Approaching 30, a Hopeful Playwright Speeds Up His Strive for Success

Andrew Garfield in "Tick, Tick...Boom!"
Photo Credit: RottenTomatoes.com

There’s a moment in director Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical drama, “Tick, Tick…Boom!” where playwright Jonathan Larson’s (Andrew Garfield) agent, Rosa Stevens (Judith Light), tells him to try “writing about what you know.”  While that advice would lead him to bring about the blockbuster musical, “Rent,” he would first use it to create a semi-autobiographical musical, which serves as the source material for Miranda’s film.  I didn’t know anything about Larson’s story before viewing this movie, but what I experienced was a story of success that was as heartbreaking as it was inspiring, a musical that bursts with tears and energy.

In 1990, Jonathan Larson is working as a waiter and living in New York City, all while worrying that his life isn’t going in the direction he wants, acknowledging that he hasn’t achieved his dream as his 30th birthday approaches.  Motivated by the sense of time racing by, Jonathan works day and night to find success on Broadway, all while trying to hold onto his relationship with his girlfriend, Susan (Alexandra Shipp), and losing friends to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Garfield exudes musical theatricality in one of his finest performances to date.  He displays a boundless vigor as we’re introduced to his character in the opening number, “30/90,” absorbing us right away in Larson’s journey.  Garfield inhabits the go-for-broke, nothing-will-stand-in-my-way commitment to reaching his artistic goal, but he also shows plenty of poignancy when he’s faced with having to choose whether to focus on his creative endeavors or focus on his loved ones.  We see that struggle as Larson tries to make everyone happy, creating a layer of sadness as he faces disconnections with those whom he loves.  This is a performance in a whole different field from what we’ve seen Garfield do before, and he captivates you with his Broadway-on-film talents.

The supporting characters that populate Larson’s life create an ensemble of beautiful performances.  As Larson’s girlfriend, Shipp portrays someone who, just like her boyfriend, is finding a challenge in maintaining their relationship in the middle of establishing a career in the performing arts.  Vanessa Hudgens and Joshua Henry, who portray Larson’s friends Karessa and Roger, deliver an exuberance that speaks to their experience as Broadway performers.  However, the standout is Robin de Jesús, who portrays Larson’s best friend, Michael.  Two of the best scenes in the movie are ones that involve de Jesús because he has such a powerful interplay with Garfield, and the passion that he uses in these scenes to try to get through to Garfield’s character will give you chills with how much emotion he can elicit in just these two scenes.

The screenplay by Steven Levenson has Larson performing “Tick, Tick…Boom!” as a frame story and goes between that and the main story of him trying to become an established playwright.  With us having the chance to see Larson’s musical performed, we witness how much of his experiences impacted the stories that he would tell on stage, going back to the notion of writing what you know.  Between Larson’s quest for musical greatness, the troubled relationships with those closest to him, and the backdrop of the HIV/AIDS crisis, we’re given enough time with each of these factors of Larson’s story to comprehend their significance in his life.  The dialogue and the songs provide a beautiful blend that give us an insight into what Larson’s experiencing and what he wishes to achieve, making this a wonderful story that celebrates artistic ambition, but doesn’t shy away from the heartbreak that comes along the way.

With this being Miranda’s feature-directorial debut, he channels his extensive Broadway history and makes it fit the cinematic format.  He collaborates with cinematographer Alice Brooks and editors Myron Kerstein and Andrew Weisblum, the former two of whom worked on the film adaptation of Miranda’s musical, “In the Heights,” earlier this year.  Through their combined work, they create stunning musical sequences that, while they play well at home, make me wish I had seen this film on a bigger screen.  That’s not to disparage movie, but is instead a compliment to the superb work that’s put into these scenes.  With the lyrical sequences like “30/90,” “Sunday,” “Therapy,” “Come to Your Senses,” “Why,” and “Louder Than Words,” you learn so much in terms of Larson’s life, as shown in a whirlwind of laughs and tears that Miranda presents as a testament to the thrill and power of theater.

“Tick, Tick…Boom!” is an exhilarating example of how, when it comes to time, all that matters is what you make of it.  And, no matter your age, the possibility for greatness is never out of reach.

Grade: A