The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024)

 

 

Movie Name/Year: The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024)

Genre: Drama, Action, Comedy, War

Length: 2h

Rating: R

Director: Guy Ritchie

Writers: Guy Ritchie, Paul Tamasy, Eric Johnson, Arash Amel, Damien Lewis

Based On: Book "The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare: How Churchill's Secret Warriors Set Europe Ablaze and Gave Birth to Modern Black Ops" by Damien Lewis

Actors: Henry Cavill, Alan Ritchson, Alex Pettyfer, Eiza González, Babs Olusanmokun, Cary Elwes, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Henry Golding, Rory Kinnear, Til Schweiger, Freddie Fox, James Wilby, Henrique Zaga, Danny Sapani, Matthew Hawksley, Simon Paisley Day, Mark Oosterveen, Victor Oshin, Alessandro Babalola, Orshuff Emmanuel Mele, Tim Seyfi, George Asprey, Luca Marrocco, Paul Antony-Barber, Bikiya Graham Douglas, Nikolas Salmon

 

IMDb Blurb: The British military recruits a small group of highly skilled soldiers to strike against German forces behind enemy lines during World War II.

 

 

Cat’s Point of View:

When I tell you I was excited to watch The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare leading up to its April 2024 release, it's, in fact, a gross understatement. This movie was one of the small handful in recent years I was practically bouncing off the walls with the anticipation. There was never even a question of where it would land on my personal Top 20 list that month. This production about these marvelous military mad men was absolutely my #1 pick.

 

It didn't surprise me that Selina had The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare pegged as her own #1 entry. What did give me a moment of pause, and made me giggle, was that her blurb that month fairly echoed my own thoughts on the film almost verbatim.

 

We were absolutely here for a movie where we got to see Superman kill Nazis with gleeful abandon. Yes, yes, it's clear that Henry Cavill (The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Enola Holmes, The Witcher) was not actually in the red & blue super suit while gunning down Nazis, but ever since Man of Steel (2013) he has etched himself into my heart and personal cinematic landscape as the caped embodiment of the symbol of hope – and one that the late Christopher Reeve (1952-2004) would be proud of. (Of course, except when sporting long white hair, but that's an entirely different scenario. I digress...)

 

 

Watching interviews of Cavill pretty much, if low-key, geeking out over the actual history behind this band of men that thwarted the 3^rd Reich's Atlantic U-boat campaign throught Operation Postmaster was one of the most wholesomely joyous things ever. The man who was presumptively in line for playing 007, himself, ended up in the role of the man that inspired Ian Fleming to create James Bond in the first place. In one interview, Alex Pettyfer (Magic Mike, Endless Love, Back Roads) explained that Cavill also pretty much “saved his life” while shooting this film. Pettyfer had a near misstep and loss of balance while transitioning between boats while filming and attributes Cavill for hauling him back to safety in the nick of time.

 

Okay, okay... enough rambling about that. You get the point. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare simply gave me so many reasons to fangirl and do a lot of geeking out of my own.

 

 

Cavill and Pettyfer weren't the only names among the cast I was excited to see. Alan Ritchson (Titans, Fast X, Reacher) playing Anders Lassen was another source of joy from this production. It was glorious to watch him rack up possibly the largest kill-count in close-combat with Nazis in the movie, with his character's rage-fueled glee. Then, of course, Cary Elwes’ (Saw, The Princess Bride, BlackBerry) was magnificent with his wry delivery, and Rory Kinnear (Penny Dreadful, Skyfall, Black Mirror) was an excellent choice as Churchill. Hero Fiennes Tiffin (After, The Silencing, The Woman King), Henry Golding (Crazy Rich Asians, The Gentlemen, Last Christmas) , and Til Schweiger (Inglourious Basterds, Atomic Blonde, Charlie Countryman) were also on point. Eiza González (Baby Driver, I Care A Lot, Godzilla vs. Kong) was an excellent choice for this WWII badass lady of mystery and espionage. Babs Olusanmokun (Dune: Part One, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, The Book of Clarence) phenomenally delivered his character's measured and seemingly calm demeanor – while being no more peaceful than a body of water with a deceptively still, glassy surface but powerful and deadly currents underneath.

