IN THE HEIGHTS, foreground from left: Anthony Ramos, Melissa Barrera, 2021. ph: Macall Polay / © Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection
Disclaimer: I am Washington Heights. I was born, bred, and raised in The Heights, all before it was a showtune in Lin Manuel Miranda’s voice recorder. He has definitely put our neighborhood in the spotlight, but Washington Heights was amazing before the Midwest came to discover it on Broadway and long before everybody else “discovered” it on HBO Max.
Therefore, this review will be biased based on the fact that Washington Heights is my home. My overall review will be, “I love it!” along with the “99% Certified Fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes. But honestly, I also put my “I love it” stamp on the mediocre “Washington Heights” 2002 movie, the failed “Washington Heights” MTV series in 2013 and any other movie that featured my neighborhood. These versions were not great, but I mean, come on . . . I am an Afro-Caribbean, Dominican-American from Washington Heights! I am constantly looking to connect to my home now that I live in the Bay Area. Just like any other person who is proud of where they come from, I would support “In The Heights” even if it bombed in the box office. People who love their neighborhoods like I love mine understand this. It is a foundation of loyalty learned through your roots. And my roots are in Washington Heights, NYC. I love my ‘hood!
What I felt during the opening scene and musical number at the beginning of “In the Heights” summarizes my review: Extreme joy with splashes of sadness. The film was literally filmed on the streets where I lived for 40 years of my life. I felt the nostalgia flowing through my veins. Just as the dance number was energetic and exhilarating, I felt over-joyed. I saw my ‘hood on the big screen! But when the screen shifted into the bodega, I could not help but notice some of the elements I remembered were gone. Granted, the store had some important “traditional” trimmings of the classic bodega I grew up around–the narrow aisles, Bustello coffee cans behind the counter, Vicks Vapo Rub — but I could not help but notice some other elements were missing. Where was the ‘chicharron’ made fresh that morning next to the casaba and ‘pastelitos’? Where is the fridge dedicated to the beers that are “bestida de novia”? Where are the milk crates that people used to sit on when in front of the store? WHERE’S THE CAT SLEEPING ON THE BREAD?! Come on, son!
This film forced me to confront the reality: just at the Bodegas have changed since I lived there, Washington Heights has changed. I had to accept that my generation, my experience of growing up in the Heights in the 80s and 90s, was not going to be represented in this movie. I cried during the opening scene, overwhelmed with an exhilarating sense of joy, but at the same time, I shed a tear for the story that wasn’t told in this movie. I get it, trust me. I’m old school and my generation’s experience is not what this movie is about. And if I’m being honest, this version of Washington Heights was a better story to tell. ‘Que dilema caballero’!
Washington Heights is a main character in this movie, no doubt. I love that. The sights and sounds connect to the overall feeling of what a neighborhood in NYC should be. No offense to other neighborhoods in the five boroughs, but Washington Heights has enough character to be the star of a big screen Hollywood movie. It is a neighborhood rich in history, diversity and culture; and the movie definitely made use of it. Most scenes took place on 175th Street and Audubon Ave. which would be familiar to anyone who grew up in the Heights. The Church of the Incarnation and Incarnation Elementary/Middle school (which I attended most of my youth) is on the block and you can see it in most of the movie. Not only did I play many ‘curb ball’ games, ‘skelly’ tournaments, and ‘catch and kiss’ run arounds on that street, but I also remembered seeing Robert “The Preppie Killer” Chambers alongside our parish’s Monsignor walking into the side entrance of the school to protect him from the media. I also saw the ‘spot’ on the corner where my family member almost lost their life to a bad drug deal. Similar memories came flooding back during the scenes filmed at Highbridge Pool and J. Hood Wright Park. These are both very historic locations to the Washington Heights native.
I watched the film with a childhood friend and we kept randomly shouting out at the screen and each other,“ YOOOOO!!!!!! Check that shit out, son! Remember we used to . . .” We couldn’t help it, the neighborhood is part of us and we had to let out our memories.
Half way through the film, I surrendered to the film’s narrative and accepted that it would not be my generation’s story. If I had to compare this feeling to a character from the movie, it would be Marc Antony’s Gapo. He’s a minor character that you know is a prologue to the story, but it’s not necessary to expand. Coño . . .
I’ll give it to Lin Manuel Miranda and John M. Chu’s vision for this Broadway play on the big screen. Representation did not lack! The cast was diverse and gave me a sense of still being seen by the world. Some have argued that the film primarily focused on Anglo-Caribbean Latinos, but I’ll leave that to the bloggers of the world to debate. When I saw the original production on Broadway in 2008, I felt jubilant and proud. Seeing the cast of characters, I was amazed that the majority of them looked like me. Watching the film, I felt the same jolt of pride and enthusiasm as I did when I first saw the play.
The film’s storylines of gentrification, 1st generation immigrants, urban renewal, and the Dreamers stood out a lot stronger that in the original show. Dare I say the small re-writes in the film should be included in the on-stage musical! (Go Usnavi and Vanessa! Mr. Softee vs. Priaguero!)
As for the music, I enjoyed it from beginning to end. That is Lin Manuel niche’ so to speak. Sure, he writes musicals but do not forget where his foundations lay in his ability to create catchy sounds for the soul. Latin rhythms are felt throughout the movie. “Carnival Del Barrio,” my favorite, demonstrates Miranda’s ability to connect cultural pride and music. And of course, the elements of hip-hop are present. I would not expect any less from a kid from the Heights. The song “96,000” includes Miranda’s homages to his favorite hip-hop artists, past and present. This makes sense for the show, as Washington Heights is rooted in the history of hip-hop, as any enthusiast would tell you. Lin-Manuel is touched by the hip-hop gods of 1520 Sedgwick Avenue just like any kid in the Heights should have been, even if he did grow up on the ‘affluent’ side of the ‘hood’.
Overall, the movie goes down in the history books (at least my history book) as ‘one of the best movies’ of the year. Do I see it winning any major awards? Maybe, but honestly, does it really matter? This film is an homage to diversity, culture and the everyday people of color that are not seen in the realm of Hollywood. It is not the “Scarface”, “Boys in The Hood” and “Blood in, Blood Out” that are glorified in our realms and almost change our narrative as being ‘real’. Instead, this movie projects optimism and discards the stereotypes that have type-cast black and brown people for years in the industry. It showcases the problems and struggles with gentrification and how a community of people change with it. It tells a story of the generations that eat the fruits of our predecessors’ labor and then reject it, planting their own. It also shows that education is an important tool to contribute to progress and it does not have to come from a degree or diploma. This movie shows what we as people of color do in this country, day in and day out: Survive. With all our heart and soul. And we do not need to change who we are as a people.
This movie is relatable to all who understand that. I am just really happy and grateful that my “hood” was the place where this story was told. “In the Heights” is now part of history whether it fails or succeeds at the box office, whether it tells “my” version of the neighborhood or not; whether you like it or not. In my opinion, this movie is now a welcomed part of our diaspora of Latinos. It is a piece of art that will influence generations to come. The story of hope and optimism in a world that sets up social constructs which can be torn down. “In the Heights” shows us our hoods are as beautiful as we make them. Our “hoods” are not always as bad as society makes them out to be. We should sound our ‘alabanza’ to our roots and communities for all the good that does come out of them. This movie is for all our ‘hoods.
Thanks again, Lin. I am Washington Heights. I love my ‘hood.
