Hamilton opens on an upbeat note, with rock and pop beats playing to the fireworks above the Disney castle. This sets the tone for what you are going to see in the next 2 hours and 40 minutes. Hamilton is a one-of-a-kind experience, no doubt. The rousing soundtrack, excellent performances and terrific set designs make for a compelling watch and while I haven’t seen the stage performance, the OTT version is one of the best adaptations of a musical, ever.
Hamilton takes you through America’s freedom struggle and post-independence difficulties with grit and beauty. Unlike many musicals where the plot becomes difficult to interpret due to the meandering soundtrack, over here, your attention is held throughout the duration. Lin Manuel Miranda gives you an opportunity to witness history through a unique lens and I believe it is an opportunity no one should squander.
There isn’t much I can tell you about Hamilton without walking into spoiler-territory. It is about the troubles and tribulations faced by one of America’s founding fathers and his experiences with those closest to him, his wife Eliza Schyuler, Aaron Burr, George Washington and many more. And yet it takes the very perception of history being boring and turns it on its head. Lin Manuel Miranda uses rap as an excellent tool to engage the audience and create music that will be remembered for the ages. My favourite songs include the title track, You’ll Be Back (which has been rendered in multiple versions) and Satisfied and Helpless. The musical deals with themes of betrayal, adultery, hope and loss with utmost grace. It ticks all the boxes of being multicultural and introspective and shuns those who regard America as a country without a vivid history.
Hamilton has a cultural impact that will remain for a long time to come. It is important because it has given American history a whole new point of view. It is something every teenager must watch, especially if American. It has the potential to rekindle patriotism in every citizen of the country.
The musical is complemented by terrific performances, Lin Manuel Mirinda as Hamilton has an astonishing stage presence, he sings, dances and emotes without ever hitting a false note. The camera loves him too. It embraces him through vivacious angles and makes you root for him even when you don’t want you. Philipa Soo as Eliza Schyuler makes your heart ache and her final act reduced me to a sobbing mess. Leslie Odom Jr. as Aaron Burr wonderfully conveys a man trapped between pride and guilt and compromise. Renee Elise Goldsberry as Angelica Schyuler has one of the most powerful voices in the show and her performance is nothing short of spellbinding. The entire ensemble compliments each other without a false note. The humour deserves a special mention - all of the jokes land extremely well and never feel forced or out of context.
There were some minor issues I had though, the pace in the beginning is just about cromulent and there were a few performers whose voices fell short compared to the rest of the cast. Also, you can’t help but notice the slightly one-sided approach towards the movement.
And yet Hamilton is revolutionary and worth all the hype surrounding it. It gives you a new perspective on American history and makes you feel a torrid storm of emotions throughout. I laughed, cried and enjoyed myself thoroughly. Director Thomas Kail has a perceptive eye which is reflected in the way he has adapted it for a streaming service.
I’m for 4.5/5 for Hamilton. The best content makes you think and leaves you feeling exhilarated. This one did all this and much more. Hamilton did what so many books, movies and even presidents couldn’t have done, it rebranded American history.
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