talk to the circus freak that is in front of them.  Leaving a trail of blood in his wake, Wade must face more than the bad guys he has grown accustomed to facing, but also fellow mutants, some of them good, some of them bad and some of them metal. 

When the first trailer to this movie was leaked way back when, I thought that it was just a joke, but now, well, Deadpool might have his own little franchise. I remember how everybody thought that the biggest problem in this movie would be how Deadpool could break the ‘forth wall’, and how his ‘inner voice’ would work, well, without being able to see his mouth, it seemed to flow just fine. With plenty of sex, violence, blood (oh the blood) and naughty language, the Merc with a Mouth has gained some huge fanfare from me. I must admit that the soundtrack also blew me away and that rarely happens to me these days as nobody likes to put 'Angel of the Morning' in movies anymore. This was just a joy-gasm for fans of all ages, especially if you have a very sick sense of humor and for a lover of f*ing horror movies like me, the blood, oh, the blood was glorious. This may require a couple more viewings on my part, and that does not happen for many movies for me these days. Thank you Ryan Reynolds for getting that hit we have been waiting for and if I find out T.J. Miller had anything to do with the proposal scene, we may need to have some words, I have been doing it that way for years, before it was hip.

When we think about stories that are focused upon trauma and loss, and the long road to recovery that accompanies those elements, we instantly assume those tales are focused upon characters who are dealing with the death of someone important to them and understandably so. Because losing a loved one to the great beyond shatters us like never before, and knowing that we will never get to spend time with them again and share in the wonder of life alongside them can cause great harm to our psyche, to the point where we spend a long time grieving and healing over their loss. Which in turn makes for powerful and inspirational storytelling, since many of these tales involve people fighting their way back from the tears and the pain. But while those stories are important and poignant in their own right, the death of a loved one, is not the only type of trauma and loss that people experience in life.

Because we lose people in other hurtful ways as well. For example, ending a relationship with a close friend or a lover that we thought would be in our lives forever can rip our souls to shreds. Because these people meant the world to us and just like that they’re out of our lives. Something that can oddly cause greater harm to us emotionally, especially if they were a former lover. For when a relationship ends on uncertain and abrupt terms, that lack of closure, and the knowledge that they are going to move on without us can put us in quite the dark and ugly place. But those stories are the ones that most films and books and shows tend to shy away from. Because seeing the characters come back from those elements requires great intimacy in the writing, the kind that bigger projects don’t often cater to. But there are stories out there that examine this type of loss and recently, this reviewer had the chance to enjoy a movie that takes the time to explore this in a powerful and surprisingly funny manner in Deany Bean is Dead.

Now in this particular tale, we are introduced to a woman name Deanna Locke who is going through quite the rough patch. Which is a shame, because not that long ago, Deany was doing just fine. Bcause she had a fiancé that she deeply loved, and she was happy in the knowledge that she was going to get to come home to a wonderful man, every day, for the rest of her life. But the surprise decision on her fiancé’s part to end their relationship has left her in quite the devastated place. For now, there is no happily ever after on the horizon for her, and work is getting worse since her boss is suddenly insufferable, and for the first time in a long time, there is no hope present within Deany’s eyes. But just when it seems as though nothing is going to change and Deanna is going to be forever surrounded by sorrow, the rash decision she makes one day, to strangle her boss and bury said boss in her fiancé’s backyard, is going to change her life in positive ways that she never thought possible.

So, as you can see from that plot summary, this is a supremely different kind of inspirational story. Because most tales that involve someone’s attempts to heal from trauma and loss, don’t involve murder. But that kind of plot twist is here for a reason, simply because it gets your attention and motivates the viewer to really understand Deany’s plight. Specifically, the fact that she is someone who has been marginalized at every turn by people that she thought mattered the world to her. And their desire to look down upon her and insult her with impunity has motivated her to internalize her emotions and never deal with them. But that one big moment changes everything for Deany, and just like that she’s free and ready to deal with her pain and get closure on the other parts of her life that need it, and that leads to some powerfully funny and poignant moments when she finds herself inadvertently attending her ex’s engagement party. 

