Movie Review
tick, tick … BOOM!
RELEASE DATE: November 12, 2021 (limited theaters)
November 19, 2021 (streaming)

RATING: PG-13 (some suggestive material, some strong language, drug references)

Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton) makes his feature film directorial
debut with tick, tick…BOOM!, a fact-based story about Broadway playwright/composer/lyricist Jonathan
Larson (portrayed by Andrew Garfield). The title of the film comes from one of Larson’s shows, prior to
hitting it big with Rent in 1996, a musical that opened off-Broadway just one day after his passing at the
age of 35.
Garfield is superb and will undoubtedly earn an Oscar nomination as he immerses himself in the
character of Larson, exhibiting not only his acting chops but also a terrific singing voice. He is totally
believable in the role, as are so many of the supporting cast that includes Alexandra Shipp, Robin de
Jesus, and Vanessa Hudgens. Also worth noting is Bradley Whitford’s turn as Broadway legend Stephen
Sondheim, the Broadway icon whose recent passing makes the performance bitter-sweet.
While Garfield’s work is stellar, one must also give much credit to Miranda, who takes a rather complex
story and weave this character study with music, primarily from the subject himself. If Miranda does not
receive an Academy Award nomination for this effort, it will be quite disappointing.