 

 

When Guy Ritchie (Snatch, Wrath of Man, The Man from U.N.C.L.E.) is involved with a project, I just expect a really good viewing experience – and The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare was no exception. The banter was on point, and the comedy was expertly woven in as Ritchie is known for. It was all seamless and felt right in the moment. There were never any forced laughs or any that didn't fit the scenes. This is a good example of why people just say “Yes” when Ritchie calls them, before they even know what he's pitching.

 

When you pair that with the experience and production value that Producer Jerry Bruckheimer (Armageddon, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Top Gun: Maverick) brings to the table, it becomes pure movie magic. For example, all of the boat shots used for this movie, for the most part, were shot on actual boats out on the water and not on a sound-stage. It brought an extra layer of realism with the practical effects, and helped the story become more immersive.

 

Action lovers have plenty to enjoy here from hand-to-hand, lots of gun-fighting, plenty of explosions, and even a fair bit of archery.

 

 

While quite a lot of the movies based in the history of WWII tend to be super serious, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare manages to bring an edge of levity and an extra helping of excitement to its task of bringing this slice of the actual events from the last World War to the big screen without being disrespectful. The story was taken straight from Churchill's declassified documents and brought to the public eye and attention through a historian and former war-reporter's book – and now The Ministry of UngentlemanlyWarfare adapted that for the screen. Of course, there's likely to be some wiggle-room in the historical accuracy of some of the events for the sake of cinematic license, but that doesn't change the core of the story based in fact.

 

If you are a fan of any of the cast, production team, or genres I've mentioned here at length, my recommendation is to watch The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare as soon as you can get your hands on it – and you likely won't be disappointed.

 

 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 69%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 93%

Metascore – 55%

Metacritic User Score – 6.6/10

IMDB Score – 6.8/10

 

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 5/5

 

P.S. - While there isn't a mid or post-credits scene for this movie, there is a segment where the real people involved with Operation Postmaster as shown in this movie have an homage with their photo and a small epilogue blurb for each citing what happened for them afterwards. 

 

A Little Lagniappe ("something extra") - You can visit the official website for the movie here. You can also watch the Extra interview where Cavill and crew discuss making the movie and includes Pettyfer's description of how Cavill saved him.

Movie Trailer:

Hit Man (2024)

 

 

Streaming Service: Netflix

Movie Name/Year: Hit Man (2024)

Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime, Romance

Length: 1h 55min

Rating: R

Director: Richard Linklater

Writers: Richard Linklater, Glen Powell, Skip Hollandsworth

Actors: Adria Arjona, Glen Powell, Retta, Austin Amelio, Molly Bernard, Mike Markoff, Bath Bartley

 

IMDb Blurb: A professor moonlighting as a hit man of sorts for his city police department, descends into dangerous, dubious territory when he finds himself attracted to a woman who enlists his services.

 

 

Selina’s Point of View:

When putting together for the Top 20 movies to watch in June of 2024, Hit Man was an easy pick to put in the top 10. It’s simply not smart to ignore any film directed by Richard Linklater (A Scanner Darkly, Boyhood, Bernie). The man is brilliant. He never misses as a director, sometimes as a producer, but never when he’s actively at the helm.

 

Still, I thought Hit Man would be cute at best. Somewhat funny, maybe a little relatable – the characters, if not the story/plot.

 

What I got blew my expectations out of the water.

 

 

Hit Man WAS very cute, and the main character was just as charming and relatable as he could be. Then there was this twist at the end that caught me completely off-guard. I felt so sure that I knew what was going to happen. I paused it within 15 minutes of the end, got a drink, had a conversation with my partner, and then came back to it like I wasn’t about to be rocked by this adorable little rom-com.

 

I watch a lot of movies. It’s very rare that one of them surprises me. The quality might throw me – I’ve seen small films with tiny budget blow mainstream flicks out of the water just as often as I’ve seen big-budget disasters, after all – but the actual content of a film doesn’t often shock me. Each genre has a stack of recipes that they pick from and it’s rare that any of them take that sharp left into something unseen.