But while that leads to some satisfying scenes where Deany finally sticks it to the people that have pushed her around, what matters more about this story is what it has to say about how we recover from this particular type of loss and trauma, and that’s what makes this story so powerful and uplifting. For in essence, this movie serves to remind us, that sometimes when we lose a love and a life that we thought was perfect, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. Because sometimes we fool ourselves into believing what we have is all that we want. But when something this complex and this important, falls apart, it gives us a great opportunity to look at things objectively and ask ourselves if this is indeed what we desire. But while those are important lessons to be found within the framework of this film, none of them compare to the most significant one of all. In that, in order to get what we really want and need in life, we need to be happy with ourselves and know our worth. Which is a beautiful lesson to find within the framework of a dark comedy, one that quite frankly, we don’t see enough of in cinema.

In the end however, this is simply a magnificent film through and through. Because it is bold and daring in how it tells it story, since it takes guts to make murder a catalyst for change for a person in crisis. But this film pulls it off no problem and that’s thanks in large part to Allison Marie Volk’s brilliant screenplay. Because it really does take you for quite a ride and to top it off, this film features some powerful performances. With Allison leading the charge in that arena as well since she plays the quirky and delightful Deanna in an earnest and realistic manner and really, all of these elements make this a motion picture that you need to see. Because there is not a predictable moment to be found here and everything works in this movie and it really does manage to inspire the audience when all is said and done. And you simply cannot go wrong with losing yourself within the framework of a story that asks the viewer to take charge of their life and find the good within it. Just don’t strangle your boss as part of the healing process, because that’s bad.  

'Deany Bean is Dead' is available to stream on Tubi.com.

Why do we create, why do we build, why do we imagine? A good answer to all of these questions is that if we don’t do it, someone else will. Being able to come up with a way to make something that the world could use may not be the worst thing to do, but if you are doing it for your own benefit, well, you might need to take a look in the mirror. Trying to make something new is difficult and full of obstacles, but if you truly believe in what you are doing, they are much easier to overcome.

Caleb is a young computer programmer that is happy with what he does, and now has been made even happier when receiving news that he won an important contest. The winner is given a week off to visit with the CEO at his mountain retreat that nobody ever gets to visit. Being whisked away by helicopter, Caleb is able to see how much land his boss has but does not know what to think when he meets the man. Nathan seems like a nice person upon his first meeting with his young employee, but Caleb is trying to control his excitement and isn't saying a whole lot. 

After arriving in his room, Caleb is shocked to hear that Nathan has something very exciting for him to witness for the week. Signing a non-disclosure agreement, Caleb is now privy to the latest experiment by Nathan, actual Artificial Intelligence. Caleb is asked to perform the Turing Test on Nathan’s new invention to see if his AI could be considered human or machine. Sitting in an empty room, Caleb meets Ava, an android that appears to be alive. Asking her questions, Caleb starts to believe that there might be something special about her and as long as she has not been specifically programmed to properly answer the questions by Nathan, there might be something special about her intelligence. 

Giving feedback to Nathan about every session, Caleb is blown away by the feats he accomplishes with Ava. Learning little bits and pieces about how it works, Nathan seems to be holding something back from what he is really doing in the mountains. But by hearing about how the search engine that Nathan created that made him a very rich man played everything into Ava’s development, Caleb knows he is in the room with a genius. There is something very special about Ava and Caleb is starting to get attached to her more and more each day and vice versa. Ava has made a new friend, but with the new friendship, there has to be more give and take and it starts to take its toll on Caleb when he finds out what has been really happening in the complex. Being forced to question his own sanity, along with why he was selected to the go to the complex, Caleb wants to find a way to protect his new friend from the wrath of Nathan, but is it really the right thing to do?

There was a ton of hype over this movie when it first came out and while I expected a little more, I did enjoy it. All of the actors delivered great performances in their roles. I especially enjoyed Nathan’s role in the movie, being the good guy, being a 'God', then being the baddie, that's quite the range to have to cover in a movie. Ava’s growth in the movie was also great, but you are left not knowing what was real in her brain and what was programmed in, it is really up to the viewer to decide. Overall, it is a good movie and when watching it, there is a chance you may be able to see and figure out what is really happening before it is revealed. Happy Viewing.

One particular element that allows for the science fiction genre to endure, is the sheer fact that it is able to explore just about anything storytelling wise. Because science and its endless theories, allows for storytellers and their incredible imaginations to take us to places that downright seem impossible. Which has led to some magnificent stories throughout the years, the kind that have challenged the human condition like never before and allowed for us to ponder upon what the world and the future might look like if we came together as a species at last, and worked together toward a better tomorrow. But while these storytelling elements are amazing in their own right, they are quite broad and sweeping for certain.
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Which leads one to believe that science fiction can only think big and be big, but that’s simply not the case. For this particular genre can be intimate in nature as well, to the point where it can actually explore some realistic and relatable concepts, such as the nature of our reality and quite frankly, what our role is in life and the universe for that matter as well. Concepts that seem more so like they belong in a deep-rooted drama about a mid-life crisis or a coming of age story. But this particular genre can indeed explore such matters all while offering up the scientific notions that keep us coming back to this realm of stories time and time again and recently, this reviewer had the opportunity to enjoy a sci-fi story that blends all of those elements together in fascinating fashion in Parallax.

