tick, tick…BOOM! Review
Reviewed my McNeill Mullikin
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed tick, tick…BOOM! Before I learned this film was being released, I was not familiar with Jonathan Larson, and musicals tend to be a hit or miss for me (usually a hit), so I did not know what to expect from this movie. There are many elements of this film I thoroughly enjoyed though, and I found it to be an extremely impressive directorial debut from Lin-Manuel Miranda.
tick, tick…BOOM! tells a very captivating story about the creative process through the perspective of a theater composer. During this story, we learn about the struggles Larson experienced as an artist as well as the struggles in his personal life. More importantly, though, tick, tick…BOOM! is ultimately about how Larson is able to accept his ambitions and discover a balance in life, despite having many unanswered questions.
It is no secret that Andrew Garfield is one of the most charismatic actors working today, and he gives, arguably, his best performance yet in this film. Garfield learned to sing and play piano for this role and he absolutely nailed every song. I am extremely surprised to see how talented of a musician he has become. Furthermore, he delivers some of the most emotional scenes of his career in this movie and each moment packs a punch, especially during the third act.
Obviously, tick, tick…BOOM! is a musical, and the music is phenomenal. The songs are incredibly catchy, and I think it easily has one of the best soundtracks of the year. Many musical numbers are highly engaging and filled with energy while others are emotive and powerful. The musical genre of the film never comes across as cheesy, so that is an automatic win in my book.
tick, tick…BOOM! is another fantastic addition to 2021, and I expect that it will pick up some Oscar nominations. Specifically, I believe Andrew Garfield will receive a best actor nomination, and I actually think this film will be nominated for best editing because the editing is very clever and polished. And one can only hope that it gets nominated for best picture. tick, tick…BOOM! is a very heartfelt, inventive, and inspirational musical about the creative process that is expressed through memorable music and will definitely win audiences over. I highly recommend checking this film out if you enjoy musicals and biopics.
