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Tick, Tick… Boom! (2021)

Tick, Tick… Boom! is one of many film adaptations inspired by musicals and this one sheds light on the creative process and its struggles of the musical’s writer and subject, Jonathan Larson (Andrew Garfield). Larson was known for writing the musical Rent which is one of the most popular and loved by people across the world. What people may not know is how Larson struggled to make it big in the musical theatre world which is what Tick, Tick… Boom! explores. The musical follows Larson who is trying to get his new musical approved and funded by respected members in the Broadway community including figures like Stephen Sondheim (Bradley Whitford). The musical in itself is brilliant and acts as a fantastic tribute to the world of musical theatre and the people who helped build it to what it is now.

When deciding to adapt the musical, it seems only natural that Netflix would choose someone who is just as prolific in the musical theatre world and who else to choose than the incredibly talented Lin-Manuel Miranda. The mind behind In the Heights and Hamilton and songwriter for Moana and Encanto, Tick, Tick… Boom! marks Miranda’s directorial debut and he delivers, marking his talent behind the camera with a stunning debut. Miranda’s passion for the musical and its subject is evident and it comes across in how he captures Larson’s perspective of the world and the magic and imagination of musical theatre with contrasts of the reality that Larson is living as he struggles to afford his rent and bills and is losing friends to HIV and AIDS amidst the epidemic. Miranda transports us to early 1990s New York and combines the original musical format that sees Larson and his costars perform onstage and recite the stories in a traditional setting with stagings of the events to keep it equally gripping.

There is no doubt that this film belongs to Andrew Garfield who is captivating and perfect for the role of Larson. Arguably Garfield’s career best performance and one that is sure to bring him a lot of attention this award’s season, his portrayal of Larson feels well-rounded and fully realised. He doesn’t always make the smart choices but his intentions are pure as his passion for music and musical theatre thwarts his love for everything else and we get to see the rewards and consequences of this. We feel the elation as Larson gets closer to achieving his goals such as his promising interactions with Stephen Sondheim while also witnessing the losses and downfalls as he comes to terms with the deaths of his friends with scenes such as his emotional encounter with best friend Michael (Robin de Jesús) who has recently discovered that he is HIV-positive. Garfield is magnetic from the first shot to the last and makes use of every scene in between. Not only does he pull off the performance fantastically but his singing voice is brilliant as well which makes it a great watch.

Alexandra Shipp plays Jonathan’s girlfriend, Susan, who is a dancer looking for a stable job following an injury that has put a spanner in her career. It is clear that Susan loves Jonathan and appreciates his talent but when Jonathan begins to neglect Susan and disregard her needs and the decision regarding her offer to teach full-time which would result moving out of state. Where Garfield’s performance sees Jonathan’s head in the clouds, Shipp’s performance weighs him back down to reality which makes their pairing a perfect match. The scene in which Jonathan imagines Susan singing “Come to Your Senses” and Shipp’s performance perfectly conveys the pain that her character feels as she had no choice but to follow her path despite her love for Jonathan.

There are plenty of great supporting performances that allow Garfield to shine even more. These include Vanessa Hudgens as Jonathan’s costar and actress, Karessa, who has the role as the female protagonist in Larson’s musical, Superbia, that he is trying to get funded. Hudgens doesn’t have a lot of screentime but she makes the most of the time she does have. Her performance of “Come to Your Senses” which plays alongside Shipp’s is beautiful and although it plays up the performative aspect of the number more than Shipp’s which leans more into the emotion, it shows the ability that the song has to exist both as a tribute to Susan as a character and as a musical number.

Since the film is a musical, it is important to talk about the music. As expected with a Larson production, the musical numbers are fantastic and filled with plenty of nuance and emotion. Tick, Tick… Boom! not only includes songs about Jonathan’s perspective and struggles to write a song but there are also a couple of songs included from the musical that he is trying to complete within the film. The songs are mainly sung by Jonathan but there are plenty of numbers that incorporate other cast members. One such highlight is “Sunday” which sees Jonathan escape his job for a moment as he imagines a life where he can mingle among Broadway stars. Jonathan sings in the diner as the patrons are all Broadway stars, many who Miranda has previously worked with before such as Phillipa Soo and Renée Elise Goldsberry, and other Broadway heavyweights including Phylicia Rashad, and Bernadette Peters. Not only is this number filled with stars but the performance itself is packed full of passion as it laments on the dreaming a life that is worlds apart from the one that Jonathan leads.

In a year that has seen a lot of musical film adaptations released, Tick, Tick… Boom! does a great job of standing out from the crowd. This film marks Garfield stepping out of his usual dramatic comfort zone and shows that he can lead a musical while Miranda shows his talents as director as his vision has been perfectly realised. Miranda merges reality with fantasy as Larson’s world begins to turn and transform to the world inside his mind. With scenes like “Sunday”, this is a film that demands multiple viewings and shows Larson’s talent as a pioneering figure in musical figure and the interesting portrayal of himself including his flaws.