Now in this particular tale, we are introduced to a couple in crisis. For Lucas and Naomi are living quite the stressful life. Because Naomi is distant from her fiancé, to the point where she hides in the shadows of their home on a daily basis. Because she believes that her life and her existence are meaningless, and that she belongs elsewhere and sadly, Lucas is desperate to reach her and see her reclaim the joy she finds in life and spreads to the world. But no matter what he does, he simply cannot reach her, making it seem as though this relationship is doomed to fall apart. But one day, when Naomi feels slightly better about her life and her situation, she takes the time to resume her beloved hobby, painting, and when she is transported to another world whilst creating, possibly in her mind, she immediately returns to life. For now, she suddenly has purpose by way of her supposed new ability, and her desire to explore this opportunity to escape her current reality will change her life in ways she never thought possible. 

So, what makes this particular motion picture so intriguing, is that it does exactly what we discussed a moment ago and explores so much more than the average sci-fi film. For example, this movie really does a fine job of exploring the stigma surrounding mental illness. For Lucas and his therapist spar over the possibility that Naomi may be seeing a relapse of the state she was in a few years ago. Since it is revealed that she spent time in a mental institution, and it is quite refreshing to have a movie make a statement about how we cannot ignore the warning signs of mental illness and that they need to be addressed immediately rather than waived off. But what’s equally impressive about this early part of the story is that it also takes the time to explore how the world can be supremely overwhelming at times by way of Naomi’s feelings of inadequacy and isolation. Because injecting that element into the story makes it oddly relatable since we’ve all felt like Naomi from time to time, and being inside her head and experiencing her plight, is what allows for this film to shift into sci-fi mode in seamless fashion.
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For once we come to learn that Naomi actually can shift through realities in the most unique way imaginable, you’re suddenly rooting for her every step of the way. Because now you want to see her uncover the truth about her past and discover her true purpose in life and that’s really where the story gets pretty hardcore in regard to science fiction. For at this point in the story, we are in essence exploring notions of the multiverse, and how different choices and possibilities could have led us down vastly different paths. Which makes this part of the film supremely gripping, since you’re curious to learn more about these worlds and what significance they hold for Naomi and well, the wonder of imagination doesn’t there. Because a uniquely ‘left-turn’ ending answers most of your questions in a unique and stunning fashion, the kind that stays with you long after the film has come to an end.

Because in many ways, the ending of this story and its overall meaning is left up to the audience to interpret, which is perhaps the perfect way to end this story. For this is a tale grounded in mystery and endless possibilities and putting the final word in the audience’s hands is both interactive and satisfying because there is no wrong way to conclude the story. If anything, everything we’ve discussed here, makes this one cerebral and powerful motion picture. One that has plenty of elements for the audience to chew upon and it really does deserve serious credit for exploring notions of the multiverse in such a meaningful and realistic manner, which makes this movie a worthwhile watch. Because you can never go wrong with a story that makes you ponder upon the nature of reality, and the endless possibilities of the multiverse. 

‘Parallax’ is in select theaters now.  

When an audience settles in to enjoy a movie revolving around the Second World War, they more or less have an idea of what they are going to be in for. Because sadly, there is a level of predictability that comes with these types of motion pictures. In that, one expects our main characters to be taking part in a noble cause, one that reminds us of the glory of this incredible conflict and how good men did great things as they battled fascism in a faraway land. Plus, the heroes in question are made up of the finest parts of humanity. Which makes them genuinely incredible human beings through and through, who believe in morality and the cause over anything else. Which is something that audiences crave simply because that does indeed make for powerful storytelling. After all, who doesn’t want to see good people battling the evil that is the Third Reich?
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But the fact of the matter is, that particularly popular formula simply isn’t realistic in the slightest. Because the men that fought in this stunning conflict weren’t always able to have noble moments where they saved lives in legendary fashion. Nor were they always able to instantly inspire their squad or their crews to be the finest human beings to ever walk the earth. For it was everyday men that fought in this war, which means they were filled with doubt and fear and worry like the rest of us and sometimes they didn’t know what to do when the odds were against them. Which is why it is always refreshing to encounter a WWII movie that bucks the norms and offers up a realistic look at a war that was in fact, hell, and it just so happens that Tom Hanks’ latest offering on the last great war, takes the time to provide the audience with a harrowing and realistic look at this oft romanticized war in Greyhound.

