THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS OF THE DISCUSSED FILM. READERS DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
The best thing about musicals is that they inspire people. As the 2020s arrived, you feel the greatest inspiration through Tick, Tick...Boom!
PLOT
The film is based on semi autobiographical musical of the same name, sharing the story of playwright Jonathan Larson. In 1990, he is working on a musical workshop at Playwrights Horizons for his musical Superbia, one he's been working on for eight years. Between this, he is juggling work at Moondance Diner, trying to make ends meet. After having a party with his group of friends, his girlfriend Susan got offered a teaching job in the Berkshires and asks him to come with her. He doesn't give a straight answer, as he remains focused on getting the workshop done. His friend Michael used to act and has now made success out of advertising. After getting a new apartment in the Upper East Side, he offers him a job in his company to get some extra cash, but he turns him down. Jonathan is told by both Playwrights Horizons director Ira Weitzman (Jonathan Marc Sherman) & composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim (Bradley Whitford) that he needs a new song for Superbia. With only a week left until his next workshop presentation, he tries calling his agent Rosa Stevens (Judith Light) to invite Sondheim, until cold calling him himself when unable to reach her. Susan does continue to pressure him to move to the Berkshires, but he doesn't budge an answer as he maintains his focus on writing the last song. The day after that, he finds out his co worker Freddy (Ben Levi Ross) has been hospitalized due to his HIV diagnosis. This worries him as many friends have died in the HIV epidemic. Susan then decides to break up with him for his indecisiveness. This does inspire him to write the last song in time. On the day of the workshop, Michael, Rosa and Sondheim attend to see his new song, as well as the rest of the musical. His new song is called "Come to Your Senses" and when his lead singer Karessa Johnson sings it, he imagines Susan singing it instead, missing her deeply. Although Superbia gets a positive reception, no offers are made. Meaning Jonathan has to keep writing more until an offer comes around. He goes to Michael and panics, but his friend encourages him to keep following his dream after enjoying Superbia. He even confesses to be HIV positive, telling him to keep trying before it's too late. Realizing his career obsession has cost him Susan and jeopardized his friendship, he wonders if it was all worth it, until reconciling with Michael. The next morning, he turns 30 years old and gets a call from Sondheim who wants to talk more about Superbia, which lifts his spirits. When his birthday party is hosted at Moondance Diner, he is satisfied to hear that Freddy is getting discharged from the hospital. Susan visits him and although they don't get back together, they reconcile when she gifts him blank sheet music paper for his next musical. Jonathan would create Rent and it became a success in 1996, but he would die from an undiagnosed aortic aneurysm before it's Off-Broadway premiere. The film ends in 1992, Susan seeing Jonathan perform one of his last shows at New York Theatre Workshop.
THOUGHTS
I love Rent deeply and when I heard about this, I knew it was something I had to see immediately. And boy, did I love it when it dropped on Netflix. Director Lin Manuel Miranda and writer Steven Levenson knew this was something special to share. And thankfully, they handled it well. With each song and every moment that happens in between, it's hard not to be amazed with what is shown. This one really got to me emotionally because you learn such a powerful message: Always chase your dreams, but don't take people for granted, especially those who care about you. You wouldn't get this without the electric Oscar nominated performance of Andrew Garfield. He portrays Jonathan Larson as a passionate and determined person. He refused to slow down because he was afraid to be behind. Sadly, his drive would push away the people he loved. Realizing that he overdid it, he had to take a step back and accept that success can't happen overnight. He may have not lived to see his work become a success, but if he did, there would be no argument that he would make more content and he would've been the very best in the business. Of all the songs I enjoyed the most from Garfield, it is gonna the closing track 'Louder than Words'. Although I feel so joyful when hearing ‘30/90’ and 'Boho Days', this one got to me because it explored the self conflict he was going through to get it right, which I thought was mesmerizing to hear. Although Garfield is the center of attention, the supporting cast is able to stand out as well. I truly believe Robin de Jesus was mesmerizing as Michael. He depicts him as someone who is aware that he is living on borrowed time and is doing his best to enjoy it while he can. Hence, he proves to be a good friend to Jonathan every time he looks out for him with job offers because he refuses to see him hit rock bottom and give up. When he sings 'Real Life', it stings because it relates to anyone who is struggling and has a hard time grasping with reality. And lastly, Alexandra Shipp gives her best performance as Susan. She presents her as someone who really loved Jonathan, but couldn't put up with him putting her aside to pursue his dreams. She may have loved him for respecting his craft, but she did the right thing not going back to him because she couldn't risk getting hurt again. In my opinion, the best song goes to 'Come to Your Senses', in which Shipp sings beautifully alongside Vanessa Hudgens' Karessa. This one stands out the most because it is the true turning point where Jonathan first realizes he has to clear his mind and had he done that beforehand, he wouldn't have lost her. Jonathan wrote it to cope with the break up and when he hears Karessa sing it aloud, he realizes that he messed things up with her. All of this is proof of how music can elevate the story so well, because they can tell it. In conclusion, Tick, Tick...Boom! is a musical that warmed my heart, being a love letter to an incredible, talented figure that left the world too soon. If you love Rent like I do, see this when you can.
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