Lin to direct film adaptation of Tick Tick Boom - Page 7

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 11/19/21 at 5:21pm

I watched it earlier today. For his feature directorial debut, Lin-Manuel Miranda does a terrific job. He along with screenwriter Steven Levenson have very wisely chosen to have the story set around this framing device where Jonathan Larson is performing his rock monologue in front of an audience at New York Theatre Workshop with his friends Roger (Joshua Henry) and Karessa (Vanessa Hudgens). Which is a pretty clever nod to the origins of this musical. Editors Myron Kerstein and Andrew Weisblum brilliantly cut back and forth between the performance and the actual events Jonathan Larson tells in his story. The musical numbers Miranda visualizes with cinematographer Alice Brooks are stunning.

Not only does Andrew Garfield hold his own alongside the more experienced musical theatre performers in the cast, but his acting on display here is quite extraordinary. He gets to play with a variety of different emotions that range from energetic to anxious to relatable. He also shares some very moving moments with Alexandra Shipp and Robin De Jesús at different points in the film. Not to mention that Bradley Whitford’s performance as Stephen Sondheim is perfect. He doesn’t impersonate the legendary musical theatre songwriter, but he does capture the essence of him in terms of both how he looks and how he talks.

If you are a musical theatre fan like me, you’re definitely gonna get a whole lot out of this movie not just because of the subject, but also because a bunch of Broadway performers make small appearances throughout (especially in the ‘Sunday’ sequence). Though if you’re not as much into musical theatre, you should still find Tick, Tick…BOOM! to be a fascinating look at what it’s like to be a struggling artist.

Click Here for My Full Review

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 11/19/21 at 7:54pm

In the middle of watching right now... just had to pause after that dazzling "Sunday" sequence. It just warmed my heart to see so many gifted actors make cameos in that scene! The movie has been okay so far but I have a feeling this is where it really starts to take flight. 

Oh, and I may or may not have geeked out over the cameos in the BMI workshop scene before Sondheim walks in. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/19/21 at 8:01pm

I’m only halfway through it. I had to take the dog out so I’m sitting out here digesting the first half. The “Sunday” section had me bawling. Jonathan (The Artist) looking at Bernadette/Dot just as George does…my eyes are welling up just thinking about it.

[Rakesh Natarajan]

Posted: 11/19/21 at 8:17pm

Mike Costa said: "This is a beautiful tribute to Jonathan, no one could've done it better . With this Linn proves he not a two hit wonder but probably one of the greats.



"

I agree with most of this. I disagree with potentially calling Lin a two hit wonder before this movie. Personally, I loved the music for Moana, Hamilton, Bring It On, 21 Chump Street, and In the Heights (so at the least, I would call him a five hit wonder… which means that he’s probably one of the greats). Regardless, I do agree that his direction elevated the material and was ingenious. The movie was so great and so much of that is attributable to Lin’s direction. Anyone can tell that he had (1) a TON of respect for the source material and (2) an incredibly creative vision for the film adaptation. I was born over five years after Larson died; I knew that he was a brilliant composer, but some of his music fell flat for me because I didn’t live through any of the experiences that he did. I saw a local production of Tick, Tick, Boom and there were a couple of songs that I didn’t really relate to until I saw this movie. This movie (partially because of Miranda’s direction) definitely gave me a better appreciation of Larson’s work.

I also LOVED Andrew Garfield’s casting. He nailed almost all of Larson’s subtle mannerisms. I watched his performance of 30/90 at the same time as a video of Larson performing it and they were insanely similar.

I’ve always wanted to visit the Library of Congress to read Larson’s script for Superbia. The idea of the musical seems brilliant (I loved most of 1984 so getting an Orwellian rock musical seems incredible). The Superbia songs that’ve been released publicly over the years are among my favorite Larson songs. It’s great to hear some more of the show. I REALLY hope that one day, someone finishes the script for Superbia so that we can see a stage or film production (and after seeing this movie, I hope that Lin Manuel Miranda is attached to the project since he would probably be respectful of Larson’s vision). I wonder if there were any other songs from Superbia that were filmed (but cut).

Side note: does anyone have a complete list of all of the cameos? Did Raul Esparza or anyone from the Off Broadway production have a cameo in the film? I didn’t notice one but there were so many cameos that I probably missed some.

[Soozie]

Posted: 11/19/21 at 8:49pm

List, photos, bios of all the cameos...
https://slate.com/culture/2021/11/tick-tick-boom-movie-netflix-diner-cameos-broadway.html

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 11/19/21 at 9:06pm

I have nothing else to say but GO SEE THIS. tick, tick... BOOM! is mandatory viewing for a resilient musical theatre industry. It's hard to see how it can be topped. Bravo Miranda, Garfield, Shipp, Whitford, et al.

[sng]

Posted: 11/19/21 at 10:28pm

can anyone tell me if Sondheim's voicemail was real? It sounded like Sondheim and not Bradford's version. I haven't seen the stage show so idk if it's in the show.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/19/21 at 10:28pm

Well. That might just be one of the greatest movie musicals ever made. 

