[Rating: Rock Fist Way Up]
Streaming on Netflix and in select theaters
“Stop worrying if your vision is new,
Let others make that decision,
They usually do.
You keep moving on.”
Sunday in the Park with George
In 1996, Off-Broadway and subsequently Broadway was rocked by a new musical that would once again change the trajectory of the “Great White Way.” The musical Rent opened and took a new spin on the musical world; a show for the MTV generation and a generation wanting more out of life than worrying about paying their rent. The musical’s composer Jonathan Larson however, did not live to see the magnitude the musical would carve on Broadway history.
Even before we learned to measure a year, Larson created another passion project of his own that, after premiering nearly 31 years ago as a one man play, tick, tick…BOOM! has finally made its way to the most convenient of streaming services in Netflix. Directed by jack-of-all-trades Lin-Manuel Miranda and featuring an award-worthy performance from Andrew Garfield as Larson, this film takes a look at what it took for Larson to try and make a name for himself in the final few years of his life. It also explores the complex relationship between a struggling artist and the strained relationships of those who love them when art gets in the way.
We are introduced to Larson through narration, telling us this is the story he wanted the world to know of his life, with some extra facts thrown in. As Garfield sits at his piano and begins the first song of the film, we’re then introduced to a colorful cast of characters that will guide the spirit of Larson through telling his story. Alongside Jon are his background singers Karessa (Vanessa Hudgens) and Roger (Joshua Henry). As the story within this “one man show” begins, we then meet Larson’s girlfriend Susan (Alexandra Shipp) and best friend Michael (Robin de Jesús). Though these two support Larson’s endeavors to be the “next Sondheim,” they know that he needs to take it easy on himself or else lose himself in his work that is only creating more stress and issues for him.
Jonathan knows he has what it takes to be the next big thing, but at the personal strain on his own relationships and missing those important moments in the life of others. A chance encounter with Stephen Sondheim himself (Bradley Whitford – in what is honestly the greatest Sondheim I’ve ever seen) only leads Jonathan to keep pushing himself to write the show of his dreams and not give up despite everybody around him telling him to stop before the tick, tick and BOOM get to him.
This is a film for both musical and non-musical lovers. The songs are uniquely inspiring and feel nothing like what Larson would later write with Rent. They are soulful and pay homage to some of the greatest works of Broadway including Sunday in the Park with George, which plays a huge role in the film in more ways than one. Manuel’s direction pulls out all the stops to create a love letter to Broadway, and along with Garfield’s incredible performance, feels like when I fell in love with Fosse’s All That Jazz for the first time.
At the essence of tick, tick…BOOM! is the artist himself. It is hard to keep the spark of inspiration aflame for an artist. It is something I thought I felt years ago and wanted to pursue, but through other paths in life, the artistic world was not for me. And that’s okay! With this film, I felt more inclined to understand that the world is hard and sometimes deals you shitty hands, but we just have to keep moving on. Jonathan Larson’s life was cut all too short. Rent has since closed on Broadway but has become a favorite with millions around the world as a call to live a carefree life of Bohemia. With this new film, the life of the artist shines through with both the highs and lows of what it takes to make a name for yourself despite the world sometimes pushing you down.
Christian Ramos is a classic film fan, having had the dream to host Turner Classic Movies for years now. He also has a large amount of Oscar trivia in his head, remembers dressing as Groucho Marx one Halloween, and cherishes the moment Julianne Moore liked his tweet.
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