Now in this particular tale we are introduced to Captain Ernest Krause, who is the skipper of the U.S.S. Keeling and when we catch up with him in this particular story, he is in the middle of the Atlantic on quite the important mission. For his flotilla of ships are heading to Great Britain to deliver supplies for the war effort, and it is up to his vessel, codenamed ‘Greyhound’, and his support ships to defend this convoy in a tough patch of sea known as ‘The Pit’. A place where there is no Allied air support, just the water and German U-Boats. Which sounds like a bit of a routine task for certain, but for Captain Krause it is anything but. For this is his first time in the captain’s chair and he will quickly be forced to figure out how to hold things together, and save this important convoy, when a skilled group of German submarine commanders, strike.

If anything, that particular plot makes it sound as though this movie is indeed going to slide into predictable territory, since a great challenge for a great cause should transform Captain Krause into the prototypical perfect hero. But instead, that’s not quite the case. For it becomes apparent early on that Krause is in over his head, and that every challenge that is coming his way, wasn’t taught to him at the Academy. And to complicate matters further, it’s obvious that Krause is afraid and uncertain of how to proceed because he’s an everyman that’s been thrust into an extraordinary situation and that is what makes him so relatable and surprisingly, an inspiring character as well. Because despite the trouble he faces, he never gives up and he never lets the gravity of the situation bring him down, and he also takes the time to learn from his crew and the situation at hand in order to become a better commander and this was just refreshing to see in a World War II movie. Because it really does remind us of how everyday men were forced to be something more whether they liked it or not, and that’s what really made them admirable and wonderful heroes in history’s eyes.
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But another area where this motion picture shines, is in its presentation of naval combat. For often times in these films, we meet both the hero and villain commanders, and come to understand their respective perspectives, bringing a sense of honor to combat. But here, it’s presented for what it really is; outright terrifying hell. Because once the German fleet arrives, the movie kicks into overdrive and never lets up and the audience is forced to share in the same horror as Krause, wherein vessels explode in the middle of the night whilst the German commander taunts the fleet and this was a brilliant stroke of storytelling for certain. Because it really is a fine way to immerse the audience into the power of the moment, and the lack of rest for the crew, because the enemy is utterly unrelenting, simply wears on your senses and drags your spirits down. For it truly seems as though there may not be any hope for the fleet or Krause for that matter, and that makes the ending of this motion picture quite satisfying and powerful for certain when the captain finally figures out how to turn the tables on the enemy. 

Yet while the plot structure and character development make this movie worthwhile for certain, we would be remiss to not talk about the magnificent acting in this film. Because everyone brings their ‘A’ Game in this story, adding serious gravity to every tough moment in this tale, something further enhanced by the movie’s star; Tom Hanks. Because his sublime and subtle performance as Captain Krause truly brings together everything we’ve discussed, as only he can. In the end however, this is really is quite the unique World War II film. Because it genuinely strips away all the glorious mystique and Americana that tends to surround this conflict on the silver and small screen and presents it in the raw for the change, a decision that allows for this motion picture to become nothing more than visceral experience. One that stays with you long after it has come to an end thanks to its powerful and earnest presentation of the nature of war.

‘Greyhound’ is streaming now on AppleTV+.

For the most part, romantic comedies tend to stick to a fairly basic formula. Wherein a man or a woman, typically a woman, find themselves lonely and desperate for a connection, all while facing some kind of critical life conundrum. And whilst they worry about their career or their future in some capacity, they run into someone attractive and dynamic and quirky that basically, turns their life around. For they teach our lonesome protagonist about the wonder of love and how it can heal one’s soul, and after a few speed bumps on the road to happiness, our couple finds the love they have both desired and they of course live happily ever after and the audience enjoys fuzzy feelings on their way out of the theater.
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If anything, that’s about as formulaic as it gets. But while one can fuss about formula, it is a tried and true method to pleasing a crowd and that’s why studios stick with it as often as possible. But from time to time, someone attempts to shake things up in this genre, by making the person who is desperately in need of love, a man instead of a woman, or the production team changes the location and the season for romance, making the story feel fresh and new. When in fact, it is the same old, same old. But once in a great while, a romantic comedy comes along that actually does buck the formula and finds a way to offer something delightful and new to the audience and recently, a film that meets that particular criteria arrived on Netflix, and that makes The Lovebirds quite the hilarious treat.