 

Linklater took one of those rom-com recipes and turned it right on its head. Flawlessly, I might add.

 

I’m absolutely going to have to watch this film a few more times. Not just for myself, but because I’m going to have to show it to my best friend, my partner, their friends…

 

 

Cat’s Point of View:

Hit Man was my #1 pick for June 2024. My daughter and I watched it the day that it hit Netflix, and I was quite excited about it coming up for review. I could happily watch Hit Man over and over and likely find new nuances to appreciate..

 

There's really quite a lot to enjoy within this production. There's character development, comedy, betrayal, action, romance, a fun story, a twist, and an interesting setting. I could go on. 

 

Speaking of setting, I am always excited to watch a movie filmed in my home state of Louisiana. While the real-life person that this narrative was based on lived in Houston, TX and assisted that police department with their stings; the film location was switched to New Orleans for fiscal reasons. I think that it added an interesting twist to the story, myself. I am, admittedly, a bit biased on that front, however.

 

The cast for Hit Man was spot-on. Austin Amelio (Everybody Wants Some!!, The Walking Dead, Mercy Black) has a real knack for portraying characters you love to hate and he does a great job as an officer of questionable ethics here. Adria Arjona (True Detective, Triple Frontier, Andor) is more than just easy on the eyes. She did a fantastic job of portraying a character that was both strong and vulnerable, with a generous dash of calculating vixen thrown in for good measure. My favorite, however, was Glen Powell (The Expendables 3, Scream Queens, Top Gun: Maverick).

 

 

Hit Man was a massively effective vehicle for Powell to show off his range. In this one role he got to explore so many different characters. Some felt more caricature than anything, but that was by design. It's explained in the movie, so I don't want to spoil that here. Some of the little character vignettes we got to enjoy in Hit Man were clearly in homage to other cinematic hatchet men that have come before. I had a good giggle recognizing them.

 

Powell's collaboration with co-writer and director Richard Linklater (Dazed and Confused, School of Rock, Last Flag Flying) really paid off and yielded a really entertaining movie that will remain memorable for years to come. Based on interviews I've seen and articles touching on this creative team-up, they had quite the good time working on this together, and I think that translates into the quality of the end-product we enjoy on screen. I hope they're able to work on something together in the future, as well.

 

If you haven't seen Hit Man yet and enjoy the action rom-com genre, I would absolutely recommend a streaming session to partake of this production as soon as you can.

 

 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 95%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 91%

Metascore – 82%

Metacritic User Score – 6.7/10

IMDB Score – 6.9/10

 

Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 5/5

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 5/5

 

Movie Trailer:

Boston Strangler (2023)

 

 

Streaming Service: Hulu

Movie Name/Year: Boston Strangler (2023)

Genre: History, Drama, Crime

Length:  1h 52min

Rating: R

Production/Distribution: 20th Century Studios, Langley Park Productions, LuckyChap Entertainment, Scott Free Productions, Warner Bros., Hulu

Director: Matt Ruskin

Writer: Matt Ruskin

Actors: Keira Knightley, Carrie Coon, Chris Cooper, David Dastmalchian, Alessandro Nivola, Ivan Martin, Jon Lindstrom, Kris Sidberry, Mellanie Hubert, Morgan Spector, Owen Burke, Robert John Burke, Rory Cochrane

 

IMDb Blurb: Loretta McLaughlin was the reporter who first connected the murders and broke the story of the Boston Strangler. She and Jean Cole challenged the sexism of the early 1960s to report on the city's most notorious serial killer.

 

Selina’s Point of View:

Boston Strangler was an old-fashioned crime film.

 

Any unnecessary convolution, or heart-pounding action, that a modern crime story might have utilized was replaced by intrigue and tension. It reminded me more of the old black-and-white crime films than anything else. I was impressed. Boston Strangler took something that most filmmakers have left in the past and showed that there’s still a place for it in our current cinematic landscape.

 

I thought it was moving slow, but when I checked the runtime, I was actually about halfway through. Boston Strangler simply had a setup that I wasn’t entirely used to anymore.

