Alexandra Shipp brings so much gravitas and heart to Susan that we can honestly see both sides of the problems in their relationship. Vanessa Hudgens continues to build her impressive post-HSM musical career. Broadway veteran Robin de Jesus lends an incredible amount of charm and humor to Larson’s best friend Michael. The rest of the cast is equally up to matching Garfield though. If the Oscars aren’t in his future, there will be a great injustice done. Listen to his soaring belt on the high notes of “30/90” and contrast it with the soft vulnerability of the emotional “Why” and you can see just how much of an accomplishment this performance is. A mountain that Garfield seemingly climbs with great ease. Larson’s music was already written for the higher register and this part in particular is a mountain vocally. And for those that wonder, yes, the kid has some serious singing chops. Garfield so perfectly encapsulates the manic energy and jovial persona of Larson that it truly is one of those examples of an actor completely fading into the character. Garfield has over the years steadily turned himself from bright new star to legitimate acting powerhouse. The performances are fantastic all-around but not enough praise can be given to the leading man. MACALL POLAY/NETFLIX © 2021/MACALL POLAY/NETFLIX © 2021 tick, tick.BOOM! (L-R) ANDREW GARFIELD as JONATHAN LARSON in tick, tick.BOOM!. But they also still get the little bits of personality, such as during the most emotional part of the story, that reminds us these aren’t just avatars but characters in their own right. This trio does so well at presenting the music in the rock concert style we immediately want to hear them do more and more. They’re played by Broadway vets Joshua Henry and Vanessa Hudgens. Jon is joined onstage by two other singers to help play the narrative characters. It helps the audience immensely in making the music make sense. It reminds me of the way in which Rob Marshall framed all of the musical action in Chicago as happening inside Roxie’s head as opposed to simply out-of-nowhere. Thus the narrative action is still being narrated to us by Jon, but in a way that “makes sense” to the common movie-going audience. In the film, Miranda morphs this style by presenting the music as the real-life concert Larson performed in 1990. In the stage version, the story is presented in the standard musical narrative way except narrated in real time directly to the audience from Jon. On film, compelling reasons are very necessary and can make or break a movie musical critically. Some just have too hard a time with the suspension of disbelief for why a character is singing their thoughts all of a sudden. It’s a hurdle that many a movie musical cannot overcome. The true genius of the story here is the way in which Miranda frames the musical action. Macall Polay/NETFLIX/Macall Polay/NETFLIX TICK, TICK…BOOM! (L-R) Andrew Garfield as Jonathan Larson, Alexandra Shipp as Susan in TICK, TICK…BOOM! Photo Credit: Macall Polay/NETFLIX ©2021 Cheering him on is his roommate and best friend Michael (Robin de Jesus), who has given up his acting hopes for a high-paying advertising job, and Susan (Alexandra Shipp) his long-suffering but supportive girlfriend. He’s hoping this workshop leads to the show being produced which will fulfill his dream and let him finally quit his job at the Moondance Diner. The story is simple enough: young Jonathan Larson (an Oscar-worthy Andrew Garfield) is mere days away from the workshop for his musical Superbia which he has been writing for the last eight years. If that seems a little too hyperbolic, I think we can all at least agree that it has a claim to that crown. It’s with that context in mind that I can honestly tell you Lin Manuel Miranda’s adaptation of Larson's autobiographical (and most prominent work aside from RENT) musical is not only one of the best films of the year, but maybe, just maybe, one of the best movie musicals we’ve ever seen. I can trace so many of the decisions in my life to what hearing his music for the first time awoke in my head and heart. And it was all because of Larson, the enigmatic composer who would never get to see his masterpiece fully realized. I was a modest fan of musicals before, but after that performance my love was solidified. I still remember so vividly the first time I saw RENT and how it literally changed everything for me. I’ll get it out of the way right off the bat: Jonathan Larson has, for a very long time, been a sacred figure to me.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |