Ben Platt on Netflix- Page 2

[joevitus]

Posted: 5/23/20 at 6:23pm

I really don't know if his family had anything to do with his success, so it seems sort of beside the point. It somewhat reminds me of conversations I've had with people about Talia Shire, or about Lorraine Grey, who are often attacked because they clearly seemed to have gotten their roles through nepotism, but I happen to think both are great in the roles they played, so I don't really care. But then, parts in movies don't have the same rags-to-riches mystique that is usually associated with a new Broadway sensation. So there's an emotional/wish fulfillment quality there, whether it's "fair" or not.

Platt just doesn't interest me. I didn't see Dear Evan Hanson on Broadway. I've seen clips. I own the cast recording and the script. I'm unimpressed (I seem to be the only person who is unimpressed: I think the score is blah and the situation more interesting in concept than realization). I tried watching The Politician, but it's another Ryan Murphy work where we're supposed to be enthralled by some gay sociopath, and this gay man ain't interested.

I find him kinda attractive because he's a cub, but that's about it. In interviews he alienates me, though I can't say why. I was  a theater kid. Camp could have been a documentary of my childhood (I didn't laugh when the kid referenced doing 'night Mother because I didn't get it was a joke: when you're a theater kid, you do adult shows because those are the only roles that prepare you for the career you dream of), and yet I don't have very warm feelings about all that, and he does strike me very much as one of those kids.

Somehow, he and Lea Michele seem a pair, and that isn't a compliment, in my book.

Tl;dr. Average talent, oddly unappealing off-stage personality.

[JayElle]

Posted: 5/23/20 at 11:00pm

joevitus:  I really don't know if his family had anything to do with his success, so it seems sort of beside the point.

I think it's pretty likely his father Marc had something to do with Ben's career.  From wikipedia:

Marc E. Platt (born April 14, 1957) is an American producer who has worked in film, theatre, and television. Two of the films he has produced – Bridge of Spies and La La Land – have been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.

[JayElle]

Posted: 5/23/20 at 11:07pm

CT2NYC   "Call me superficial, but I would have enjoyed the show a lot more if he was wearing something less...ugly."

You're not alone. My first thought was,: who dressed this guy?  Would've been better in Steve Jobs garb: black turtleneck & jeans or black pants.  His clothes were louder than his singing.

And I wish he'd remove the beard.

[pollster2]

Posted: 5/23/20 at 11:09pm

JayElle said: "joevitus: I really don't know if his family had anything to do with his success, so it seems sort of beside the point.

I think it's pretty likely his father Marc had something to do with Ben's career. From wikipedia:

Marc E. Platt(born April 14, 1957) is an American producer who has worked in film, theatre, and television. Two of the films he has produced –Bridge of SpiesandLa La Land– have been nominated for theAcademy Award for Best Picture."

 

To be totally fair, I'm sure his father threw all the money in the world to make Ben's brother Jonah a success too and that does not seem to have panned out well.

[JayElle]

Posted: 5/23/20 at 11:11pm

What struck me was the camera on the audience>. My first thought was how long it'll before we see a theater of that size (approx 6K seats) packed again.

[smidge]

Posted: 5/23/20 at 11:19pm

pollster2 said: "JayElle said: "joevitus: I really don't know if his family had anything to do with his success, so it seems sort of beside the point.

I think it's pretty likely his father Marc had something to do with Ben's career. From wikipedia:

Marc E. Platt(born April 14, 1957) is an American producer who has worked in film, theatre, and television. Two of the films he has produced –Bridge of SpiesandLa La Land– have been nominated for theAcademy Award for Best Picture."



To be totally fair, I'm sure his father threw all the money in the world to make Ben's brother Jonah a success too and that does not seem to have panned out well."

Exactly. Joevitus used the word success, not career. A career can be jumpstarted by family ties but people aren't going to Radio City to just see Marc Platt's son. It's still to early to know if Ben can sustain this success. But do people feel the same animosity towards Michael Douglas and Jamie Lee Curtis?