 

I figured it would be a bit like a 2-hour episode of Criminal Minds (2005 -). Mostly mystery, with some high tension and a touch of police action. Instead, it reminded me more of Murder She Wrote (1984-1996). A slow burn that has more energy in the characterizations and mystery than anything else.

 

 

That kind of thing can be hit or miss for me. If there was even a little less quality to it, I would have lost focus. I never had that issue, though.

 

I think a lot of my interest came from just how well Keira Knightley (Pirates of the Caribbean, Colette, Silent Night) portrayed Loretta McLaughlin. She was poised and intense. I followed the story as closely as I did because her curiosity was infectious.

 

My only complaint would have been the ending. I felt like it was a little anti-climactic. But that’s it.

 

I’m surprised by how good Boston Strangler was. I would absolutely recommend it.

 

Cat’s Point of View:

I settled in with a blanket, a good beverage, and some burning curiosity as I began my viewing experience with Boston Strangler. It seemed like a perfect fit for this final gasp of winter cold snap that we’re having. I was just hoping that a low-energy spell wouldn’t send me snoozing before it was done. I’m happy to report that I was engrossed enough in this movie that fatigue could not pull me under. 

When I listed Boston Strangler in March’s Top 20, I mentioned part of my reasoning for placement was due to the fact that this particular piece of history doesn’t come up a lot. I’d only vaguely remembered that the Boston Strangler was even “a thing,” much less any details about the criminal cases. We hear so much about other historical travesties and their masterminds, yet this generally unsolved murder spree has slipped through so many cracks. It’s a deserving story with an important underlying message - don’t let anyone in your home that you haven’t vetted first; especially if you’re alone. 

Beyond that, this was a breakthrough for women in the workplace in journalism and otherwise for that era. 

 

Boston Strangler gave me a lot of crime noir vibes with its approach to the production. We just had a pair of intrepid reporters hot on the trail of this story instead of a smooth-talking gumshoe in a trenchcoat and fedora. There weren’t any flashy chase scenes or overtly grisly imagery, and yet the tale spun was still full of grit and tension. I became invested in the case and concerned for the well-being of these ladies. Everything was to the point, and very well executed. 

The cast really knocked this one out of the park, as well. Powerful performances drove Boston Strangler home and made what otherwise might be a dry procedural drama feel so much more intense. 

True crime tales have become a pop culture touchstone in recent years. Fans of that genre should likely appreciate Boston Strangler, but I believe that it could appeal to wider audiences as well. If you have Hulu, it’s definitely worth giving a chance. 

 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 62%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 76%

Metascore – 60%

Metacritic User Score – 5.6/10

IMDB Score – 6.5/10

 

Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 4/5

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 4/5

 

Movie Trailer:

True Spirit (2023)

 
Streaming Service: Netflix
Movie Name/Year: True Spirit (2023)
Genre: Adventure, Biography, Drama
Length: 1h 49min
Rating: TV-PG
Production/Distribution: Resonate Entertainment, Martin Chase Productions, Sunstar Entertainment, The Rebel Fleet, Netflix
Director: Sarah Spillane
Writers: Rebecca Banner, Cathy Randall, Sarah Spillane
Actors: Anna Paquin, Cliff Curtis, Teagan Croft, Josh Lawson, Todd Lasance, Alyla Browne, Alice Tate, Bridget Webb, Freya Callaghan, Stacy Clausen, Vivien Turner
 
IMDb Blurb: The story of Australian teenager, Jessica Watson, the youngest person ever to sail solo, non-stop around the world.
 

Selina’s Point of View:
There are a lot of good messages in True Spirit.
 
Obviously, True Spirit was inspirational. That was the point of the whole thing. It was why people were drawn to Jessica Watson’s story to begin with. That idea of finding a dream and working tirelessly toward it until it’s successful is something a lot of people aspire to. It seems easy from afar, but no dream comes without risks and failures. It becomes easier to give up than to stick to it.
 
Stories like the one in True Spirit show what it’s like to have everyone telling you that what you are trying to do is impossible – even laughable. Then it shows what can happen when you go through with it anyway.
 
