Episode 91 - In the Heights

Do Musicals work as Movies? On today's episode, the #talkintv boys talk about the next HBO Max drop and the next big budget musical, In the Heights! In the Heights is a 2021 American musical drama film based on the stage musical of the same name by Quiara Alegría Hudes and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Directed by Jon M. Chu from a screenplay by Hudes, the film stars Anthony Ramos, Corey Hawkins, Leslie Grace, Melissa Barrera, Olga Merediz, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Gregory Diaz IV, and Jimmy Smits. The film follows a similar plot to the musical, telling the story of a corner in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Upper Manhattan in New York City, where each member of the community pursues their dream of a better life. In the Heights was originally set to be adapted by Universal Pictures in 2008, with Kenny Ortega hired to direct. After that version fell through, the project was eventually started back up in 2016, with Chu set to direct and Ramos being cast in October 2018. The rest of the cast joined in April 2019, and filming took place around New York City that summer. Originally intended to be released in 2020, In the Heights was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The film had its world premiere at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival on June 4, 2021, and was released in the United States on June 10 in theaters and simultaneously streaming on HBO Max for a month. It received acclaim from critics, with praise for Chu's direction, the story, and musical numbers. The Talkin' TV boys talk about the origin of musicals, their translation to the big screen, how the antiquated storytelling is being adapted for the modern day, and why this film hasn't been doing as well at the box office as previous episodes. It's all covered here on the #talkintvpodcast #musicals #moviemusicals #anthonyramos #domusicalsworkasmovies #johnmchu #washingtonheights #dancenumbers #bravado #vaudeville #uppermanhattan #hbo #hbomax #stageplays #stagetoscreen #antiquatedstorytelling #jimmysmits