tick, tick…BOOM!
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Alexandra Shipp, Robin de Jesus, Vanessa Hudgens
Directed By: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Rated: PG-13
Jonathan Larson is quickly approaching his 30th birthday. As the day gets closer, he can’t escape the constant ticking of a countdown reminding him how quickly time is passing. Jonathan is a composer intent on creating Broadway’s next smash hit. But that nagging tick reminds him that by 30 years old, Steven Sondheim was already established on Broadway. And Jonathan is still trying to make ends meet without a show to his name. The clock is ticking and 30 is about to hit with a boom.
tick, tick…Boom! follows the life of playwright Jonathan Larson as he navigates life in New York City as a struggling artist. Jonathan hopes to make a Broadway hit, but the road is far more difficult than he intended. The film is Lin Manuel Miranda’s directorial debut. Yes, that Lin Manuel Miranda of Hamilton fame. Miranda has crafted an energetic and engaging portrait of a Broadway artist. This is an excellent directorial debut for Miranda that works as a hybrid musical biopic. One thing’s for sure, musical theater fans will really enjoy this one.
The musical numbers are all taken from Jonathan Larson’s musical tick, tick…Boom! Miranda makes sure they are creatively structured and well-paced throughout the film to keep the audience engaged. “Therapy”, “30/90” and “Boho Days” are instant standouts that I’m still thinking about since watching the film. One scene, in particular, that takes place in a diner will be a crowdpleaser to broadway fans due to its many cameos.
It’s not just a flashy song and dance musical though, at its core this is a film about Jonathan Larson and what drove him. I was intrigued to see the relationships with his best friend, Michael (Robin de Jesus), and his girlfriend Susan (Alexandra Shipp). Both of them have a huge impact on his work. Jonathan is well known for writing Rent and the seeds for that musical are clearly planted throughout this film.
Anyone who reads my reviews knows I’m a huge Andrew Garfield fan. He’s an excellent actor who can transform in any role. Garfield gives a stellar performance in the film as Larson. Performance is truly the word here because Garfield sings, dances, and puts on a show for the audience. From the opening number “30/90”, you can tell you’re in for something special. He is truly electric as Larson and could easily earn an Oscar nomination for this role.
I do feel that the film‘s ending felt rushed. Jonathan Larson wrote Rent which went on to be a massively successful musical. He also tragically died before it made it to broadway. That is mentioned in quick passing narration. There’s more that could have been explored here but some of the biggest details of his life are glanced over. It’s an odd choice.
Despite the rushed ending, tick, tick…Boom! is an electric and engaging musical biopic bursting with creativity and a fantastic lead performance by Andrew Garfield.
My Rating: 8/10