Rent (B or 3/4 stars)
'Rent' is a film version of the Pulitzer & Tony Award winning musical about Bohemians living in the East Village of NYC during the tumultuous late 80's. It is directed by Chris Columbus & based on the musical written by Jonathan Larson (who died the night before his play opened on Broadway).
The film stars 6 of the 8 original cast members from the stage version. Rosario Dawson & Tracie Thoms play Mimi Marquez & Joanne Jefferson (the 2 who are not from the original cast). Mimi is a drug addict suffering with AIDS. Joanne is a lawyer who's in love with Maureen (played brilliantly by Idina Menzel; watch out for her & Thoms in their 2nd Act showstopper). Anthony Rapp plays Mark Cohen, a Jewish documentary film-maker. Adam Pascal plays Roger, a has-been druggy who also has AIDS and is interested in Mimi. Jesse L. Martin plays Tom Collins, a gay teacher with AIDS. His love interest is Angel Schunard (Wilson Jermaine Heredia), a gay drummer who has AIDS, as well. And Taye Diggs plays Benjamin Coffin, one-time roommate of Mark, Roger & Tom, who has since become landlord of their building & is demanding last year's 'Rent'. Got all that?
The opening scene sets the stage, literally, for the rest of the film. The ensemble cast sings Seasons of Love in which lyrics include, 525,600 minutes ... celebrate, remember a year in the life of friends'. All these 8 people have in life ... is each other. That pretty much sums up the general plot. As expected, there is lots of love, life, happiness, & sadness to watch unfold. Some songs such as, Rent, Today 4 U, Out Tonight, La Vie Boheme, & Santa Fe showcase the fun that is 'Rent'. Other songs such as Light my Candle, Tango:Maureen, I'll Cover You, Take Me or Leave Me, & I Should Tell You showcase the love songs, both up tempo & slow. While others such as, One Song Glory, & Finale B: No Day but Today are true gut-wrenching songs that display the emotions in dealing with AIDS & death. The musical numbers make 'Rent' shine. All the songs are sung with great care, poignancy & conviction; they cover happiness, love, and tragedy so well. Some of these numbers are dynamite, but the aforementioned transitions btwn. These songs & the other scenes lack some finesse.
The film is adapted almost identically from stage onto screen. And I think making this movie is a great way to expose the public to the genius that is this play & the controversial topics it brings to the table. The continuity from stage to screen provides real pleasure to all who know and love the Broadway play. However, I don't think all of the editing & transitioning from scene to scene, song to song went over perfectly. Something just felt … missing.
Also, while the story itself is unique & brilliant … it won't be everyone's cup of tea. If you are uncomfortable watching drug addicts & homosexuals singing about their slum-life woes, taking their AZT, watching their loved-ones die of AIDS, and living for 'today' with no care of yesterday or tomorrow ... then you would probably despise 'Rent'. If you can handle it and embrace it as a great piece of art, it is impossible to not get engaged by the emotion that is provided. I only wish that this movie version contained the same energy that jumps off the stage on Broadway. That is my only major complaint for an otherwise enjoyable film.
The film stars 6 of the 8 original cast members from the stage version. Rosario Dawson & Tracie Thoms play Mimi Marquez & Joanne Jefferson (the 2 who are not from the original cast). Mimi is a drug addict suffering with AIDS. Joanne is a lawyer who's in love with Maureen (played brilliantly by Idina Menzel; watch out for her & Thoms in their 2nd Act showstopper). Anthony Rapp plays Mark Cohen, a Jewish documentary film-maker. Adam Pascal plays Roger, a has-been druggy who also has AIDS and is interested in Mimi. Jesse L. Martin plays Tom Collins, a gay teacher with AIDS. His love interest is Angel Schunard (Wilson Jermaine Heredia), a gay drummer who has AIDS, as well. And Taye Diggs plays Benjamin Coffin, one-time roommate of Mark, Roger & Tom, who has since become landlord of their building & is demanding last year's 'Rent'. Got all that?
The opening scene sets the stage, literally, for the rest of the film. The ensemble cast sings Seasons of Love in which lyrics include, 525,600 minutes ... celebrate, remember a year in the life of friends'. All these 8 people have in life ... is each other. That pretty much sums up the general plot. As expected, there is lots of love, life, happiness, & sadness to watch unfold. Some songs such as, Rent, Today 4 U, Out Tonight, La Vie Boheme, & Santa Fe showcase the fun that is 'Rent'. Other songs such as Light my Candle, Tango:Maureen, I'll Cover You, Take Me or Leave Me, & I Should Tell You showcase the love songs, both up tempo & slow. While others such as, One Song Glory, & Finale B: No Day but Today are true gut-wrenching songs that display the emotions in dealing with AIDS & death. The musical numbers make 'Rent' shine. All the songs are sung with great care, poignancy & conviction; they cover happiness, love, and tragedy so well. Some of these numbers are dynamite, but the aforementioned transitions btwn. These songs & the other scenes lack some finesse.
The film is adapted almost identically from stage onto screen. And I think making this movie is a great way to expose the public to the genius that is this play & the controversial topics it brings to the table. The continuity from stage to screen provides real pleasure to all who know and love the Broadway play. However, I don't think all of the editing & transitioning from scene to scene, song to song went over perfectly. Something just felt … missing.
Also, while the story itself is unique & brilliant … it won't be everyone's cup of tea. If you are uncomfortable watching drug addicts & homosexuals singing about their slum-life woes, taking their AZT, watching their loved-ones die of AIDS, and living for 'today' with no care of yesterday or tomorrow ... then you would probably despise 'Rent'. If you can handle it and embrace it as a great piece of art, it is impossible to not get engaged by the emotion that is provided. I only wish that this movie version contained the same energy that jumps off the stage on Broadway. That is my only major complaint for an otherwise enjoyable film.