Hamilton

 Now streaming on Disney Plus "Hamilton" is a film recording of the Broadway smash musical. Directed by Tommy Kail, who directed the musical on Broadway.

In watching interviews from the Original Broadway Cast, the film was made over 3 performances on Broadway; the company even performed the show once without an audience, to film close up shots of performers.

I have listened to the soundtrack about 100 times over the five years that Hamilton has been out. It has played on Broadway, Chicago, San Francisco, London, even Puerto Rico. When it finally came to my city over the Christmas holidays, I had a choice-mortgage payment or Hamilton tickets. I decided to see Hamilton another time.

I was over the moon excited to learn that Disney Plus would get the film and stream it with a pad subscription. I knew the film version existed, and that it was slated for release in theaters in 2021. That was the plan, and then a pandemic happened. As Disney was in need of new content, they went to Lin-Manuel Miranda, the writer of Hamilton, and asked if they could stream the movie. $75 million later, the rest is history.

I am thankful that my first viewing of the musical was with the Original Broadway Cast. I am also thankful that all it cost me was a $7 subscription to Disney Plus. The cast is incredible, and formidable. Stellar performances are given by all cast members:

Lin-Manuel Miranda-Hamilton

Leslie Odom Jr.-Aaron Burr

Phillipa Soo-Eliza Schuyler Hamilton

Renee Elise Goldsberry-Angelica Schuyler Church

Christopher Jackson-George Washington

Daveed Diggs-the Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson

Okieriete Onaodowan-Hercules Mulligan/James Madison

Anthony Ramos-John Laurens/Philip Hamilton

Jasmine Cephas Jones-Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds

Jonathan Groff-King George III

Every time that I watched the film I noticed more details. I also watched a video on the symbolism shared in the show, all of which would not make any sense without having seen it first. It is a rich tapestry of a show, on the scale of an opera. 

In fact, I've heard "Hamilton" as a rap opera, and I concur. It is a game changer in the world of musical theater, just like "Rent" was before it. Upon viewing the film for the first time I am forever changed. I will never be the same.

If you haven't watched the film, I highly advise turning on the closed captions to catch every word. After listening to the show 100 times or more, I still learned lyrics I didn't know.

When this show is released on Blu Ray I will buy it. It is a benchmark of American theater, and the world will never be the same.

Now streaming on Disney Plus, ten stars.

Jewel's Catch One

 Now streaming on Netflix, "Jewel's Catch One" is a documentary that tells the story of Jewel Thais Williams, who ran the iconic "Catch One" nightclub in Los Angeles.

Growing up, Jewel dreamed of doing something big with her life; her dream came to fruition when she purchased the club that would later be known as the Catch One. Jewel, who is black and gay, created a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community and for the QTPOC (Queer or Trans Community of Color) population to congregate and celebrate.

In the late 80s and early 90s the club became the mecca for the LGBTQ and QTPOC communities, as well as the Hollywood elite. It was at the Catch One that Madonna saw the young gay black men "vogueing", learned the technique, and joined in. The rest was music history.

After acquiring the Catch One night club, Jewel established a vegan restaurant, as well as a clinic for health and wellness. 

A unique movie about an amazing woman, a true servant of the people. A great movie to watch to learn about the queer Black experience. Now on Netflix, 3 stars.

http://www.jewelscatchonedocumentary.com/

https://www.losangelesblade.com/2019/09/23/jewel-thais-williams-is-getting-a-square-named-in-her-honor/

Howard

 This new movie is a documentary about the life and times of Howard Ashman.

To all accounts, Howard had a "normal" childhood. He had a modest upbringing, participating in theater productions in school.

In his early adult life he found himself in New York City , at the center of the theater world. He had both misfortune and success on Broadway. Howard's best known stage musical is "Little Shop of Horrors", which later became a movie directed by Frank Oz.

After a flop on Broadway, Howard moved out to Los Angeles, to be part of the creative team at Disney. He was a producer for "Beauty and the Beast" and wrote the music, with Alan Menken, for "The Little Mermaid" and "Aladdin."

Howard Ashman's story is incredible, and a window into the time of the AIDS epidemic. You see, Howard was gay and died of AIDS. For the Disney company, which has long prided itself as being a company of "family values", Howard's story hit home. Everyone that worked with him was forever changed.

Now streaming on Disney Plus, 4 stars. 

https://ew.com/movies/disney-plus-howard-ashman-documentary-preview/

Greyhound

 Set in World War II, "Greyhound" tells the story of ships that sailed along convoy ships, offering protection and defense from German U-Boats.

Written by Tom Hanks, Greyhound covers a few days of a captain's first journey with the convoy. 

There are ebbs and flows in the action in the film; at a moment's notice the action takes place, just as it would have for those aboard the ship.

Based on the book "The Good Shepherd" by C.S. Forester, the film is amazing in its storytelling and attention to fine detail. I have it watched it twice again, to glean more details from the story. I noticed something new every time I watched it. 

Now streaming on Apple TV Plus, 5 stars.