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Independence Day

Hamilton: Telling the Full Story

July 4, 2020 by Heather Johnson Leave a Comment

I actually don’t know why I’m even attempting this post right now.

I mean, people have been praising the Broadway production of Hamilton since 2015. Being here five years later trying to say something new about it seems kind of silly. The only thing that I really need to say about the newest title on Disney+ is, it’s awesome. Watch it. The end.

But alas, I’ll give it a shot. (See what I did there?)

I was already slightly familiar with the music (to put it lightly), so I went into this knowing it’d be pretty amazing. However, I was admittedly unprepared for the power of seeing the action behind the words. While I imagine seeing it in-person and on stage is a sight to behold, being able to see the nuances of the actors as they brought the story of founding father Alexander Hamilton to life was moving. It was about more than the music for me – it was about how we tell hard stories in compelling ways.

Obviously, our history is both incredible and messy, and Hamilton’s version of past events acknowledges the good, the bad, and the ugly. While brilliant and persuasive, Alexander Hamilton was just as flawed as any other human being. He made major mistakes (a highly-scandalous affair for which he was extorted, for one), and played the political game at the expense of others. The characterization portrayed by Lin-Manuel Miranda is one of internal conflict, obsession with “rising above his station,” and an unwavering sense of self-preservation. 

Yet the acknowledgements of the messy aspects of Hamilton’s character doesn’t mean his goodness is any less notable. Willing to die for the idea of a free America, holding onto deep and abiding friendships, and witnessing to his own imperfections are all traits worth recognizing. And this is what is so compelling about the play itself. Hamilton doesn’t shy away from the complexity of early American history and the ones that paved away. 

The fact that the primary narration comes from Hamilton’s political frenemy Aaron Burr is an example of how history isn’t one-sided or only valuable when it comes from the victors or first-person perspective. History has multiple angles, and multiple story tellers. By going even deeper and highlighting the stories of those hovering in the background of the play, like Thomas Jefferson, Eliza Hamilton and Angelica Schuyler, and John Laurens, Hamilton creates a 360 degree view of one man’s story, and the ripples of impact he made not only on American history, but in his relationships as well. 

Now, I know this is ultimately a work of fiction, albeit heavily researched and based on both fact and historical interpretation. This is why I want to note that to get a more comprehensive view of human experience, we need multiple forms of storytelling. Plays and movies often engage a totally different audience as opposed to books and lectures, but clearly they can’t be the only source. Critical thinking, research, and participation are all key elements in our education. It’s ok to question the stories we’ve heard and learned. It’s ok to dig a little deeper.

And it’s ok to change how we view those stories once we get a bigger picture.

More often than not I’ve noticed people assuming that if I criticize something, I’m either attacking or wanting to erase the entire existing narrative. Like Eliza tried burning herself out of Hamilton’s story, I’m not able (or even desiring) to sweep the past under the rug. The intent is to bring to light that there are layers to all stories – even our own nation’s. And sometimes peeling back those layers hurt and make us uncomfortable. But even as I sat in the discomfort of Hamilton’s selfishness, I could look forward to the brighter future that would result from living into the whole story, because I didn’t shut my eyes… or ears… through the parts that hurt. 

Hamilton: The Musical is available now on Disney+

Filed Under: Disney+, Featured Tagged With: Disney+, Hamilton, Independence Day, Lin Manuel Miranda

ARRIVAL: Guess Who’s Coming to Earth?

February 14, 2017 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

amyadamsarrival

America needs Arrival.

Directed by Denis Villeneuve, Arrival begins on the day that (the latest) aliens appear over major cities around the world. Resting silently and still above the earth, these objects send the population into a moment of fear as everyone awaits what will happen next. When the military begins the process of communicating with their visitors, they assemble a team led by linguist Louise Banks (Amy Adams), theoretical physicist Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner), and US Army Colonel Weber (Forest Whitaker). As humankind teeters on the verge of global war, Banks, Donnelly and Weber take a chance that could threaten their lives, and quite possibly, humanity.

Despite the familiar premise, Arrival is far from your traditional ‘alien invasion’ film. While films of this genre generally play out with intergalactic space battles or wanton destruction (yes, I’m looking at you Independence Day: Resurgence), Arrival carves out it’s own unique and compelling place amongst the very best of science fiction by focusing on the pratfalls of language.

arrival

Caution: Potential spoilers ahead…

Playing out like a sci-fi vision of the Cold War, humans and aliens wait anxiously to see who will make the next move. Will it be an act of aggression? An offer of peace? Unlike other sci-fi entries, the real tension within this film exists in the realities of learning how to communicate with another who you neither understand nor trust. Of course, the obvious implications of this are between human and alien… however, the film reveals that similar issues lie amongst the people of Earth themselves.

Having first seen the film at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, I found myself struck by the boldness of this film. However, to be honest, I could never have predicted how timely it would become. Living in the shadow of the Presidential election, it has become frighteningly clear of the breadth of the divide amongst the American people. As thousands of people protest the election results in rallies across the country, philosophical differences have never been more apparent and anger and fear appear rampant amongst the people. The ability to humble ourselves and have conversation has given way to bitterness and resentment.

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As a pastor, I wonder where ideas like either ‘Judge not, lest ye be judged’ or ‘love your neighbor as yourself’ have gone in a moment like this.

But Arrival hasn’t forgotten.

Here, as military officers increase the pressure to attack their visitors, linguist Banks cries out for patience, even when the communication seems as though it’s gone awry. As the challenges of communication increase, Banks and her team recognize the value in the other and fight for the reality that words matter. They understand that one narrative doesn’t tell the whole story—and that that builds bridges.

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In a time where American culture seems primed to rip itself in two, the notion of seeing beyond our own views and truly listening to one another couldn’t seem more poignant.

In the end, Arrival is a film about risking our lives not for a cause, but for the benefit of others. It’s a film about leaning into suffering for the sake of receiving blessings along the way.

It’s a film that shows that every life matters and that communication requires humility on our behalf to connect us.

America needs Arrival.

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Special features include a look at language (“Xenolinguistics: Understanding Arrival”), sound and score (“Acoustic Signatures: Sound Design”, “Eternal Recurrence”), the editing (“Nonlinear Thinking”), and time (“Principles of Time, Memory & Language”), all the main elements (in addition to Adams) that make the film great. 

Filed Under: Film, Reviews, TIFF Tagged With: aliens, Amy Adams, Arrival, Denis Villeneuve, Forest Whitaker, Independence Day, invasion, Jeremy Renner, science fiction, SciFi, TIFF, TIFF16, Toronto, Toronto International Film Festival

Podcast: Celebrating INDEPEDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE

July 5, 2016 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

 

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http://screenfish.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/2.19-Independence-Day-Resurgence.mp3

This week on the show, Chris Utley joins Steve to discuss INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE, the sequel to the 1996 classic alien film. Plus, the guys talk about the least and most successful reboots/sequels.

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

2.19 Independence Day Resurgence

Filed Under: Film, Podcast Tagged With: Bill Pullman, Independence Day, Independence Day Resurgence, Jeff Goldblum, Liam Hemsworth, Roland Emmerich, Will Smith

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