Rent [2005]

Amazon.co.uk Review

Rent, the show that in 1996 gave voice to a Broadway generation, has finally become an energetic, passionate, and touching movie musical. Based loosely on Puccini's La Bohème, it focuses on the year in the life of a group of friends in New York's East Village--"bohemians" who live carefree lives of art, music, sex, and drugs. Well, carefree until Mark, an aspiring filmmaker (Anthony Rapp), and Roger, an aspiring songwriter (Adam Pascal), find out they owe a year's rent to Benny (Taye Diggs), a former friend who had promised them free residence when he married the landlord's daughter. Roger has also attracted the attention of his downstairs neighbor, Mimi (Rosario Dawson), while Mark's former girlfriend, Maureen (Idina Menzel), has found a new romance in a lawyer named Joanne (Tracie Thoms). Philosophy professor Tom (Jesse L. Martin) finds his soul mate in drag queen Angel (Wilson Jermaine Heredia). But because this is the late-'80s, the threat of AIDS is always present.

The remarkable thing about Rent the movie is that nearly 10 years after the show debuted on Broadway, six of the eight principals return in the roles they originated. They're a bit older than would be ideal for their characters, but they do have the advantage of having learned the show directly from creator Jonathan Larson (who died of an aortic aneurysm while the show was in previews), plus they started young--we're not exactly talking Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford here. Alongside a polished performance like Rapp's--sometimes observer-commentator, sometimes participant in two of the score's showstoppers, "The Tango Maureen" and "La Vie Boheme"--the two new additions (Thoms in place of Fredi Walker, Dawson in place of the edgier Daphne Rubin-Vega) slip comfortably into the ensemble; the pivotal Dawson makes a seductive case as Mimi when she tempts Roger in the mesmerizing "Light My Candle" or burns up the stage of the Catscratch Club in "Out Tonight." Moviegoers who have an aversion to people who break into song while walking down the street probably won't have their minds changed by Rent (even if they are singing rock songs), and the gritty subject matter and lack of big-name stars make it unlikely to cross over to general audiences the way Chicago did. But fans of musicals should find "Seasons of Love" as stirring as ever, and the show's passionate admirers--the "Rentheads"--probably couldn't have wished for a more sympathetic director than Rent fan Chris Columbus, or a more faithful representation of the show they love. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

You either love it or don't understand it.......2008-02-05

RENT is a masterpiece of song, dance, and acting. I've now seen it at least eight times and have yet to find any major flaw. All of the negative reviews that I have seen for it are from people who
a) Simply didn't understand it (I maintain that a lot of people loved the stage version because of the big noise and smoke but still didn't understand it, so when the noise and smoke had to go when it was transferred to film, they didn't enjoy it)
b) Have memorized the music (as I have) and thought that the spoken lines were badly-acted (They're not. If you know exactly, word-for-word, what's going to be said next, it will always sound wooden)
c) Love the stage version and are upset at all of the changes that have been made (A few songs have been taken out or cut shorter or made longer, although there are no new songs in the video, the locations of some scenes have been changed, and all of the other minor changes that always occur when translating a stage production to video)
d) Won't let themselves enjoy it because of the subject matter (Either they are homophobic or do not want to listen to characters addicted to heroin or cross-dressers)
e) Simply don't like musical film and only watched it because they had liked the musical
In any case, if you are open-minded and enjoy musical film, I can guarantee you will love RENT. If you watch it, though, there are some things that are important that aren't for most movies:
a) You have to pay attention at all times, even during the songs. If you miss even five minutes, you'll understand it less. It's hard to understand (I didn't understand it enough to enjoy it until the second time I saw it and didn't understand it completely until the fourth time), so make sure you're paying attention!
b) You have to be open to issues of homosexuality, HIV, heroin addiction, poverty, and the Bohemian lifestyle. Try not to be too shocked and focus on the message of the movie.
c) You have to open yourself up to the heart of the movie. There's a lot of big feelings in it and you have to let them hit you.
d) Relax and enjoy it! It's a musical. People sing almost nonstop the whole time. There are barely two scenes in a row without a song.
Those who say it's dated also don't understand it. Maybe East Village has changed. But there's still AIDS, homosexuality, cross-dressing, drug addiction, poverty, and homelessness in today's world. And, most importantly, there's still love. It's a movie about love in the end of the day - not a love story, but a movie about love.
If there were more stars, I'd give them to RENT, because five out of five doesn't seem like even close to enough.

Faultless (Watch me contradict myself... ).......2008-01-24

As a film geek... or film buff... either way... I can't watch any film without studying it from every angle. I'm also a writer and Independent film-maker, so I pick at any film I watch so much it even irritates me sometimes. Also, to me, musicals should be magical, whatever their themes or styles. Musicals are magic. I'm just pointing this out because when I say this movie is faultless, you realise my standards.

I'm one of the unlucky majority who hasn't seen the live original version, so you'll have to read another review for a true opinion on that. I do know that there have been very few complaints, which I'm pleased about.

So, as far as this movie goes, it is unique, (a word thrown around a lot, I know, often without merit). But through its varying, though seamless, powerful music styles, fabulous, controversial story-telling, comedic to heart-stopping themes, talent that is just beautiful to watch and unusual but not gimmicky directing, (for example the use of Mark's camera as the POV) I stand by my use of the word unique... which should mean something remarkable: more than it usually does, because of its overuse. That was an incredibly long sentence/description - apologies. ;-)

Now this is the bit where I contradict myself. The DVD could have offered us more. Given that Jonathan Larson was such a genius to create the original musical to begin with and his fascinating and of course, tragic life-story, it would have added an extra layer to learn more about him on the DVD, let alone the actors, (which has been pointed out included 6 of the original players). Again, we have to turn to Region 1 for Special Editions/2-Disc releases. Just a personal irritation was the exclusion of 'Goodbye Love', one of my favourite songs, (I'm a sucker for the sad bits). Although it is on the deleted scenes section and I understand why it was cut, (given Mark and Roger had never interacted through song in that way, which led to Mimi's song). So, I guess, all is almost forgiven.

So few movies dare to go where Rent did and does. It is a shame that because it is a musical and practically a hidden classic, it will never claim its rightful place in so many movie fans' DVD collections. If you are turned off it because the actors sing and don't just talk? As with any musical, give it a chance, let yourself be taken in, forget what genre it may or may not 'belong' to and realise its strengths, even beyond the music. This is a drama worthy of your time, unless you absolutely, totally despise musicals.

As for the actors, you may be surprised at how many you do actually know, even if you recognise the faces, but the names mean nothing to you. Taye Diggs certainly has a following, as does Rosario Dawson. Ever seen Ally McBeal? Well, if the answer's yes, then that's 2 out of 8 you'll know, (Taye Diggs and Jesse L. Martin).

In summation for this hugely long review, (apologies again) the DVD itself is lacking, no doubt. Does that knock it down to 4 stars? Clearly not, as the movie itself is as I first described... faultless.

I can't believe how bad this was...........2008-01-17

I had really high hopes for this film, as I have seen the stage musical twice, still play the original cast recording CD and really love film and stage musicals but, sadly, this film interpretation is appalling!

Granted I only managed to sit through the first 45 minutes because I just couldn't bear any more of the terribly wooden acting nor the amazingly bad rendition of the songs, so things could have got better, but i doubt it.

I think this is one of those productions that has not transferred to the screen very well, as the musical numbers and musical dialogue are so powerful when heard in a theatre and that power does not come across here.

If you really want to see this film, then I beg you to go and see the stage musical first because you will be blown away.

Or you could rent it!

Quite shocking.......2007-11-27

Weak songs weak singing voices, weak acting and pretty much no clear story line.
That sums it up , I guess.
Oh...It's too long too.
Worst however and quite unforgivable in my book, this film completely lacks any respect for , and possibly even understanding of the attempted subject matter( s) .
It's surface, and at the surface it stays.
All lahlahlah and blahblah.
Have those who made this, ever actually thaught about their characters?
If so, they are certainly not telling the audience much .
I had heard many reviews on it and would never have expected something THIS bad.
I kept on thinking..." it looks like what we used to stage in school", only we never got paid for it, and rightfully so.
An insult to any audience.
...Did I mention the bad acting, singing songs and lack of any convincing characters or any characters at all?
I gave it a star because I had to.
Enjoy!!

not just for musical fans!.......2007-11-03

anybody whos seen the musical will not doubt say that it isnt a patch on the stage shows, but not being one of them and not a big musicals fan, i have to say i had my reservations, being told it was a story about people living with H.I.V and drugs, but was plesently surprised!

It deals with its heavy subject content with a dose of fun and you really get in touch with the characters and later cant help but feel for them as various things take its toll. i watched this thinking it would be a depression fest, but instead felt uplifted and strangely happy after all i'd witnessed. the songs are brilliant, the narrative is strong its just a great movie. some of the scenes that were cut should have been in the film to start with but with this dvd you've got all of them so you dont really miss out.

Average customer rating:

Rent [Blu-ray] [2005]
Starring: Taye Diggs , Jesse Martin , Rosario Dawson , and Anthony Rapp
Director: Chris Columbus
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

Blu-ray | Format (binding_browse-bin) | Refinements | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000ZK9SVW
Release Date: 2008-02-11

Average customer rating:

Rent [2005] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
Starring: Anthony Rapp
Manufacturer: Columbia/Tri-Star
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Musicals | Classics | Categories | DVD | Video

DVD | Format (binding_browse-bin) | Refinements | DVD | Video
ASIN: 1424807786
Release Date: 2006-06-06

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