We confidently declare that "Tick, Tick... Boom!" is the best musical of the year. Let's break down why and what the atmosphere of nineties America has to do with it.

Synopsis

Jon Larson (Andrew Garfield) has been writing his big musical for eight years, in between working as a waiter in a diner and watching dance performances by his girlfriend Susan (Alexandra Shipp). Finally, luck smiles on him – he gets a chance to present his work-in-progress to leading Broadway producers.

The situation is complicated by the fact that Susan is planning to move for a teaching job and wants Jon to join her. Now Jon needs to find funding, prepare a new song for the presentation, and reach a compromise in their relationship – all against the backdrop of the escalating AIDS epidemic...

"Tick, Tick... Boom!" as a Love Song to Broadway

It's easy to see why actor and composer Lin-Manuel Miranda chose "Tick, Tick... Boom!" for his directorial debut – the autobiographical (albeit embellished) work of Jonathan Larson. Both authors worked for years on their magnum opuses (Larson on "Rent", Miranda on "Hamilton") and received Tony and Pulitzer prizes for their creations, with Larson posthumously.

Throughout the film, I couldn't shake the feeling that despite its biographical nature, Miranda was filming about himself and his own feelings – and he approached the adaptation with utmost responsibility, adding several additional facts from Larson's real life. This blend added warmth and sincerity to "Tick, Tick... Boom!"

I want to highlight one scene roughly in the middle of the film, which is a treat for the eyes of any Broadway fan. It features not only an extremely funny song but also a huge number of cameos from renowned theater actors: André De Shields ("Hadestown"), Phillipa Soo and Renée Elise Goldsberry ("Hamilton"), legends Joel Grey ("Cabaret") and Bernadette Peters (more productions than you can imagine), Lin-Manuel himself – and these are just the ones I recognized off the bat.

Acting

Speaking of actors – there's plenty to say. While the supporting actors of "Tick, Tick... Boom!" do an excellent job (especially Shipp and Lin-Manuel Miranda's friend Robin de Jesús), two performances stand out, shining like diamonds in the sunlight.

The first is undoubtedly Andrew Garfield. Garfield completely immersed himself in his character – not to mention that his vocal talent is astonishing. The chemistry between the director and the lead actor is visible to the naked eye. It takes courage to trust a debut director the way Andrew did. Netflix's Oscar nomination for Garfield is absolutely deserved; we'll be rooting for him.

The second is the small role of Bradley Whitford, who in just a couple of episodes showed us the great and mighty Stephen Sondheim, one of the best music and lyric writers the world has ever seen. The scariest part is that you might never notice it, but the actor so accurately conveyed his very characteristic gestures and intonations that you want to applaud him.

Historical Background

What sets "Tick, Tick... Boom!" apart from any other work about a tormented and misunderstood creator?

First, the historical context itself, which plays an extremely important role – especially when you know that Larson truly experienced the loss of friends to HIV and AIDS, which raged in New York in the eighties and nineties. This made such an impression on the still-young author that it became one of the main themes of the musical "Rent," which is still periodically staged in some theater.

Second, the film is not afraid to mention real people, which adds authenticity to what's happening. If you didn't catch it, this is a lead-in to a brief discussion about Stephen Sondheim, who is an active character in the film, recorded a voice cameo for it, and left us just yesterday, November 26, 2021, at the age of 91 (the author of this article is in immense mourning).

Sondheim had an immeasurable influence on modern Broadway, was a mentor to Larson in his youth, and successfully collaborated with Lin-Manuel Miranda. You may know his magnificent works "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" and "Into the Woods". His presence in the film is like a farewell bow for all those who love and respect his work. Yet another irreplaceable loss this year.

Conclusion

We haven't said anything about the songs yet. They are wonderful. They are beautifully woven into the narrative. They help both move the plot forward and provide context for the characters' emotional states. They, and how "Tick, Tick... Boom!" handles them, make this the best musical of the past year. Hell, remembering "Les Misérables" and "Cats" – the best in several years.

For all musical lovers and fans of just good, kind, and bright cinema – a must-watch.