[DaveyG]

Posted: 11/19/21 at 11:32pm

sng said: "can anyone tell me if Sondheim's voicemail was real? It sounded like Sondheim and not Bradford's version. I haven't seen the stage show so idk if it's in the show."

The voicemail is the real Stephen Sondheim. He saw an early screening and didn’t think the dialogue in the voicemail was in his vernacular. He offered to rewrite it and record it himself. Lin said in an interview that since 45 minutes had passed since we hear Bradley Whitford speak, it wouldn’t be jarring. 
 

I think it’s just wonderful.

[HenryTDobson]

Posted: 11/19/21 at 11:34pm

This is an incredible film. Engaging, fun, emotional - it really has it all. Excellent performances from everyone. I can't wait to watch it again!!!

[thirtythirtyninety]

Posted: 11/20/21 at 1:12am

I’m speechless. It exceeded my very very high expectations. A dream come true.

 

This is everything I wanted from the RENT film

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 11/20/21 at 2:16am

Lin should be very proud.

[A Director]

Posted: 11/20/21 at 3:06am

It's a heartfelt, moving movie. You don't have to be a theatre geek to enjoy it.  Andrew is amazing. The rest of the cast is tops.

[broadwaybabywannabe2]

Posted: 11/20/21 at 8:16am

ok..i have to admit upfront, for whatever reasons i am no fan of the filmed RENT...having never seen the play on stage, that movie was so flat for me...BUT...

that being said i LOVED TICK TICK...BOOM...and has been stated here by many others, the 'Sunday' number brought tears to me eyes and such joy to see all those cameos...

is there anything Andrew Garfield cannot do???...the whole movie was an amazing movie musical...Lin Miranda did a great job and this movie had me from the very first scenes...

stay for the credits and see actual videos of Jon Larson...NOW i want to see RENT on stage!

[HogansHero]

Posted: 11/20/21 at 10:07am

+1 for all of the accolades. Excellent work all around and beyond all expectations. I saw it at the Jane Street and this enriches that tremendously.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/20/21 at 10:24am

Lin, if you see this - 

I’m as much a film nerd as I am a Theater nerd and I’m BEGGING you to try and get a Blu-Ray release for this with commentary and extra features on the making of the film as well as Jonathan’s legacy. 
 

 

[robbie_731]

Posted: 11/20/21 at 11:00am

Best chance of a Blu-ray release would be if it was selected to be part of the "Criterion Collection", like "Roma" "Marriage Story", and "The Irishman" (all "Netflix Originals").

Those all had bonus features on the Blu-ray releases.

Can't hurt to contact Netflix and Criterion ([e-mail] and [e-mail]) to show there is demand for it!

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/20/21 at 11:05am

Oh trust me, I know that. Lol

But it certainly Wouldn’t hurt for someone like Lin to try and get it done.

[Jimbo2]

Posted: 11/20/21 at 2:45pm

Love, love, loved it and have watched it 3 times already. Having seen the Off Broadway production on Jane Street numerous times this is beyond brilliant. Sunday is a scene that noone will ever forget.

I only wish Raul Esparaza, Jerry Dixon and Amy Spanger had guest cameos somewhere.

So thrilled that Lin Manuel Miranda has directed this movie so more people now are exposed to Jonathan's life, work and music to Tick, Tick, BOOM! 

Jimbo the guy formerly of lifecafe.com

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/20/21 at 7:35pm

But why is Bebe wearing lingerie at the Diner?

[pmensky]

Posted: 11/20/21 at 7:51pm

Jordan Catalano said: "But why is Bebe wearing lingerie at the Diner?"

Yeah, that was distracting. She and Chita looked a little out of place while the rest of them looked like New Yorkers at a diner at Sunday brunch.

[sng]

Posted: 11/20/21 at 8:18pm

looks like she's just having lunch then heads back to a matinee performance of Chicago

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 11/20/21 at 9:54pm

Just brilliant, loved it, I'm watching it again right now. This and In The Heights are the perfect ways to bring musicals to the screen. 

[binau]

Posted: 11/21/21 at 4:33am

And I thought the Sondheim references would be the pinnacle theatre references of this movie but bringing Bernadette herself BACK for the diner scene and not just passively as a guest in the background but paying homage to the original actor/character is absolutely overwhelming. LOOK AT THAT HAT, HE MADE A HAT TOO. It's 2021 and people are still making reference to this groundbreaking musical, role & performance almost 40 years later. THANK YOU LIN. 






 

Updated On: 11/21/21 at 04:33 AM

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 11/21/21 at 6:39am

binau said: "And I thought the Sondheim references would be the pinnacle theatre referencesof this movie but bringing Bernadette herself BACK for the diner scene and not just passively as a guest in the background but paying homage to the original actor/character is absolutely overwhelming. LOOK AT THAT HAT, HE MADE A HAT TOO. It's 2021 and people are still making reference to this groundbreaking musical, role & performance almost 40 years later. THANK YOU LIN.






"

This was but one of the many incredible reasons I fell in love with that "Sunday" sequence. I'm simply amazed I didn't start bawling my eyes out.