True Spirit also touches on how quickly adults are willing to discredit a teenager. At 16-years-old, a person is still a child, but it’s also entirely possible for them to have 10-years of experience in something. A lot of people start being interested in things as kids and learn as they grow. Although many do opt to go down different paths, there are those that stick with it for their entire lives. It does all of humanity a disservice to overlook that.

 
Just like adults, teens deserve to be judged based on their own personal accomplishments and hard work.
 
Then there’s the fact that Watson was dyslexic. I love how they showed her struggle with the numbers and positions of her boat.
 
My personal brand of learning disability is ADHD. When people aren’t outright trying to downplay it and tell me that it’s fake, they’re overplaying it and deciding it has something to do with my intelligence and capabilities. When I was in school, I actively avoided all help offered to me based on my ADHD because the school made damn sure I knew it came with strings. To this day, at least in my state, the schools will only agree to screen for things like ADHD and dyslexia if you agree to a lesser education.

 
Media, like True Spirit, helps to remove some of the stigma from learning disabilities. A true story where someone overcomes their difficulties to succeed is relatable. Relatable content makes a difference.
 
It would have been less effective if it wasn’t a decent flick on its own.
 
True Spirit was heartwarming and honest. It never felt overly Lifetime-esk, and it left me with goosebumps at the end.
 
I was really impressed by the climax. The creators of True Spirit did something most don’t. It took the true story and actually downplayed it a bit. Most films hype things up and make things more pulse-pounding. In the case of True Spirit, they played up the drama and toned down the action – which made more sense for the way the story was told. It hit harder. I think if they would have gone the action route, the movie would have suffered.
 
I also appreciated the clips from Watson’s real-life homecoming and blog that played at the end. Seeing the real Jessica Watson do the things she was portrayed as doing made everything stick a little more. It reminds me of the end of Selena (1997). It’s not something that always works, but when it’s done right, it’s memorable.
 
True Spirit was an inspiring watch, and I would absolutely recommend it. 
 
Cat’s Point of View:
I was entranced by the trailer for True Spirit when we watched leading up to February’s Top 20 list. It struck me as a heartfelt adventure story that could shine some hope into today’s bleak atmosphere - especially since it was based on a true story. Of course, I love the ocean and have always had a romantic notion about life at sea. In reality, however, I know nothing of sailing, and even being out on a cruise ship is slightly terrifying. I digress…
 
True Spirit was cast well and I adored the peek into Jessica Watson’s family as well as her journey. Teagan Croft (The Osiris Child, Titans, Woman of a Certain Sage) deftly captured the determination of the intrepid teen to pursue her dream of solo global circumnavigation. Really, the whole gauntlet of emotions Watson experienced was well depicted. 

 
The cinematography was stunning and gave us a great perspective on both the up-close and macro scales for Watson’s life at sea. The storm waves felt real and some shots of the ocean and sky were breathtaking. I’m not sure whether they used real footage or CGI in some places, to be honest. (Specifically speaking of a particular sunrise in the movie.)
 
Further, I really appreciated how True Spirit subtly handled the portrayal of Watson’s dyslexia. Not only did True Spirit show us that learning disabilities shouldn’t be a hindrance to our dreams if we work hard enough, but it also showed that there are ways to work through such challenges. I adored that this true adventure story underscored that it’s OK not to be OK. That resonates to a monumental degree. We’re all going through something right now – we just need to get to the other side because things can and will get better.
 
True Spirit is one of those movies that even people who are not really fans of biographies might enjoy. I was invested to the point that I forgot the passage of time while watching. This is one film that I would absolutely recommend to anyone looking for something relatively family-friendly with a positive message that’s not a cookie-cutter repeat of everything else out there. 
 

 
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 79%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score –72%
Metascore – 50%
Metacritic User Score – None
IMDB Score – 6.8/10
 
Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 4/5
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 4/5

P.S. - There are some scenes during the credits that show footage from the real journey of Jessica Watson that the movie is based on.
 
