Up close, Ben Platt’s star power is electrifying
8 / 10
Mark Sonnenblick, who co-created the catchy songs in Netflix’s mega-hit KPop Demon Hunters, provides a gorgeous pastiche of the Great American Songbook in a score that references Irving Berlin, George Gershwin and (the secretly queer) Cole Porter via swinging ditties and wistful ballads. But fictional composer Arthur (Gregor Milne) is a man out of time. He decries the directness of new rock bands such as the Beatles, preferring to couch feeling within beautiful, controlled writing. He also baulks at Trevor’s suggestion that they join protest marches. His form of activism is legitimising their love through song – at least, until a major record label offers him fame if he’ll only change the pronouns.
