Ben Platt: Live from Radio City Music Hall | Netflix Original Movie Review

When it comes to Ben Platt, I have always admired him and his work since seeing him as Benji in "Pitch Perfect". Then I was in complete awe at his voice during his starring role in the hit broadway show "Dear Evan Hansen". Finally, I fell in love with his artistry when he released his debut album "Sing to Me Instead" was released. Therefore, I was fairly excited when Netflix announced it would be releasing one night only recording of his Radio City performance, the final on his album tour.

I mean, its pretty safe to say that there wasn't much convincing needed for me to watch the latest Netflix original. Regardless, I still watched the trailer to get an idea as to what I should expect; the powerful and emotional voice simply spurred me on to watch even sooner than I had initially planned.

Synopsis (from IMDb)

Backed by a full band and a ready wit, actor Ben Platt opens up a very personal songbook onstage - numbers from his debut LP, "Sing to Me Instead."

What did I think?

Through lockdown there have been many live shows that have moved from the stage to a pre-recording going live on TV or through Netflix. I had my reservations, as I was concerned that not being within the live audience would take something away from the overall show. How wrong I was? From the very start, it was like I was transported to Radio City. From the comfort of my living room I was able to observe a monumental step in one of my favourite artist's journey. Ben's presence on stage was enough to make the live audience feel involved, yet also reached out through the screen to welcome the viewers at home.

It is very safe to say that I absolutely loved the overall concert. From the very start I was hypnotised by Platt's voice; moving with ease from soft and soulful to powerful and emotional. Just through his voice I was brought to tears a number of times; there is something so enticing by his voice that communicates just how he feels through his music, you can join him on his journey of healing and self-discovery. There were even moments where I was able to relate my own experiences with some of his songs.

Another happy surprise was the covers he performed; the first being "The Joke" by Brandi Carlile, a powerhouse of a song that Platt performs with spades of talent, and then Elton John's "Take Me to the Pilot". Both covers were great additions to the track list and gave the audience a different side of his voice and talents. Dare I say it, but I his live show gave his songs a new and improved sound, better than that from the original album.

Favourite moments...

• Singing "The Joke": As much as I loved hearing Ben singing his own hits, I was absolutely blown away by is powerful rendition of Brandi Carlile's "The Joke". The song itself is already an absolute masterpiece, but with Platt's powerful vocals and emotional performance, I was driven to tears. Goosebumps shot up my arm as he built up to the unbelieveable finale of the song. If you're to watch any part of the show, it is this part.
• Platt's humour: during some of the breaks between songs, Ben interacts with the crowd, detailing why he wrote a certain song or to talk about a part of his life that the song represents. These moments really humanise him and just absolutely prove that he is a naturally funny and relatable person. There were times he unveils his more anxiety related personality, then others he showcases his more witty and sarcastic side.
• The Toilet Break: at the end of him performing "Share Your Address" the band and backing singers continue to sing the song while Platt runs for a quick break. This is a fantastic rock out moment for both the band and the audience. It really allows the backing singers to showcase their own talents; these three fantastic singers have superb harmonies and can really belt during this great riff.

At the end of the day...

If it wasn't already obvious from the whole article, I was blown away by this show. I cried, I laughed, I danced; all the emotions were experienced from the comfort of my sofa, where I could boogey to my hearts content. The covers were refreshing to break up from the expectation of the album's tracklist and also gave us great insite into what drove Platt to write certain songs.

I will say, there was a part of me that was always super gutted that I wasn't able to experience the show live with the rest of the audience. No matter the quality of filming, there is no way to completely capture the magic of a live show. It still did really well at keeping the "at home viewer" as close to the live experience as possible - and this one does it very well - but my heart still longs to have been there in person.