What did you think of Tick, Tick… Boom!? Let me know in the comments below!

Tick, Tick… Boom! is available to stream on Netflix now!

In the Heights (2021)

One of the biggest releases of the year so far is In the Heights. Based on the stage musical of the same name by Lin-Manuel Miranda, In the Heights follows the community of Washington Heights, a Latin dominated neighbourhood where everyone has dreams and does everything they can to achieve them. The protagonist of the film is shop owner, Usnavi, who dreams of returning to his native Dominican Republic one day and whose shop is hugely important to the community. As we explore the lives of those around him, we see the trials and tribulations that the Latin community faces against many issues including racism, increasing gentrification and basic human rights being compromised. The original stage musical first premiered in 2005 and went on Broadway in 2008, winning a slew of Tony’s and putting Lin-Manuel Miranda’s name on the map. The film is written by Quiara Alegría Hudes who also wrote the original book for the stage musical and directed by Jon M. Chu, In the Heights explores its subjects in a way that feels timeless and just as relevant today as it was back when it was first staged.

Although Hamilton may be the play that Miranda is known for among the masses, In the Heights was his first musical and was a huge success among theatre fans across the world. When listening to the music from both, it’s amazing to think that they were composed by the same man because of how different they are in style and tone. In the Heights is a celebration of Latin music, combining an array of cultural touches with contemporary US hip hop and rap. Each character has their own distinct type of song which gives the audience a sense of their personality. From Usnavi’s unpredictable raps to Nina’s lamenting ballads, each song sounds totally different from the other and yet it flows effortlessly. What is great about this film adaptation is that the songs have been rearranged and altered slightly to naturally fit in with the context of the film. A lot of musical film adaptations forget that film is an entirely different medium and it may not look static and unnatural. Due to the amount of rap and dialogue during the songs, alterations have been made to fit in properly with the medium and it makes it a more exciting watch as you don’t know what to expect. Some of the storylines had been changed as well to take away some negative events such as the looting of the store in order to give the film an overall positive vibe which allows it to work well as a feel-good summer film.

Anthony Ramos leads the film as Usnavi and has big shoes to fill (Miranda originated the role on Broadway) but does so with ease. Although we are getting a broad glimpse of life in Washington Heights, it is Usnavi’s storyline that chugs the film along so it was important to get the casting right. Ramos has more than proven himself capable having previously performed as Sonny on a previous regional tour as well as originating the role as John Laurens/Philip Hamilton in Hamilton. Ramos has a natural presence that makes his Usanvi instantly likeable. Even those who aren’t familiar with the musical will want to root for him and find out more.

In support, there is a great cast who help bring the beloved characters to life. Corey Hawkins and Olga Merediz as Benny and Abuela Claudia, respectively. Benny is Usnavi’s best friend who works in the local dispatch and is highly energetic with big dreams to become a successful businessman and someday run the dispatch himself. Hawkins brings that enthusiasm and charm needed as well as nailing the song “Benny’s Dispatch” which has a really difficult rap but he does this with ease. The friendship between Benny and Usnavi feels completely authentic and it’s clear that the actors had a great experience performing together. One of the original cast members on stage was Merediz who reprises her role as Abuela Claudia for the film. Claudia is the glue that holds the community together and her motto “Paciencia y Fe” is something that the community lives by, as well as being the name of her big number. The song follows Claudia’s life as a young girl from Cuba moving to New York with her mother and how they learned to adapt and survive in a completely different world. The sequence itself is beautifully directed and is one of the best numbers in the whole film. It is then followed by my personal favourite song, “Alabanza” which I think is one of the most beautiful songs in any musical and for the emotions of the song to come through, it relies on the influence of Claudia among the community and you’ll surely be in a lot of tears.

In the Heights is a phenomenal achievement that deserves to be shown on the big screen. Chu manages to replicate that vibrancy and spirit of the Washington Heights community and inject it with bold direction and stunning use of camerawork and colour. With a couple of Miranda related Easter eggs hidden in the film, it’s sure to be fun for theatre and film fans alike. A particular highlight is seeing Miranda play the role of Piragüero known fondly as the Piragua guy and his rivalry with the Mr. Softee Truck Driver who is played by Christopher Jackson (who originated the role of George Washington in Hamilton). Whether you are a fan of musicals or not, the story and its message are sure to resonate with you and leave an impact long after the credits have finished rolling.

What did you think about In the Heights? Let me know in the comments below!

In the Heights is available to view in cinemas now!