Now in this particular film we are introduced to Jibran and Leilani, a couple that is quite frankly, at a crossroads. For after years of dating and bliss, things have become quite stale in their relationship. To the point where they believe that the magic has been lost from their love and the time has come to put an end to a love affair that they believe has run its course. But as they work to figure what their lives are going to look like as singles once again, whilst driving to their final dinner party as a couple, a surprise request from a ‘police officer’ alters the course of their night. Because this guy takes the time to use their car to kill a suspect, and leaves them behind after the deed is done, making it appear as though they’re the ones who murdered this poor man. Prompting the both of them to go on the run and solve this crime before the police put them away, a decision that will change their lives in ways they never thought possible.

So, as you can see from that plot summary alone, this is indeed a vastly different type of romantic comedy. Because it really does do a fine job of presenting the audience with a grand mystery, one that allows for the main characters to get into all kinds of hilarious shenanigans, and those moments quite frankly leave you in stitches because they are delightfully over the top and planned out perfectly and oddly enough, the laughs do a wonderful job of building said mystery. Because despite the fact that our lovebirds aren't skilled detectives, they do just enough to uncover more clues, drawing you into the story further, wherein you are rewarded with more tear-jerking laughs. But while those two elements do a fine job of telling this story, what allows for this movie to truly shine, is how it shakes up the tried and true formula present within this genre. 
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For in essence, we are spending time with a couple that has come to the end of their happily ever after. Because things are quite stale for this couple and their struggles provide us with some surprising lessons on love. For the story is quick to point out that relationships are work, and that once the fluffy and fuzzy feelings fade, that’s when the work begins, and we have to properly communicate with one another and take the time to understand and cater to our partner’s needs, and vice versa, in order to keep love alive since we grow and change on a fairly consistent basis and this… is so supremely refreshing to find within the framework of a romantic comedy. Because it removes the fluff that often surrounds these films and adds a needed sense of realism to something that is quite important to us, and this movie deserves some serious props for taking the time to be this honest and bold about the nature of romance and love.

In the end, all of these elements simply make this a spectacular motion picture. Because it offers so much to the audience. Because if you’re looking for a little bit of action and adventure, that’s in there thanks to the murder mystery, and if you’re in need of something a little more endearing, the romance takes care of that. But most importantly, it puts a smile on our faces thanks to the laughs, and really the credit for how well the comedy works in this film, has to go to the cast. Because Kumail Nanjiani (Jibran) and Issa Rae (Leiliani) are simply electric on screen and use their comedic skills to a tee and really, when all is said and done, this is a must-see motion picture. Because it really is a refreshing and original and funny ride. But more importantly, it is a wonderful way to escape the world for a little while, and you simply cannot go wrong with kicking back and getting lost in some serious laughs, especially right now.

“Here comes the (musical)! Ladies and gentlemen! The moment you’ve been waiting for! The pride of (Disney Plus)!” Hamilton!
 
The long-awaited arrival of “Hamilfilm” is finally here, as the debut of the stage production recording of of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton landed on Disney Plus on July 3rd, pushed up from its originally scheduled Fall 2021 date. 
 
There isn’t much new I can offer as far as a critical review of the acclaimed musical. Its popularity, praise, box office records, and awards are well documented, as are its critiques. The show has been lauded for its writing, choreography, performances, and impact. It has also seen criticism for its historical inaccuracies and artistic liberties, from the small (substituting characters into various historical events for the sake of the story’s tensions) to the egregious (romanticizing the stance of Alexander Hamilton and other Founding Fathers on slavery, labeling them as progressive abolitionists and glancing over their slaveholding histories). Instead, I hope to talk about the access the show affords through the soundtrack, the stage version, and now Hamilfilm. 
 
The Album
Hamilton is a very accessible musical thanks to the soundtrack alone. For many (if not most), their introduction to Hamilton came from the official album via NPR or Spotify. The album, a recording of the original Broadway cast, was released in September 2015, during the height of the show’s first on-Broadway run that same year. 
 
