Tick, Tick... Boom! (2021)
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A struggling composer faces a ticking clock as he tries to create a masterpiece before his 30th birthday.
The story
In 1990, Jonathan Larson is a musician and waiter in New York City who is struggling to find success in the theater industry. As his 30th birthday approaches, he feels an intense pressure to succeed, viewing an upcoming workshop for his musical, Superbia, as his final opportunity. While juggling his career ambitions, he navigates complex relationships with his girlfriend Susan and his best friend Michael, both of whom are dealing with the realities of the AIDS crisis. The film follows Jonathan's frantic, creative journey as he attempts to write a new song and secure his future in the arts before his time runs out.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
The film follows Jonathan Larson, a musician in New York City in the early 1990s. He is preparing for a workshop of his musical, Superbia, and feels a desperate need to succeed before his 30th birthday. The narrative is framed by a 1992 performance of his rock monologue, Tick, Tick... Boom!. As he works at the Moondance Diner, he faces pressure from his producer to write a new song and faces conflicting advice from his friends. His obsession with his career leads to a breakup with his girlfriend, Susan, and a strained relationship with his best friend, Michael, who is living with HIV. After a series of setbacks, including a power outage and a disappointing workshop, Jonathan finds a moment of clarity and reconciles with Michael. On his 30th birthday, he receives a call from his mentor, Stephen Sondheim. The film concludes with a look at his legacy, revealing that he died shortly before his musical, Rent, became a success. The story ends with a final performance of his monologue, showing his optimism for the future.
- First release year
- 2021
- Runtime (minutes)
- 121
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Lin-Manuel Miranda
- Writers
- Steven Levenson · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Andrew Garfield · Jonathan Larson; Alexandra Shipp · Susan Wilson; Robin de Jesús · Michael; Joshua Henry · Roger Bart; Judith Light · Rosa Stevens; Vanessa Hudgens · Karessa Johnson
- Genres
- biographical; musical; drama
- Themes
- artistic struggle; time pressure; sacrifice; legacy
- Tone and mood
- intense; emotional; urgent
- Setting
- New York City in the early 1990s.
- Premise and plot tags
- biographical; musical; coming-of-age
- Source material / true-story basis
- stage musical
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews for the lead performance, editing, and direction. It was praised for its authentic portrayal of the creative process and its adaptation of the original musical.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 74 · scale: 100 · review count: 44
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Globe Award · Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy · won; Academy Award · Best Actor · nominated; Critics' Choice Movie Award · Best Actor · nominated
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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