[darreyl102]

Posted: 5/23/20 at 11:29pm

I never knew Jonah was his brother. I guess he got all the looks in the family. Lol

[JayElle]

Posted: 5/23/20 at 11:46pm

smidge said: "pollster2 said: "JayElle said: "joevitus: I really don't know if his family had anything to do with his success, so it seems sort of beside the point.

I think it's pretty likely his father Marc had something to do with Ben's career. From wikipedia:

Marc E. Platt(born April 14, 1957) is an American producer who has worked in film, theatre, and television. Two of the films he has produced –Bridge of SpiesandLa La Land– have been nominated for theAcademy Award for Best Picture."

Exactly. Joevitus used the word success, not career. A career can be jumpstarted by family ties but people aren't going to Radio City to just see Marc Platt's son. It's still to early to know if Ben can sustain this success. But do people feel the same animosity towards Michael Douglas and Jamie Lee Curtis?"

I have no animosity toward ben. I love his voice.  I simply made the point that his father is an established producer so it's highly likely his father played a big role in ben's career as well as his brothers. 

 

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 5/23/20 at 11:46pm

smidge said: "​​​​​​But do people feel the same animosity towards Michael Douglas and Jamie Lee Curtis?"

Or Liza...

[joevitus]

Posted: 5/25/20 at 1:24am

Miles2Go2 said: "smidge said: "​​​​​​But do people feel the same animosity towards Michael Douglas and Jamie Lee Curtis?"

Or Liza..."

Early on, Liza didn't really deserve her fame, and her Emmy win for Flora was almost certainly "We must hail Judy's daughter." But she really worked at her craft, and the movie of Cabaret made her a star in her own right, based on her own unique talents. Douglas did a lot of lousy early work for t.v. and he may have gotten that work through his dad, but he  became a producer and was sort of nepotistic towards himself--casting himself in The China Syndrome, for instance. So he earned his own movie career. Basically, both worked for years to be their own person and achieve success on their own.

Jamie Lee Curtis achieved her first big fame fairly young, but it was a lighting-in-a-bottle moment that had nothing much to do with her parents. She made a low budget movie that was so good, and she was so good in. The whole thing was a shock. What should have wound up released on the second half of a drive in double bill turned out to be an instant classic. So, again, it didn't feel like it was owed to her parents' involvement. I think you could say the same for Carrie Fisher with Star Wars.

I think the issue with Platt--if it's true, and I've no idea--is that he almost instantly attained stardom very young on Broadway where "overnight sensation" doesn't really happen, whatever the storylines of old Ruby Keeler movies claim, so people ask "How does a nobody get a major show written around his talents?" and then look at his father and ask "Hmm...was this bought for him?" I am not at all saying it was. Nor do I care. Indeed, as I pointed out, there are other performers who are written off as the beneficiaries of nepotism, and I genuinely like their performances whether that's how they got their roles or not.

Platt just doesn't interest me.  Heck, Evan Hanson doesn't interest me. (Baffles me that is is such a major hit while Be More Chill closed in six months, but then there's a significant issue of timing involved with both shows.)

[SweetLips22]

Posted: 5/25/20 at 7:44am

I only know the man from hanging around this board--who can not?

Doesn't matter who your parent are, if you can't hack it, you won't get the part--chorus maybe, but not lead with $millions riding on your back.

So I thought, let's look at and listen to this guy. Great staging and band. I will accept his clothes but when he ran off he at least had time to change[did he need a loo break? Where did he run to?

Admittedly I am at the 45min mark and I am being entertained. Some melodies are good, interesting lyrics but the tossing of the head is a worry--should have been told to ditch that. The poor boy can't dance but has a quirky way of 'moving'. The voice is there, just but I just can't see why all those girls love him. Is it because he is a teddy bear and non-threatening[and yes his brother certainly got all the looks].

