Weekend Watch: Lupin, And In The Heights

A captivating master thief and a joyful New York neighbourhood

Image Credit: Netflix

Welcome to the latest edition of Weekend Watch, in which I recommend (or occasionally warn against) movies or TV shows I’ve been checking out. This week, France’s smartest thief returns and a New York neighbourhood sings of dreams, life and joy. Follow James on Twitter: @jamwhite

Lupin, which first arrived on Netflix earlier this year, is a delightful, smart surprise. Our hero, Assane Diop (Omar Sy, of The Intouchables and Jurassic World) is the son of an immigrant who sees his father framed for stealing by his wealthy, entitled employer. Swearing revenge, Assane employs the tactics and cunning of famous French literary thief Arsène Lupin and sets himself up as a master thief. But when he’s not pulling off capers or using his skills to help the downtrodden, he’s also juggling being something of a disappointment to his own son, Raoul (Etan Simon).

Brought to life with bags of charm by Sy, Assane’s a character you root for even as he’s breaking the law. Pulling off his thievery with cunning disguises and meticulous planning, he’s enthralling and watchable at every turn, even when his life isn’t going as smoothly as it might. 

George Kay and François Uzan’s series splits its time between Assane now, and his younger days, revealing the pain and racism he endures, while also exploring his romantic connections. There’s also a solid hard stare towards the issues of immigration and racism in Europe, Assane’s father dying tragically while still considered a criminal. Our hero burns with rage and frustration, but he’s has a strong intellectual side that helps him to plan out his work. 

Split into two parts (Part 2 has just arrived) of five episodes each so far, the series ducks and weaves with its hero, firmly on his side against the corrupt, smug elite who want him stamped out, and the driven police officers who start to figure out more about him. The second part, which finds Raoul in trouble, has less of Lupin’s clever crimes and more danger, but that doesn’t make it less entertaining, simply deepening the relationships and further revealing the mindset of our main character. And it makes up for the lack of earlier cons in the final, crafty episode of the season. 

If you’re not put off by dubbing or subtitles, Lupin is a superbly compelling piece of TV, revolving around a charismatic central figure and an interesting, relevant story. And let’s be honest, while Lupin’s stories have been adapted a lot in France, it’s refreshing to see something that isn’t the 435th version of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. 

Lupin Part 2 (five episodes) is on Netflix now, alongside Part 1. I’ve seen every episode.

Image Credit: Warner Bros.

When most people think of Lin-Manuel Miranda and musicals, chances are they picture Hamilton. But before that pop-cultural sensation, he created a show that hits home to him, basing In The Heights around his local barrio, the Manhattan neighbourhood of Washington Heights. In development for several years, it has survived through at least two studios and the Harvey Weinstein sex scandal. And thank goodness for that.

No musical makes its trip to the big screen completely unchanged, but the smart move here was having Miranda and original book writer Quiara Alegria Hudes still involved, and making the trims and alterations necessary to have the story function in the new format. Add to that the directorial talents of Jon M. Chu (who knows how to handle tunes thanks to his experience with music videos and the Step Up movies, and large cultural ensembles via Crazy Rich Asians), and you have a winning combination. 

In The Heights doesn’t shy away from big issues such as immigration and gentrification, but mostly it is a delivery system for melodious joy. It’s essentially the story of several characters, narrated by bodega owner Usnavi (Anthony Ramos), who dreams of reopening his late father’s bar in the Dominican Republic. Around him pivots a revolving cast of salon workers, cab dispatchers, wannabe fashion designers, and locals, with the emotional part firmly in Abuela Claudia (Olga Merediz), who serves as the unofficial grandmother to everyone in the neighborhood, cooking up tasty food and offering wisdom to anyone who needs it. Then there’s Nina (Leslie Grace), Usnavi’s friend since childhood. She’s home from a year at Stanford but is afraid to tell anyone besides old flame Benny (Corey Hawkins) that she’s dropping out. There are love interests, worries about the future, and full-throated celebrations of different Latino cultures. Musicals have to find a reason for the characters breaking into song, but Heights has the built-in advantage of the neighbourhood’s vibrant energy – “the streets were made of music” – as Usnavi says in his introduction. 

It’s not hard to see the roots of Hamilton’s fast-moving tune delivery here, Miranda’s style clear and present. He’s also on-screen himself, though, after originating the role of Usnavi on stage, he’s happily handed it over to Ramos, who proves to be a movie star capable of carrying the weight of the film on his shoulders. Miranda is happy to inhabit the Piragua seller, slinging shaved, flavoured ice (and enjoying a feud with old friend and Heights/Hamilton co-star Christopher Jackson, their rivalry a small comic highlight). 

Chu keeps his camera moving with the characters, sweeping around the streets, but settling when it has to zero in on the personal stories. While it could still have benefitted from a couple of extra trims, and one or two elements of chemistry don’t quite come together as planned, In The Heights feels like a perfect way to head back into cinemas, its powerful emotion and large-scale choreography best enjoyed on a big screen with an excellent sound system. 

In The Heights is in US cinemas and on HBO Max now. It’ll release in UK cinemas on 18 June.