Tick...Tick...Boom!
Tick...Tick...Boom!
Starring Andrew Garfield, Alexandra Shipp, Robin de Jesus, Vanessa Hudgens
Directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda
Jonathan Larson (Andrew Garfield) is about to turn thirty, and feels like he hasn't accomplished anything in his life. He's been working on his musical Superbia for years, and hasn't even finished the song for his main character, despite the day fast approaching for his workshop, and his struggle creates a strain between him and his girlfriend Susan (Alexandra Shipp). Meanwhile his best friend Michael (Robin de Jesus) just got a successful career job and moves out of their dinky apartment, he's working as a waiter at a local diner, and his other friend Freddy (Ben Levi Ross) is in the hospital with AIDS - a disease that led to the deaths of three of Jonathan's friends all under the age of thirty. As Jonathan struggles to make his dreams a reality, he loses sight of the people around him, feeling that his life is quickly ending, but finding out that it could just be starting as he starts writing about the things that mean the most to him.
Jonathan Larson was a rebel in the world of theater writers in that he dared to give a voice to the voiceless in his generation - AIDS victims - with his multiple Tony-award winning musical "Rent" (a musical that, sadly, he never got to see, as he passed away from an aortic dissection one day before it premiered), a story that hit close to home for him as he witnessed several friends pass away from the deadly disease, and endured the homophobic slurs from politicians and religious leaders of the time (even though he was straight, he was a strong advocate for the LGBTQ community). "Tick...Tick...Boom!" is not the story of how he came to write "Rent" (although you can draw parallels between the musical and the movie), but rather how he came to find his voice in a world of people yelling all around him. It's a story of perseverance and the will to see your dreams come to life, and proving that it's not always a smooth, easy ride to the top.
While the film is an autobiographical story, there's several musical numbers thrown in - all written by Larson - that's reminiscent of Elton John's biopic "Rocketman," and here they work to tremendous effect. Some moments Larson is singing songs about sugar at the diner he works at, and others he's telling an emotional story of how he and his best friend Michael grew up together. Most of this is told through his one-man play which is the same name as the film, where he stands on stage and tells a story through comedy, music, and pathos that rivals some of the best Broadway plays out there, with the help of a small band and his friends Roger and Karessa on vocals. You can sense the immense talent that this man possessed in his unique lyrics and powerful storytelling, culminating in "Louder Than Words," where he ponders the thoughts of the downtrodden: "Why would we rather put ourselves through hell than sleep alone at night? Why do we follow leaders who never lead? Why does it take a catastrophe to start a revolution? If we're so free, tell me why so many people bleed? Cages or wings, which do you prefer? Ask the birds." The film soars with epic tales like this, crafting an ebb and flow of humor and heartbreak that'll have you laughing tears of joy one minute then sobbing in despair the next, before shedding tears of triumphant exuberance. Essentially, make sure you got tissues nearby, because the emotions will grab hold of you and will leave a lasting impact long after the film ends.
Andrew Garfield proves that he's more than just Spider-Man here, as he fully imbues the essence of Jonathan Larson in his performance, and easily gives his best work to date. This Oscar-nominated actor should have no problems garnering another nomination here, and I wouldn't be surprised if he won, because he delivered a transcendent performance and showcased his singing abilities for the first time (humorously, while he was casting the film, Lin-Manuel Miranda asked a mutual friend of his and Garfield if he could sing, and the friend said he had "the voice of an angel," and after Miranda left the friend called Garfield and asked if he could sing). Andrew Garfield spent a year training his voice to sing the songs himself, and his friend's prophecy came true - he truly has the voice of an angel. It's grunge and subdued at the same time, unique and compelling, and firmly establishes his character more than if he had just lip-synced to someone else singing. You feel the despair and worry in Garfield's face as his character worries that he'll never be a success like his heroes, and the struggles he faces in trying to make his dreams a reality, but never giving up. Even when everything is falling apart around him, even when it seems that he'll never land a hit, he keeps writing and telling a story that'll be the voice of a generation.
The supporting characters around him all also add to the emotional depth of the story. Alexandra Shipp is more than just the longsuffering girlfriend, but also has a voice of her own that's chill-inducing, especially in the musical number she shares with Vanessa Hudgens, which I feel is the best of the lot ("Come to Your Senses"). Robin de Jesus plays Larson's best friend Michael, a man who also had dreams and passions but whom Larson feels gave them up to be a lucrative advertising executive, but de Jesus proves there's more to Michael than meets the eye, and becomes an unforgettable character in the film. Joshua Henry and Vanessa Hudgens star as two of Jonathan's friends who perform in his musical Superbia as well as Tick...Tick...Boom! and serve as the nurturing, empathetic people in his life who continually push him forward to follow his dreams.
This is Lin-Manuel Miranda's directorial debut, and if this film is any indication, he's well on his way to being a true renaissance man, someone who turns everything he touches to gold., Not only is he the voice of the Latinx community, but he's also in the same vein as Larson with having a compelling, beautiful, thoughtful mind that brings the stories of the unheard to life, allowing the masses to hear their cries through the noise. Everything he does, he does with heart behind it, and you can feel the bleeding heart of the story in each frame you see, crowning in an unforgettable movie experience that, again, will stick with you long after it ends.
By blending a true-life story of one of the most powerful voices silenced too soon with the endearing power of the human spirit with catchy songs and an eternal presence, "Tick...Tick...Boom!" is one of those films that truly needs to be seen to be appreciated.
The Score: A+
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