Why ‘In the Heights’ lives up to hype: Hot musical is year’s best movie

Lin-Manuel Miranda has done it again! Again!

The “Hamilton” creator’s blissful new movie “In the Heights,” which is based on his Tony Award-winning 2008 musical, is the best film of the year so far. It’s also easily the best movie-musical since the Oscar-winning “Chicago” from way back in 2003. Please excuse me while I look up some synonyms for “best.” Romantic and funny, the film — out Thursday in theaters and on HBO Max — is a dazzling ode to New York City and Washington Heights, the Upper Manhattan neighborhood where Miranda grew up in and still lives today. It’s a vibrant Latino community whose residents have roots primarily in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, which is where the main character Usnavi (Anthony Ramos) hails from.