Oscars to Hamilton: You Don't Have the Vote

Scene from Hamilton

If you're anyone who is anyone this past weekend, there's a good chance that you watched Hamilton on Disney+. How could you not? As one of the most revolutionary shows to hit Broadway this century, it is a show that has been shrouded in curiosity since its 2015 launch, and it has formed a deserved cult with its endless memorable song numbers. Though the one thing that has been asked since it was announced as if the live performance would stand any chance of getting a shot at Oscar glory. Well, there's been a bit of a delay. The prognostication may be put to rest as news came out that Hamilton is in fact disqualified from Oscar nominations. 

Should Live Theater Recordings Be Eligible for Oscar Nominations?

Scene from Give 'Em Hell, Harry

For most of us, this weekend will be a special moment. Not only is it the annual celebration of Independence Day, but Disney+ will at long last release a professionally shot version of the musical Hamilton. Most of us have been dying to see the show ever since it hit Broadway in 2015, and now that it's available for streaming, what will it all mean for the future of live theater? Will we be seeing every big show like Dear Evan Hansen and Hadestown making their way onto Netflix or Hulu? Will this be a one-off, or will the future look a lot more accessible to those outside of major city markets? Or, if I'm being honest, the question that I am asking myself is if Hamilton will stand a chance to be an Oscar-winning production?

That's a loaded question given that Hamilton has more in common with Tony and Grammy Awards, fields that recognize stage work. Given that it was originally scheduled for a theatrical release, it does seem like would stand a chance even if there's very little precedent for it getting a nomination. Well, I want to ask for a show of hands. Does anyone know the other Oscar-nominated work that's basically a filmed piece of live theater? Any takers? While Hamilton has an uphill battle to make the cut, it wouldn't be the first to receive this distinct honor. There was one 45 years ago that earned James Whitmore his second Oscar nomination, also steeped in American history. Yes, Give 'Em Hell, Harry remains the only major crossover between stage and screen to receive an Oscar nomination. If anything suggests a potential upset by Hamilton, it's this one.

The First Trailer for "In the Heights" Sets Off An Exciting Block Party

Scene from In the Heights

For all intents and purposes, the phenomenon of Lin-Manuel Miranda started over a decade ago with In the Heights. Yes, his later work on stage and in film may be more revered, but there's no denying the seismic shake that came with his story of a man named Usnavi living his life in Washington Heights. It wasn't just in the story. It was the way that the music fused classic Broadway motifs with contemporary sounds of salsa and hip-hop that reflected a new era of musicals. Suddenly America was culturally diverse and free to embrace their passions. In the Heights was a celebration that won Tony Awards and set Miranda up on his path to bigger things, most notably Hamilton. While audiences haven't likely memorized the soundtrack as well as any about the ten-dollar founding father without a father, be prepared to learn why In the Heights was a smash. The first trailer has finally arrived, and it's looking to be one of the best block parties of 2020. 

Legitimate Theater: Bring It On:: The Musical (2012)

Welcome to Legitimate Theater: a column dedicated to movie-based stage musicals. The goal of this series is to explore those stories that originated in films and eventually worked their way onto Broadway and beyond. By the end of each entry, there will hopefully be a better understanding of this odd but rampant trend in modern entertainment. Are these stories really worth telling through song and dance? How can it even compare to the technical prowess of a camera and seamless editing? Join me on this quest as I explore the highs and lows of this trend on the third Wednesday of every month and hopefully answer what makes this Legitimate Theater.

Composing Greatness: #5. Oscars 2019 Edition - "Mary Poppins Returns"

Scene from Mary Poppins Returns

Welcome to a very special edition of Composing Greatness. In this limited series, I will be looking at the five scores nominated for this year's Best Original Score category. To avoid favoritism, the list will be done in alphabetical order of composers and feature the same guidelines as the original series. This is meant to explore the music behind the great films of 2018, and provide insight into what makes each of them special and whether or not they deserved to be nominated at all. Join me all week as I listen to the  music, leave some thoughts, and hopefully sway you to check out these wonderful, wonderful scores.

