Posted: 11/21/21 at 6:47am
I wonder if the scene was also partly inspired by Pennies From Heaven
Posted: 11/21/21 at 8:04am
This seems like an opportune time to note that, as the film's trailer aptly points out, Jonathan Larson was so much more than Rent, or for that matter tick... tick... BOOM!
If you want a Sondheim and Co.-like definitive history of his works and a glimpse into his life that walked so this movie could run, get Boho Days by J. Collis (former BWW contributor) from most online retailers, Amazon included.
Did you know he wrote a sea shanty for a Ridley Scott movie? That he created a pilot for a children's TV show a la Sesame Street? That neither Rent nor tick was even the best score in his arsenal?
Buy the book. Give it a look. And learn more about what his sad death took.
Posted: 11/21/21 at 2:01pm
I’ve not had a chance to watch this yet, but from a commercial perspective I thought the movie would be doing better given the Andrew Garfield and Lin Manuel connection, and a lot of promotion, but it’s only no. 7 in movies on US Netflix, and doesn’t seem to have made the top 10 in any other countries from what I can see. Not that Netflix will be bothered if it gets awards nods.
I forget sometimes that Broadway is still pretty niche. For me it kind of shows the problems I think a lot of shows have and will have going forward on Broadway. I totally get that shows need to be more inclusive and diverse, and that creatives want to be telling meaningful stories, but at the end of the day, if you’re not doing that whilst also appealing to the masses shows are going to continue to struggle.
Posted: 11/21/21 at 2:31pm
pmensky said: "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."
I thought that was the point!
Everyone’s gasping about the cameos but it’s not just who is in the scene, it’s more about why they’re in it. Each cameo is dressed as the musical character that made them famous/that they’re most recognized for. Phillipa and Renee are are the Schuyler sisters; Bernadette is Dot; Beth Is Alison; Adam, Daphne and Wilson are bums; etc. Just like the characters in George’s painting coming to life, these musical theater characters are coming to life in Jonathan’s head. It’s absolute genius.
Updated On: 11/21/21 at 02:31 PM
Posted: 11/21/21 at 3:26pm
“Each cameo is dressed as the musical character that made them famous/that they’re most recognized for.”
I mean, that’s just not accurate. Stokes, Andre de Shields, Joel Grey, Chuck Cooper, Phylicia Rashad - they’re not dressed as characters. And Phillipa and Renee aren’t dressed as The Schuyler Sisters. They are TOGETHER in the scene because of that and it’s awesome but they’re not dressed as/representing those characters. Besides, that musical came out YEARS after Jonathan died - it would never be “in his head”.
And Adam/Daphne/Wilson were never “bums” in Rent and they’re CERTAINLY not dressed in the costumes that “made them famous” - each of those 3 has a distinct costume from that show that’s instantly recognizable to musical theater people. And none of them are “bums”.
Posted: 11/21/21 at 3:29pm
Phillipa and Renee may not be wearing their actual costumes, but look at the color palettes. Their clothing is a very strong nod to their iconic Hamilton dresses.
Posted: 11/21/21 at 4:01pm
Ok maybe but referencing a musical that wouldn’t exist for a quarter of a century is a real reach.
Posted: 11/21/21 at 5:02pm
I disagree completely. I think these musicals were specifically being referenced.
The actors from Rent are still dressed as an ode to the show. Renee and Phillipa are in coral and green. Brian Stokes is in a suit not unlike Colehouse’s. All of this was done with purpose. It’s all too perfect to be a coincidence. So yes I misspoke and they’re not all characters in the literal sense but they’re certainly representations of these characters and shows. But we can let Lin himself speak to all that went into Sunday.
Updated On: 11/21/21 at 05:02 PM
Posted: 11/21/21 at 5:12pm
I wonder if Andrew could get an Oscar nomination and maybe a couple of other nominations, such as screenplay and direction. I am just so shocked at how well this movie has turned out and how much layers/depth they found in this show that was not immediately obvious to me at least until now.
Updated On: 11/21/21 at 05:12 PM
Posted: 11/21/21 at 6:00pm
binau said: "I wonder if Andrew could get an Oscar nomination and maybe a couple of other nominations, such as screenplay and direction. I am just so shocked and how well this movie has turned out and how much layers/depth they found in this show that was not immediately obvious to me at least until now."
It would be the shock of the century if Garfield is not at least nominated. Robin de Jesus also should be nominated and I would hope he has a fighting chance to be nominated.
Posted: 11/21/21 at 6:02pm
MyLife said: "I disagree completely. I think these musicals were specifically being referenced.
The actors from Rent are still dressed as an ode to the show. Renee and Phillipa are in coral and green. Brian Stokes is in a suit not unlike Colehouse’s. All of this was done with purpose. It’s all too perfect to be a coincidence. So yes I misspoke and they’re not all characters in the literal sense but they’re certainly representations of these characters and shows. But we can let Lin himself speak to all that went into Sunday.
"
Definitely curious to hear Lin's take on this scene because I don't believe the costumes were intentional. With the exception of Bebe and Beth, all the other costumes were not clearly defined. Yes, Brian Stokes had a suit but come on, it was a basic suit. Regardless, this scene was gorgeous. I've watched it a good dozen times and get teary eyed every single time.