Movie Trailer:

Hamilton (2020)

Streaming Services: Disney+

Movie Name/Year: Hamilton (2020)

Genre: Biography, Drama, History

Length: 160 minutes

Rating: PG-13

Production/Distribution: Walt Disney Pictures, 5000 Broadway Productions, RadicalMedia, Nevis Productions, Disney+, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Director: Thomas Kail

Writer: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ron Chernow

Actors: Daveed Diggs, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Jonathan Groff, Chris Jackson, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom Jr., Okieriete Onaodowan, Anthony Ramos, Phillipa Soo, Sydney James Harcourt, Thayne Jasperson, Jon Rua, Ephraim Sykes

Blurb from IMDb: The real life of one of America's foremost founding fathers and first Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton. Captured live on Broadway from the Richard Rodgers Theater with the original Broadway cast.

Selina’s Point of View:

When Hamilton first came out, I had no interest. If you’ve read this blog for a while, then you know me. I just don’t go for historical dramas. I like musicals, but if they’re about something I’m not interested in, I don’t tend to care. I put off listening to the soundtrack for a long time, even with my husband nagging me to give it a shot.

I fell in love when I finally heard it. Historical dramas are still not my thing, but I’ll be damned if this one doesn’t speak to me on every level of my being. Alexander’s rough childhood, his unpolished demeanor in a situation where it’s deemed unacceptable, his ability to rise above his situation and press on… it all hits me so deeply that just listening to the soundtrack was practically a religious experience.

Needless to say, I watched it the second it came out on Disney + (and several times since). It’s long, but I don’t feel the time as it goes by.

As amazing as the soundtrack is, I couldn’t imagine I was missing anything. After all, it was already my favorite thing ever. But you do lose some of the experience when only listening to the soundtrack. The play opens up so many other aspects of the story. Facial expressions, the way an actor walks, the placement and motion of the characters… everything adds something more.

The performances are incredibly important.

The way Lin-Manuel Miranda (Do No Harm, Speech & Debate, His Dark Materials) expresses Hamilton’s quest for satisfaction, his desperation, and even his hopelessness, brings the character further to life. Leslie Odom Jr. (Harriet, Only, Central Park) portrays the ambivalence, the envy, and the delirious desires of Aaron Burr in a way that makes the audience understand why the man thought himself a hero right up until the end. Daveed Diggs (Ferdinand, Blindspotting, Snowpiercer).  goes from the rebellious French soldier Marquis de Lafayette, to the amusingly sarcastic and impossible-to-look-away-from Thomas Jefferson. Renée Elise Goldsberry (Altered Carbon, Waves, The Good Wife) is a firecracker and a role model as Angelica Schuyler while Phillipa Soo (Here and Now, The Code, Smash) is poised and brimming with resilience as Eliza Hamilton. Jonathan Groff (Frozen, Mindhunter, Looking) really puts forth the intensity of King George’s insanity, while Chris Jackson (Bull, Moana, Tracers) offers a much more logical and honest performance of George Washington – one that doesn’t hide the flaws of the person the character is based on. Anthony Ramos (A Star is Born, Monsters and Men, Patti Cake$) is hilarious and tragic as both John Laurens and Philip Hamilton. Finally, Okieriete Onaodowan (A Quite Place Part II, Station 19, The Super) is the embodiment of a call to action as Hercules Mulligan – whenever he sings you have no choice but to root for him. Is he sewing some pants? Is he a spy? Either way, you wind up demanding his success because he just goes so damn hard. Later on, he flips and offers a regal and politically minded performance as James Madison.

There is not a single actor that flubs any part of their performance. There is no ‘meh’ song on the soundtrack (and there usually is at least 1 in every musical I’ve ever seen). Even the ensemble is perfectly in sync and adds an ambience to the play.

When the song ‘Hurricane’ starts, the ensemble is seen lifting furniture in the air all around Hamilton and it gives a significant feeling of chaotic stillness to the scene. It FEELS like the eye of a hurricane. The way it’s done ensures that the audience knows something’s coming. It’s the perfect song to warn you that it’s time for your emotional preparations. It breathes out dread and is the epitome of that moment of calm before things go wrong.

I’ve seen a lot of movies. I’ve read a lot of books. I’ve never seen a story told that had such a clear moment that warned audiences to prep for disaster. No story hits this moment quite as well, in any medium. Listen to it, and when it comes on – prepare. Because devastation comes barreling after it. I’m always a wreck when Hamilton ends, even with preparations.

