Bo is Inside the Heights! - Renegade Marquee #5 | RPC | Renegade Pop Culture - Podcasts on Animation, Movies, and Video games

Tonight, on a very lyrical episode of Renegade Marquee, the boys take a look at Bo Burnham’s newest Netflix film “Inside,” as well as Jon M. Chu’s musical adaptation of the Lin Manuel-Miranda production of In The Heights!

How’s it going people? It’s THE DIRECTOR once again bringing you the latest of the latest releases! And while it’s a bit late, our boys have still got a lot to talk about with the two films that seemed to garner the most attention as of late! So let’s not waste any time!

INSIDE (2021)

“Honestly, I don't review comedy specials that often, if at all, but I had to make an exception for this, for a couple of reasons. First, Inside is, if nothing else, a great showcase for what a talented songwriter Burnham is, and has always been, ever since his YouTube days. In fact, this whole production is basically a return to form, that also happens to be the length of a feature film. But the reason why Inside works as well as it does is because it truly captures that feeling a lot of people were going through over the past year. The music and sketches throughout this special cover a wide variety of topics, from FaceTiming your parents, to brand awareness, to the crippling effects the quarantine has had on one's mental health. There's no other way to say it, Bo Burnham is a genius, not just as a performer, but a writer and a filmmaker. If this is what he came up with by himself at home, imagine what he could accomplish on a larger scale, whether that means taking his talents on a Broadway stage, or writing/directing a big blockbuster musical film. Either way, I can't wait to see what he does next.” - Captain Kaye

IN THE HEIGHTS (2021)

“It's not often that you'll see the writer of the original book writing the screenplay for the adaptation, but when they do, they know exactly what changes need to be made to make the story feel more "cinematic." In this case, one of the biggest departures from the source material is the inclusion of a framing device involving a group of children, as Usnavi spins a yarn about his hometown. What this accomplishes is an emphasis on the importance of maintaining your family's legacy, and keeping their memory alive. It's that fine detail that gives the film more weight, cementing its place among the great movie musicals of the past. As for the production itself, I can say with confidence that this is John M. Chu's best directorial effort, applying everything he's learned since his Step Up days and ramping things up to eleven! Finally, much like how Chu made stars out of the Crazy Rich Asian ensemble, he works that same magic here. Specifically in regards to Anthony Ramos, it was Lin-Manuel Miranda who foretold of his stardom way back in 2014, and he's only been proven right 7 years later. The other two standouts are Leslie Grace in her feature film debut as Nina Rosario, and Olga Merediz reprising her role as "Abuela" Claudia from the Broadway production. I am literally grasping at straws to find a negative, but if I must criticize something, it's Miranda casting himself in a minor role as Piragüero, the Piragua Guy. Sure, it's cute, and I love how his subplot involves a petty beef with Christopher Jackson as Mr. Softee Truck Driver, but completely superfluous to the narrative. But if that's my only complaint, then this movie must have done something right.” - Captain Kaye