Posted: 11/21/21 at 6:05pm
binau said: "I wonder if Andrew could get an Oscar nomination and maybe a couple of other nominations, such as screenplay and direction. I am just so shocked and how well this movie has turned out and how much layers/depth they found in this show that was not immediately obvious to me at least until now."
It's an incredibly crowded year for films, but I do think Garfield has a strong chance of being nominated. Screenplay would be their next best bet. If I were a voter, I would give nominations to Garfield, de Jesus, screenplay, direction, and costumes. And best film, of course!
Posted: 11/21/21 at 6:21pm
HenryTDobson said: "MyLife said: "I disagree completely. I think these musicals were specifically being referenced.
The actors from Rent are still dressed as an ode to the show. Renee and Phillipa are in coral and green. Brian Stokes is in a suit not unlike Colehouse’s. All of this was done with purpose. It’s all too perfect to be a coincidence. So yes I misspoke and they’re not all characters in the literal sense but they’re certainly representations of these characters and shows. But we can let Lin himself speak to all that went into Sunday.
"
Definitely curious to hear Lin's take on this scene because I don't believe the costumes were intentional. With the exception of Bebe and Beth, all the other costumes were not clearly defined. Yes, Brian Stokes had a suit but come on, it was a basic suit. Regardless, this scene was gorgeous. I've watched it a good dozen times and get teary eyed every single time."
Bernadette’s hat with the flower is also too close to Dot’s to be a coincidence in my opinion. Haha
Posted: 11/21/21 at 6:33pm
Bernadette is the ONLY one in that group dressed as an homage to a character which is an earned reference after the scene watching “Sunday In the Park”. Everything else y’all are REACHING with.
Posted: 11/21/21 at 6:34pm
forgetregret said: "Phillipa and Renee may not be wearing their actual costumes, but look at the color palettes. Their clothing is a very strong nod to their iconic Hamilton dresses."
...and i am surprised no one has mentioned when Renee and Phillipa are shown, there is a moment when they hold each others hands up in the air like they did in the SCHUYLER SISTERS number in Hamilton...a specific ode to that moment in that musical for sure...i noticed this in my 2nd viewing...between all the tears i was shedding yet again...
Updated On: 11/21/21 at 06:34 PM
Posted: 11/21/21 at 6:57pm
Already Oscar award buzz is alive and hot right now... DAILY VARIETY already has "tick tick...BOOM" one of 10 films for BEST PICTURE, also top 5 for BEST ACTOR & BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR...Lin Manuel Miranda is listed as a "top tier" possibility for BEST DIRECTOR, and the adapted screenplay is also list as a "top tier" possibility...
EXCITING TIMES!!
Posted: 11/21/21 at 8:31pm
Loved every second of this. Another great New York movie. Garfield was so good...cannot imagine him not winning awards. Those cameos were so great. I thought it was brilliant casting Danny Burstein and Judy Kuhn as Jonathan's parents. Just perfect.
Posted: 11/21/21 at 8:48pm
Jordan Catalano said: "Everything else y’all are REACHING with."
Is it "y'all" who are doing the reaching? Or is it LMM?
Posted: 11/21/21 at 8:54pm
No, I think Lin did it exactly right.
Posted: 11/21/21 at 9:13pm
So where was Joel Grey’s tuxedo, or even just a bow tie? Stokes was wearing a suit. Sometimes a suit is just meant to be a suit. I agree that there is some serious reaching going on here.
Updated On: 11/21/21 at 09:13 PM
Posted: 11/21/21 at 10:03pm
MyLife said: "I disagree completely. I think these musicals were specifically being referenced.
The actors from Rent are still dressed as an ode to the show. .
Or perhaps the actors from Rent are dressed like New Yorkers living in the East Village in the winter of 1990?
Posted: 11/21/21 at 10:08pm
I think the cameos in the "Sunday" scene have less to do with emulating the specific characters they play than they have to do with what came after Larson. You have actors from Hadestown, Fun Home, Hamilton, all shows that you could argue wouldn't exist in their current form without the innovations of Rent.
Whereas the song is Larson paying a tribute to one of his inspirations, the staging in the film is the talent of the future paying tribute to Larson.
Posted: 11/21/21 at 10:21pm
forgetregret said: "Phillipa and Renee may not be wearing their actual costumes, but look at the color palettes. Their clothing is a very strong nod to their iconic Hamilton dresses."
Their headbands, in particular.
Posted: 11/21/21 at 10:30pm
Lin-Manuel sends *another* life preserver to 10 year old theater queens of every gender. You never know *what* production is going to make a bunch of isolated kids somewhere say, "Oh! THOSE are my people!," but I can see this doing it easily.
Posted: 11/21/21 at 10:34pm
Alex Kulak2 said: "I think the cameos in the "Sunday" scene have less to do with emulating the specific characters they play than they have to do with what came after Larson.You have actors fromHadestown, Fun Home, Hamilton,all shows that you could argue wouldn't exist in their current form without the innovations ofRent.
It’s a nice sentiment, but I don’t think theatre fans associate actors like Phylicia Rashad, Andre De Shields, Joel Grey, or Chita Rivera with shows that came after Larson. I think the truth is that Miranda probably made a list of his own favorite, “legends” and those who were available to shoot that day were in the scene.