I can't for the love of me understand how he could fill all those concert halls just from starring in DEH, no matter how good he was. Would any of the follow up Evans be able to do the same and most were a lot cuter than he is?

For some reason I am drawn to go back and see the next 45min but please God no more of the gay coming out stories. Why does it even have to be up there, maybe to help others, but I am so tired of all this LGBTHYWKFJSVB that has to invade EVERYTHING. Just sing the fn songs.

Thank you for listening.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/25/20 at 7:41pm

Liza winning an Emmy for FLORA, THE RED MENACE. This alone made my Monday.  
 

[Lot666]

Posted: 5/28/20 at 9:10am

HenryTDobson said: "Clearly he's talented but everyone is talented. It's infuriating to have to pretend that he's something special when he was just lucky enough to be born into a powerful family."

"Everyone is talented"? What does that even mean?

Regardless of whether you like Mr. Platt as a person, what he accomplished in originating the role of Evan Hansen had nothing to do with being "lucky enough to be born into a powerful family".

 

[HenryTDobson]

Posted: 5/28/20 at 12:01pm

Lot666 said: "HenryTDobson said: "Clearly he's talented but everyone is talented. It's infuriating to have to pretend that he's something special when he was just lucky enough to be born into a powerful family."

"Everyone is talented"? What does that even mean?

Regardless of whether you like Mr. Platt as a person, what he accomplished in originating the role of Evan Hansen had nothing to do with being "lucky enough to be born into a powerful family".

"

It means just that - everyone is talented. There are millions of talented people out there and while Ben Platt is one of them, he is merely one. He did not have to endure the struggles of starting in the business as a nobody. 

[Lot666]

Posted: 5/28/20 at 12:18pm

HenryTDobson said: "Lot666 said: "HenryTDobson said: "Clearly he's talented but everyone is talented. It's infuriating to have to pretend that he's something special when he was just lucky enough to be born into a powerful family."

"Everyone is talented"? What does that even mean?

Regardless of whether you like Mr. Platt as a person, what he accomplished in originating the role of Evan Hansen had nothing to do with being "lucky enough to be born into a powerful family".

"It means just that - everyone is talented. There are millions of talented people out there and while Ben Platt is one of them, he is merely one. He did not have to endure the struggles of starting in the business as a nobody."

Can you sing, dance, or act? I have no talent for any of those arts, so everyone does not have talent.

Ben Platt did not become a star until he originated the role of Evan Hansen; his celebrity did not come about because he's from a family that works in related fields. Do you "pretend" that people like Michael Douglas and Jamie Lee Curtis are "something special [because they were] just lucky enough to be born into a powerful family"?

Updated On: 5/28/20 at 12:18 PM

[Wick3]

Posted: 5/28/20 at 1:18pm

SweetLips22 said: "I can't for the love of me understand how he could fill all those concert halls just from starring in DEH, no matter how good he was. Would any of the follow up Evans be able to do the same and most were a lot cuter than he is?"

I think a lot of it has to do with social media during and after his stint in Dear Evan Hansen. If this was twenty years ago or even ten years ago I doubt Ben Platt would have been able to sell out a tour (though I think Ben would have been casted in GLEE though lol.)

As for the follow up Evans, that's a good question. Out of all of them, I think Jordan Fisher is the only one who would be able to sell out a concert tour.

[Fagnes Gooch]

Posted: 5/28/20 at 2:16pm

pollster2 said: "I had to turn it off almost immediately. He's insufferable."

I completely agree. 

[jmfinny]

Posted: 5/28/20 at 2:45pm

I enjoyed The Politician for the most part.  Not the worst show, definitely not the best.  I'm generally not a Ben Platt fan, but I think his personality works well for the character and his characters vulnerable moments felt more real than when Ben himself tries to be vulnerable.  What bugs me most about Ben and his singing is how instantly disconnected I feel from him.  His mannerisms of closing his eyes, moving his head around... his technique bothers me.  

