In the Heights

In the Heights

The story of Usnavi, a bodega owner who has mixed feelings about closing his store and retiring to the Dominican Republic or staying in Washington Heights.

  • Released: 2021-06-10
  • Runtime: 143 minutes
  • Genre: Drama, Music, Romance
  • Stars: Anthony Ramos, Corey Hawkins, Leslie Grace, Melissa Barrera, Olga Merediz, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Gregory Diaz IV, Marc Anthony, Jimmy Smits, Stephanie Beatriz, Dascha Polanco, Noah Catala, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mateo Gómez, Patrick Page, Olivia Perez, Analia Gomez, Dean Scott Vazquez, Mason Vazquez, Delila Ramos, Valentina, Christopher Jackson, Susan Pourfar, María Hinojosa, Ryan Woodle, Doreen Montalvo, Ilia Jessica Castro, Yesy Garcia, Jonathan Arana, Jennifer Hernandez, Amp Ngernrungruangroj, Bairam Rizai, Lavinia Jones Wright, Alexandra Campos, Rhapsody James, Ariana S. Gomez, Ariana Greenblatt, Hugh M Jones III, Luís Miranda, Javier Muñoz, The Kid Mero, Seth Stewart, Luis A. Miranda Jr.
  • Director: Jon M. Chu
 Comments
  • ZeddaZogenau - 22 March 2024
    Beloved Child of Broadway
    With this rousing musical, jack-of-all-trades Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegria Hudes have created an unforgettable monument for the Washington Heights district. The singing and dancing is fast-paced, sensual and full of joie de vivre so that you can hardly get enough of it. Melissa Barrera, Leslie Grace and Corey Hawkins delight in this musical film by Jon M. Chu.

    There is also a wonderful reunion with L. A. Law star Jimmy Smits (*1955). What a sensation it was when Jimmy Smits was allowed to play a star lawyer with a Latino background from 1986 to 1991! Fortunately, this is a given today! How good that so many things have changed in the past few decades!

    The main role of Usnavi was played by the magnificent Anthony Ramos, who was rightly honored with a Golden Globe nomination (for Best Actor in a Musical/Comedy). What's particularly great is his interaction with Gregory Diaz IV, who was only born in 2005, and who shines in the role of the young bodega boy Sonny. Because in addition to all the fun, there are of course also serious things: everyday racism, disadvantage, gentrification and the precarious situation of the Dreamers... When it becomes clear that the dashing Sonny is also one of the dreamers, then all the dams will break...promise!
  • bk753 - 16 May 2023
    Above average in every way
    I marvel at the people that gave this film a "1." This movie is a colorful, splashy, PG-rated slice of diversity and culture, with incredible music and great dance. Maybe it's not YOUR culture, but how can you not appreciate the story and the effort that went into making this?

    I saw "Heights" twice as a play, once on Broadway and once in Philly with the touring Company. As a live experience it was better than it was as a movie. (So was West Side Story). But the fact that it was better as a play doesn't detract from it as a film... it was still a joyful celebration of Latino culture, and I very much enjoyed it. It's very sanitized and lacks the grittiness and reality of the actual uptown West Side neighborhood, but so what? (Do we ALWAYS need real-life crime and violence?) It was still a very enjoyable watch, and I recommend it.