Analyzing the Awards Potential for ‘In the Heights’
Zach Gilbert
June 14, 2021
It may only be June, but we have our first true-blue Best Picture contender of the year with Warner Bros.' "In the Heights" an adaptation of the Tony Award-winning musical of the same name written by "Hamilton's" Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hudes. To say that expectations have been sky-high for "In the Heights" is the understatement of the century; after a year-long delay (due to complications resulting from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic) and a masterfully executed marketing campaign, film fans have been chomping at the bit to get back in a theater and let the wonders of Washington Heights wash all over them, and critics almost universally agree that this is indeed the expertly crafted escapist entertainment that cinemas were made for. With a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes (including a 98% from "Top Critics") and an 85 on Metacritic, "In the Heights" has the critical raves that most awards contenders can only dream of receiving, and though it's premiering so early in the year, these are the reviews that can catapult a film all the way to the finish line no matter what month it releases.
It may only be June, but we have our first true-blue Best Picture contender of the year with Warner Bros.' "In the Heights" an adaptation of the Tony Award-winning musical of the same name written by "Hamilton's" Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hudes. To say that expectations have been sky-high for "In the Heights" is the understatement of the century; after a year-long delay (due to complications resulting from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic) and a masterfully executed marketing campaign, film fans have been chomping at the bit to get back in a theater and let the wonders of Washington Heights wash all over them, and critics almost universally agree that this is indeed the expertly crafted escapist entertainment that cinemas were made for. With a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes (including a 98% from "Top Critics") and an 85 on Metacritic, "In the Heights" has the critical raves that most awards contenders can only dream of receiving, and though it's premiering so early in the year, these are the reviews that can catapult a film all the way to the finish line no matter what month it releases.