Since Hamilton is a sung-through musical with no dialogue to transition between songs, the listener can gain a complete understanding of the story without seeing the show. Other musicals do not always afford this benefit; they must be seen on stage or in film to fill in the blanks.
 
The writing in Hamilton is detailed and the performances are fast-paced. Having access to the album serves as a fantastic introduction to the show because it gets better with each playthrough. Listeners can begin to pick up on the intricacies of the story and its characters, and discover Easter eggs in the form of references to rap hits and other Broadway shows. The show’s format in addition to the early and widespread release of the album satisfied the desire of those hoping to join in on the show’s buzz and fanned the wildfire of its popularity. 
 
The Stage
With its vast popularity and its limited in comparison tour schedule, the stage show is a much harder to come by experience, even as the Hamilton stage show was built on increasing access. The show prioritizes student tickets and is innovative in its approach to ticket lotteries. Through the “Ham4Ham” lottery program, front-row and other exclusive tickets were made available daily for each show for just $10 (entry to Hamilton for one crisp Hamilton). Miranda hosted short performances during these in-person lottery drawings, giving all entrants the chance to see snippets of the show. Hamilton also became a front-runner in the online lottery process, establishing online drawings in early 2016. 
 
I was extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to see Hamilton in person during its Denver stop in the second national tour. Even after listening to the soundtrack religiously, I was elated to see how much is added to the experience through the performance. 

​One of the biggest takeaways is witnessing how impressive the stagework and choreography is. Having a wide view of the stage provides a sense of the magnitude of the production. The stage is set up with two concentric circles at the center that move during various songs and key moments. The stage almost works as a character itself as it plays with time and space, especially in songs like “Rewind” and in the various duels. The importance of the stage honestly comes through even more in-person than it does in Hamilfilm. 
 
Several other bonuses await viewers of the live show. Most obviously, the characters are brought to life in a whole new way through their mannerisms and small visual cues. For instance, King George steals the show with his aggressive yet jubilant behavior, both during the musical and before the performance even starts (in character as the PA announcer welcoming patrons to their seats and warning them not to speak or use cell phones). Most notably might be a certain interlude that Miranda intentionally left off of the soundtrack, saved only for those seeing the full performance (you’ll know it when you see it). 
 
While the stage show may continue to get more accessible the more it tours and the longer it has been out, there is no overstating the value of its widespread release in the form of Hamilfilm. 
 
Hamilfilm
Where seeing the Hamilton production gives you the full picture by introducing you to the characters in more detail, the stage, and the choreography, Hamilfilm is the icing on the cake. It provides much of what the in-person experience does, plus it reunites you with the original Broadway cast. Frequent listeners of the soundtrack may grow familiar with every line and with the nuance or tone with which each is delivered. It is a treat to not only put a face to a voice, but to observe the minute changes in delivery between the album and the stage performance. 
 
The film attempts to deliver on the specific intricacies of the live performance. You get King George’s theater demands before the show, you get a built in one-minute countdown for intermission, and you get a curtain call at the end. You get crowd reactions, with laughter and applause throughout. As best as it can, the film tries to transport you from your couch to the theater. 
 
The filmed version avoids many expansive shots, instead opting for more of a sense of intimacy with eye-level shots of the actors. The tighter camera angles do make it hard to take in all of the wonderfully talented background ensemble during the first watch with so much going on. While additional wide angles or aerial shots of the stage in motion may have been nice, Hamilfilm takes advantage of the camera work and allows for a focus on subtle connections and emotions shared in some of the gripping interpersonal scenes.
 
In all, Hamilfilm provides something for everyone. It’s an opportunity for first time viewers to see what the excitement is about without having to wait for a tour and buy a ticket. It allows people to relive the magical moment they had the chance to see it in person. It connects fans of the soundtrack with the voices that brought them joy over the years. It gives us an excuse to cry for a solid 30 minutes (or more...).  It allows more people the chance to experience an important piece of musical theater. 
 
The Outro
It seems rare to see a play or musical in this form. Save for those that are adapted into more Hollywood-esque versions, there aren’t many accessible recordings of stage shows. Hamilfilm makes a strong case that more musicals and theatrical performances should be given a widespread release. While it’s hard to reproduce the word-for-word and note-for-note familiarity of a well-loved album or the experience of taking in a live theater performance, the Hamilton film does an excellent job of replicating both. Hamilton is a show that warrants, and deserves, several viewings or several listens. With Hamilfilm now on Disney Plus, many more will be able to get that experience.