Review: "Mary Poppins Returns" is a Dazzling Good Time

Scene from Mary Poppins Returns

There is something daunting and rare about director Rob Marshall's Mary Poppins Returns. It's a sequel to Oscar-winning beloved family film that has become one of Disney's towering achievements (they even made a movie called Saving Mr. Banks to remind us of this). So, where could Marshall possibly go with 50 years of distance and generations hooked on some of movie musicals' most memorable music? The answer is simple. It goes for the whimsy, trying its best to capture the enthusiasm of the original while attempting to make a new story that compliments advanced technology to bring the landscape to life in ways not available in the mid-60's. While the music isn't quite on par or the performances as immediately iconic, Marshall has continued to prove himself one of the premiere musical directors of the 21st century with a quaint new holiday treat that may not match the original, but serves to entertain for a few hours as best it can.

Best Song: "City of Stars" (2016)

Scene from La La Land

Welcome to Best Song, a new weekly column released on Sunday dedicated to chronicling the Best Original Song category over the course of its many decades. The goal is to listen to and critique every song that has ever been nominated in the category as well as find the Best Best Song and the Best Loser. By the end, we'll have a comprehensive list of this music category and will hopefully have a better understanding not only of the evolution, but what it takes to receive a nomination here. It may seem easy now, but wait until the bad years.

"Moana" vs. "La La Land": Who Should Win Best Original Song?

Ryan Gosling in La La Land

While the Best Picture category may be the biggest award given out on Oscar Night, there's few other categories that could be as exciting as Best Original Song. This is because, unlike having to watch hours of movies, it's a category that distills the art form to a brief ditty. They are the indicator that most will have for these movies, and it's none more present than for soundtrack-turned-radio hits. This year has a phenomenal list (and Sting) to choose from, but there's probably only two that are neck and neck with each other: La La Land and Moana. Which film should win the category, and in the case of La La Land: which one of its songs? The following is a defense and exploration of each of the three songs likely to take home the top prize.

Why "Moana" is One of the Most Timely Movies of 2016

Scene from Moana

*NOTE: Spoilers for Moana

It is hard to undermine the magic of Disney and their ability to open each new movie big. The studio known for releasing quality entertainment has made almost every one of their films a guaranteed smash, especially their animated princess movies. Moana is their latest and features beautiful animation, great music, and one of their most compelling protagonists in years. While the film is enjoyable on a surface level, it's interesting to consider how the film relates to the moment of its release. It may not seem like it, but Moana is one of the most timely films of 2016 with plenty to say on xenophobia, cultural tradition, and learning to overcome prejudice. The film may be based off of an old folk tale, but it couldn't have come out at a more appropriate time. It isn't an allegory about the presidential election, but it may as well be about the modern American political climate. 

Review: "Moana" is One of the Most Fun Films of 2016

Scene from Moana

With each passing year, it becomes more difficult for Disney to keep making new iconic princesses. This is in part because of the limited supply of fairy tales that the studio has pulled from over close to a century. It makes sense then that they hit the high seas to explore South Pacific folklore in Moana: their latest musical that also features the likes of Hamilton composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, and reliable Disney co-directors Ron Clements and John Musker (The Little Mermaid, Aladdin among others). By exploring a new subject matter, Disney has managed to open up their potential while delivering one of their most electric stories of the 21st century so far. With heart and humor, Moana is another gem from the studio known for going above and beyond. So say hello to one of the best Disney animated films and prepare to have a new soundtrack stuck in your head for awhile. Moana is great.

Super Delegates Bonus: Alexander Hamilton in "Hamilton:: An American Musical"

Scene from a Hamilton performance

Welcome to Super Delegates Bonus. As a subsidiary of Super Delegates, the sporadic additional column is meant to explore depictions of politicians on film outside of the conventional methods of the column. This ranges from everything such as political candidates in TV movies and miniseries to real life candidates providing feedback on their pop culture representation. While not as frequent or conventional, the goal is to help provide a vaster look at politics on film as it relates to the modern election year. Join in and have some fun. One can only imagine what will be covered here.

Will "Moana" Make Lin-Manuel Miranda the Latest EGOT Winner?

Scene from Moana

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past year, it is likely that you are familiar with the Broadway smash hit Hamilton, which focuses on the life of Alexander Hamilton through a blend of musical styles such as hip-hop. This past Sunday, it won 11 Tonys, including for its creator Lin-Manuel Miranda. While I don't cover theater, it is likely that Miranda is a name that will become recognizable to audiences by the end of this year if just because of the amount of projects his success has granted him. Among the most promising is Disney's new film Moana, which conveniently enough premiered its teaser trailer during Hamilton's big night. While the question could just be if this movie will be great, there's another question about Miranda becoming an EGOT: an impressive feat that he's one Oscar away from completing. While there's not much to go off of, it does look like there's at least a nomination in his wake.