Ben Platt
By Gregory McLinden
Ben Platt. What to say about one of the standout talents of our generation? He can do everything, act, sing, dance, he’s hilarious, he’s a large activist and campaigner for equality focusing on the current BLM movement as well as LGBTQ+ rights, and he is also pretty damn fine. Arguably his largest screen role is, and I say this with much reluctance and I'll explain why, Benji from the first two Pitch Perfect films. Now I don't have a problem with the Pitch Perfect films. I think they're good films with extremely catchy songs, but Ben deserves better than being known as the magician nerd from Pitch Perfect. He is brilliant in his own right. The Politician is a clear example of this - proving how much of an incredible powerhouse of an actor he is. The Politician is not a show you can quite imagine getting gripped and drawn in by, but thanks to Ben and his incredible acting prowess you really become en captured. Be sure to check out our review for The Politician series 1. Now if you are a fellow theatre fan like me you may also recognise Ben Platt for his incredible stint as Evan Hansen from the critically acclaimed Broadway musical, Dear Evan Hansen. He won countless awards for this including a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical in 2017. I personally have to be 100% honest and say I haven't seen the show let alone when Ben was playing Evan, but listening to the soundtrack alone is enough for me to know he would've been perfect - I draw your attention to the songs If I Could Tell Her and You Will Be Found, as well the mashup song Found/Tonight which Ben Platt recorded alongside Lin-Manuel Miranda seeing Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen meet. Ben Platt is also hotly tipped to reprise his role as Evan Hansen for the movie adaption which is being produced by his uncle and which Universal Studios is really interested in distributing. Put all his acting both on screen and on stage to one side and with most people there wouldn't be anything left. Not our trusty, adorable Ben Platt though. He has also released and toured his own album: Sing To Me Instead. Which I will openly admit right here, right now is one of my favourite ever albums. Ben wrote all of the songs on the album with each having a special story behind them, you go from absolute bops that will have you dancing round like there's no tomorrow like Share My Address and Bad Habit then you'll be balling your eyes out to songs such as In Case You Don't Live Forever (a beautiful song with a lot of heart and meaning behind it) and Grow As We Go (my personal favourite). If you haven't heard the album I would strongly advise it, you won't be disappointed - it is an absolute treat of an album. Not only this but he has also released two other songs, one of which he wrote, recorded and produced entirely in lockdown (So Will I - which FYI will make you cry). Netflix, you can tell, are huge lovers of Ben Platt and his work - he stars in The Politician which is a Netflix exclusive, but also has a Netflix concert special Ben Platt Live From Radio City Music Hall. Now it's unusual for anyone to get a concert filmed when they have only released one album, but that just shows how much Netflix loves Ben as that's exactly what they did - and I couldn't be happier that they did. The show is just over an hour and sees him perform every single song off his debut album as well some covers. It is an absolute treat to watch, Ben truly owns the stage and shows off his incredible dancing moves (proving he is the infamous triple threat as he can act, sing and dance). Over the course of the concert he also takes time to have some intimate moments not just with the audience in the room but with everyone at home telling stories of what inspired his songs, life experiences, as well as moments that are sure to make you laugh. It truly is beautiful and in this current climate where everything is so doom and gloom it's a perfect thing to put on, turn your mind off and just watch and live in the moment, there's a good chance it'll make you cry because of how perfect and beautiful is, and just how perfect, beautiful and powerful his voice is, it is essential viewing and I can't stress how much you need to watch it.
Ben Platt is one of the best actors of our generation; he is one letter away from the infamous EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony). And he might be close to winning this as he is currently filming Richard Linklater's Merrily We Roll Again alongside the ever incredible (and close friend of Ben's) Beanie Feldstein; now I say currently as the film is being shot over 20 years starting in 2019 to capture genuine ageing of the main characters. I have no doubt in my mind that when Ben makes his big screen debut (minus Pitch Perfect and hopefully before the estimated 2040 release of MWRA) he will go straight into the eyes of many awards shows with him being a hotly tipped winner, and I can't wait to watch him make his acceptance speech for Best Male in a Leading Role because I am that certain it will happen, he is that incredible.