I don’t think it’s possible, in the current climate of our nation, to not talk about race here.

Hamilton is the best example of a creative project that proves – beyond a shadow of a doubt – that it doesn’t fucking matter what race the actor that plays a character is. Not only that, but it proves how much talent is out there. There wasn’t a single actor in this movie that pulled me out of the story, regardless of their race or who they were playing. Who cares that George Washington wasn’t black? Chris Jackson was THE pick to play him.  

I’m forced to ask why, then, is it harder for Black, Asian, Native American, and other non-white actors to find work in Hollywood? Facing the racial bias in one area is not enough, we have to face it everywhere. Head on. In the words of this films, we should “rather be divisive than indecisive.” I want to see Idris Elba as James Bond. I want to see films celebrating the culture of Native Americans in various situations – such as in Blood Quantum (2019). We need more of stuff like Crazy Rich Asians (2018) and Get Out (2017).

This play coming to Disney+ right now serves as a reminder that standing up to injustice is our legacy. It’s our duty. When the media stops writing about it and the hashtags are no longer trending, standing up to discrimination should still be your first instinct – right up until the rules change and privilege is no longer an issue because we’re all truly equal in the eyes of the system and each other.

Hamilton took the bar and threw it into outer space. It excelled at storytelling, casting, stage set, direction, and flipping discrimination on its head. Nothing can compare. It is the best creative project ever brought to life.

Cat’s Point of View:

The first thing that comes to mind when I begin to make an attempt at relating my experience of Hamilton to you is – it was more than worth the wait.

I can’t say that I’ve been this profoundly moved by a piece of musical theater since I watched a live performance of The Phantom of the Opera (1986-) at the Pantages Theater in Toronto my sophomore year of high school.

The music soared and the message was profound. I laughed, cried, and sang along in some places even though this was my first time hearing the majority of the music. I said it in this month’s Top 20, and I’ll say it again. Lin-Manuel Miranda is a genius. I am in awe of his compositions and his lyricism.

The first time I heard about Hamilton, and that it was a hip-hop musical about one of the United States’ Founding Fathers, I admit I was a bit skeptical. Then the next thing you knew, everyone was talking about it. It was the hottest Broadway ticket and there were tales of people going to extreme lengths to afford tickets to the constantly sold-out shows. It was clear that there was something to this phenomenon. I’m just weird and wanted to be able to see the show before I went after the music. I don’t like knowing what I’m missing and pining away for something I felt was unattainable – namely Broadway tickets and the accompanying trip to New York City. It’s a dream of mine, but just not one feasible for the moment.

You can imagine the internal cartwheels that happened with the announcement that Hamilton would be hitting Disney+.

The whole production was brilliantly orchestrated. The scene transitions were fluid, and the messages rang loud and clear. I loved all the little modern pop culture nuances that were laced into the production. They just help draw in the audience, pulling them even further into the action taking place on stage.

The stage is also a major sticking point here. I’m grateful that the powers that be chose to keep this film a recording of a live stage performance, rather than shooting a standard movie adaptation. That doesn’t always turn out as hoped, and there would be too much room for the messages to get muddied. There’s something to be said for the feeling of watching a live performance as a member of a stage audience. This film gives you the best seat in the house.

This music is powerful. We’re still trying to navigate today some of the same problems that the founders of our country faced hundreds of years ago. It is my hope that it works its way into school curriculums at some level. The PG-13 rating may make it hard for it to reach younger audiences, but Miranda and company did purposefully censor a couple of f-bombs out of the final product so that they could meet those rating criteria.

If I had to pick a favorite character other than Alexander Hamilton, I think it’d have to be Thomas Jefferson, as played by Daveed Diggs. I adored the flair he brought to that role. The whole cast was magnificent, however, and shone in their diversity as a good example of great things that can be done when we just all work together.

What we do with our time on this earth matters. What will each of our voices say?

I would recommend this musical to everyone in a heartbeat. Have you watched it yet?

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 99%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 94%

Metascore – 90/100

Metacritic User Score – 7.9/10

IMDB Score – 9.1/10

CinemaScore – None

Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 5/5

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 5/5

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