[Larry6417]

Posted: 5/28/20 at 5:36pm

Yes, Ben Platt has talent, but this sold-out Radio City show only convinces me further that Daddy has invested quite a ton of $$$ into Dear Ben Platt's career.

TRY THIS AT HOME...

Watch the concert without any sound. The blue boob high pants, the blouse, and his "Ed Grimley" moves are hysterical!

[Larry6417]

Posted: 5/28/20 at 5:44pm

Ben Platt did not become a star until he originated the role of Evan Hansen; his celebrity did not come about because he's from a family that works in related fields. Do you "pretend" that people like Michael Douglas and Jamie Lee Curtis are "something special [because they were] just lucky enough to be born into a powerful family"?"

Naive.

Famous actors like Michael Douglas and Jaime Lee Curtis def have the talent, but would NOT be stars today without the family influence. I'm a talent agent at a large agency and children of celebrities get signed immediately, talent or no talent. This is the agency's decision, not mine. Mia Farrow is the same situation, but at least she admits to using her parents' money and connections.

[Lot666]

Posted: 5/29/20 at 8:37am

Larry6417 said: "Ben Platt did not become a star until he originated the role of Evan Hansen; his celebrity did not come about because he's from a family that works in related fields. Do you "pretend" that people like Michael Douglas and Jamie Lee Curtis are "something special [because they were] just lucky enough to be born into a powerful family"?"

Naive.

Famous actors like Michael Douglas and Jaime Lee Curtis def have the talent, but would NOT be stars today without the family influence. I'm a talent agent at a large agency and children of celebrities get signed immediately, talent or no talent. This is the agency's decision, not mine. Mia Farrow is the same situation, but at least she admits to using her parents' money and connections."

The point is, lineage is not a reason to discount an individual's talent. Ben Platt blew up when he originated the role of Evan Hansen. Prior to that performance, "powerful family" notwithstanding, I'd never even heard of him.

[Javi]

Posted: 5/29/20 at 9:16am

I remember going to see Book of Mormon on Broadway and being so impressed by this replacement Cunningham. I had seen the show a few times, even once with Josh Gad, and this Cunningham was my favourite.  I looked up to see his name - Ben Platt - and remembered his name and have always been on the lookout for whatever he did next.  Yeah, he might have family connections, but he also has a lot of talent.  I also saw him in Dear Evan Hansen and he was superb.

[quizking101]

Posted: 5/29/20 at 9:35am

For the record, I find him insufferable as well. I feel like there isn’t anything organic about him and he tries way too hard to break his Evan Hansen mold.

I feel like many have forgotten that he was a supporting character in PITCH PERFECT long before DEH was a thing, and that film likely earned him a partial fan base because it was such a juggernaut

[KJ4]

Posted: 5/29/20 at 11:21am

I wont refer to his personality or style of dressing since it s not something we should discuss on. You can like someone music without have to like that person.

I will only speak about Ben voice here.

Somehow...I dont find that his voice is amazing enough to the point where all the people keep saying. That s it. I dont feel like he has strong voice. The breathing is also a bit weird. Almost at the end of sentence when he run out of air he had to throw his head back every single one of them. It s a bit difficult to look.

I will say I like him singing some of the song I see on netflix. But that has some condition that come wz gotta be his middle tone and small range with no powerful ballad. Then it s fine.

His fans go nut when I say I dont think he has a good voice. I cant understand what s the different they think between him and some other musical stars. Some no name guy are even more so amazing in singing but didn't get recognize as much.

[windowwaving]

Posted: 5/29/20 at 12:21pm

I think he's kind of like the musical Britney Spears. There are plenty of talented singers that are far superior to him, but it's the specific way he tells the story in his singing that I think resonates with his fans.

I agree, I don't think big power ballads are his thing, sometimes it sounds like he's yodeling. I actually find his music more soothing when it's softer and even if he's almost just talking.

It's the unique sound of his voice and he writes his own music, so I admire that aspect as well.