TICK TICK… BOOM and DE-ROMANTICIZING the Journey of an ARTIST (Video Essay)

[@itscosmicnerd]

By the fifteen minute mark, you had me in tears. This is the best video I have EVER seen about this film. I am so glad you created this, not only so others could better understand this film in a way but also to hear your thoughts. Thank you!

[@NickPoulimenakos]

Well this just made my whole week😭 Thank you so much for the kind words!

[@jck1232]

It's always going to kill me knowing Larson NEVER got to reap the rewards of his work when he was SO close to finally making it big on Broadway

[@jenniferlawless3565]

whats even more poignant is that it's Sondheim's real voice on the voicemail. Lin showed him a cut of the movie and he offered to re-record a voicemail to John in his own words. And then he himself died only a couple of weeks after Tick Tick Boom was released on netflix :(

[@NickPoulimenakos]

I was going to mention that in the video but had to cut it for pacing :( I love that Sondheim got this moment to show love for the dude he mentored... My eyes watered when I read this fact.

[@影子-g1q]

At that time, Andrew thought of his mentor, Michael Nichols

[@thestockimagequeen]

I’ve never related to a piece of art more than Tick Tick Boom.

[@NickPoulimenakos]

It's one of those movies that I wasn't super interested in seeing at first, but has very much become one of my favourite movies ever.

[@Rewiretube]

@ 7:48 I really dig that. The movie makes Jonathan ALMOST unlikeable but just makes him ridiculously human and was the best part of the movie

[@NickPoulimenakos]

Jonathan is as removed from real life as you can get... but he's such an endearing person that you can't help but root for him. The film is such a great character study of what "pursuing your dreams at all costs" really means... the good and bad of it.

[@cauzie8281]

I thought of it as a man driven by a passion. Highly creative people are complicated and don't fit the mold. The obsession to create can overwhelm them and makes beautiful art but at great cost. Van gogh is an example and he never got to enjoy the fame he would later receive

[@score1015]

This is legit everything I've ever wanted to say about this film, you nailed everything I love about this movie. I've had the strangest obsession with this movie despite hating musicals and have rewatched it so many times, but nobody really understands why I love it so much. I watched this movie when I was at a point where I had wanted to go to med school all my life and was in my second year of university. I was doing great still just not up to the incredible standard to get into med school and on top of that I realized how incredibly unhappy I was and all the things in my life I had grown to neglect and failed to appreciate. This movie also made me realize the importance of experiencing failure, the important question of are you being led by fear or by love. That's when it really hit me, I didn't love the idea of going to med school and becoming a doctor, it was just because that was something big to strive for and I feared never being seen as enough. This movie taught me so much and for that reason it will always hold a special place for me.

[@chaingang90]

cynics tend to criticise the characters of michael and roger in Rent for being romanticised tropes of the struggling artist. i think tick tick boom sort of balanced it out, knowing this was basically Larson's real life.

[@ouinoelle]

I relate so damn much. it's crazy how so many musical theatre writers are like the same person in a sense. Like when John said he wanted to change the face of American musical theatre I felt that. Also when he used to say that he was the future of musical theatre. Like, yeah. The ticking sound. I'm only 17 but I've had it my whole life.

[@sophiaanna6734]

3:29 wow your sister is sO amazing for introducing you to the best film of the year, you should definitely thank her

[@HunterPanoch]

Tick Tick Boom is one of my favorite films I've ever seen and you encapsulated my reasoning beautifully... thank you

[@NickPoulimenakos]

Comments like this never fail to make my day… thank you for the kind words!

[@HunterPanoch]

@@NickPoulimenakos no problem at all! (And this was a helpful recap for my film analysis for college!)

[@x_st4rburst_x]

this video lists so many key reasons as to why this movie is my favorite movie ever! its so good, and by the end of the movie it had me in tears. my favorite song is the last one (louder than words) if you listen to the lyrics, then you might realize that song has topics we can all relate to. thank you, jonathon larson :)

[@sydposting]

What an absolutely vital essay, I'm so glad you shared your perspective as someone unaware of Larson and his past before seeing the film. I got into RENT when I was in middle school, and there was this hardcover book in the school library about the writing/making-of the musical, and I read it cover-to-cover. That's part of the reason why I've put off watching the movie, because I felt like I knew the story already. Clearly, I need to rectify this, so thank you for helping me change my mindset! 🤗 Have you seen anything of Andrew Garfield as Prior Walter in Angels in America, by the way? It's a completely transcendent performance, there's an audiobook version of the script that uses the 2018 production cast, which is how I experienced it. Just an incredible actor.

[@NickPoulimenakos]

Thank you so much for the kind words! This just made my whole day. I haven't seen Angels in America yet by I'll deffs check it out now!

[@RenaBlair]

uffff....almost in tears. Just saw a community production of RENT last night where I live. its still so moving, even after all these years and having seen it handfuls of times. And to see Jonathons story come alive like this today...its just so beautiful. You words are very meaningful too thanks for a well thought out video.

[@NickPoulimenakos]

Thank you so much! It means a lot to read your words. I never thought the movie would impact me the way it did, and yet, here we are.

[@zacquinn]

Just subbed, absolutely loved Tick Tick Boom and your video, keep it up!

[@stoneyisme]

That was an absolute beautiful video. ❤

[@The_Blue_Josh]

I’ve been doing some research to make my own Tick Tick… Boom! Video Essay, and I’ve Got to Say That this was such a beautifully well articulated essay that got to the core of the Movie. Well Done!

[@NickPoulimenakos]

That’s so awesome to hear! Thank you for the kind words and I can’t wait to check out your video essay!

[@azureii_]

Great video! Really well put together and deserves a lot more views

[@NickPoulimenakos]

Thank you so much!🙏

[@austinnhuynh]

Love the video brother 🍻

[@NickPoulimenakos]

Yeooooooo Austin! Thanks man!!

[@le_plankton]

excuse me why does this only have 1300 views??

[@NickPoulimenakos]

That's what I'm asking myself! Seriously though, thank you for watching and for the kind words!

[@SolaceCinema]

Fantastic analysis!

[@NickPoulimenakos]

Thank you so much!

[@SilentSong123]

It reminds me a bit of Finding Neverland about JM Berrie's journey to create the classic Peter pan and all the struggles that went with that only to a lesser extent only I feel like Finding Neverland accomplished the complete opposite of Tik TIk Boom

[@NickPoulimenakos]

Cool comparison! I don't think I've actually seen Finding Neverland so I'll deffs check it out.

[@SilentSong123]

@@NickPoulimenakos it's really good it was my Tik Tik Boom as a kid

[@cauzie8281]

Barrie ruined the lives of the children that inspired Michael and John... The kids were to young for fame and it ended tragically

[@tonzyjc]

My favourite movie of 2021

[@danielhead8123]

To me tick tick boom is Jonathan's best work songwriting wise I relate to it even more now I turn 30 yo march 2nd 2024

[@m0pman426]

Underrated channel

[@NickPoulimenakos]

Stupendous comment

[@alessiabaps]

respectful work, well done

[@NickPoulimenakos]

Respectfully, thanks homeslice

[@GuyNamedRaph]

what beef do you have with the bohemian rhapsody movie? i personally liked it

[@logan-vq3dm]

585 views damn

[@yankee04]

Thanks for this review. I love this movie. If you’re interested, this video has all of the theater (including Rent) references in Tick, tick… Boom. kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3Pbd2VqqJmKqKM