Hamilton Movie Poster

About

"Hamilton" is the 2020 Disney+ adaptation of the 2015 hit musical of the same name. Actor, rapper, singer, and songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda was inspired to write this musical after reading the 2004 biography Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow.

The movie is actually a filming of one of the Broadway musical shows, complete with close-up shots of the cast, music not heard in the album, and an intermission. It tells a a dramatized account of the life and career of Alexander Hamilton, an orphaned immigrant from the Caribbean, who wrote his way to the top, becoming a Founding Father as well as the nation's first Treasury Secretary.

Philip Hamilton's Death

Plot

"Hamilton" begins with an exposition of Hamilton's character, establishing him as someone who overcame insurmountable odds, gathered as many friends as enemies, and (spoilers alert) who died in a duel because he had virtually no filter. The next few songs introduces the audiences to Hamilton's friends and notable historical figures in the Revolutionary War, such as John Laurens, Marquis de Lafayette, and Hercules Mulligan. Then, Hamilton proves his worth (and willingness to risk everything) in battle, attracting the attention of none other than George Washington. Washington recruits Hamilton as his right hand man, and after the war is over, Hamilton becomes the nation's first Treasury Secretary, as well as courts, marries, and starts a family with Eliza Schuyler.

Then of course, things begin to go downhill. Hamilton cheats on Eliza and decides to write a whole pamphlet on the whole affair. He engages in constant conflict with his other Founding Fathers, especially Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. His son is killed in a duel, and Hamilton finds himself in a duel with an old friend, Aaron Burr. After Hamilton throws away his shot, Burr shoots and kills him, and Hamilton dies, surrounded by friends and family, his legacy still with us today.

Hamilton looking epic

Analysis Of My Favorite Songs (Because I Am A Theatre Nerd)

My favorite song by far is called "Cabinet Battle #1", where Hamilton and Jefferson conduct an epic rap battle to debate Hamilton's plan to establish a national bank. The idea of two founding fathers engaging in a rap battle is hilarious and very well executed, with a catchy beat, historical references, and creative rhymes.

At the same time, I must should out the song "My Shot", by far the most difficult song to sing/rap in the entire musical. A staggering 5.5 minutes long (when most other songs range from 2-3 minutes long), "My Shot" took Lin-Manuel Miranda 1 year to write. The result, however, is a masterpiece of an anthem that perfectly encapsulates Hamilton's workaholic and passionate character with blazingly fast raps and hooks.