RENT

Starring:
Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal, Rosario Dawson, Jesse L. Martin, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Idina Menzel, Tracie Thoms and Taye Diggs

Director:
Chris Columbus

Running:
135 mins

"How do you measure a year..."

A year can be a very long time, especially in New York City. Living the Bohemian lifestyle in the East Village in 1989 was not without its problems. Love, break ups, unrequited desire, fear, drugs, AIDS and the power of performance are abound but as the property developers move in seven friends from the neighbourhood plan to do what they can stop change. All they have to do is find the money to pay the rent.

After the success of 'Moulin Rouge' and the Oscar winning 'Chicago', the musical is back but can adapting some of the best loved plays from the stage to the silver screen always provide a hit?

Based on Puccini's 'La Boheme', Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning musical comes to the silver from director Chris Columbus, who is better known for the 'Home Alone' and 'Harry Potter' movies. 'Rent' is a different kind of musical that is set in more modern era and reflects some of the issues that were prevalent in 1989/90 in New York. This was a time when the Big Apple was a dangerous city, overrun with violence, graffiti and drugs. The homeless and creative have gathered together in the abandoned warehouses of the East Village, creating their own community but in a time of coming change when property values started to rise, the owners wanted these people out because they cannot pay the rent.

This is the backdrop to the play but it is the relationship between eight friends that is the driving force of the musical and now the film. It is their relationships, passions, work, problems and loves that make this is musical with a different. Whereas many a popular musical is set in the past or in worlds that are either fantastical or can never be walked in by the average person, 'Rent' more modern setting and modern issues make this a more relevant and easier to connect with for the average watcher. Dealing the homeless, drug and HIV problems of the time, the play and the film takes the rock opera approach as the eight friends sing through their problems, hopes and desires.

Bringing Mark, Roger, Mimi, Tom Collins, Angel, Maureen, Joanne and Benjamin to life on the big screen are eight actors that successfully mix drama with song. After originating Mark on Broadway, Anthony Rapp returns to the role on the big screen. Documentary filmmaker, Mark records the events of the year for his film as he tries to get over his ex-girlfriend Maureen leaving him for another woman. Adam Pascal also orientated his role of Roger on the Broadway stage. The musician who can't write because of he is HIV+ and has closed himself away to the world, Pascal does look uncannily like Jon Bon Jovi or Jeff Conaway from the hit TV show 'Taxi'. Before he was Detective Ed Green in the Law & Order franchise, Jesse L. Martin originated the role of Tom Collins, the writer who meets and falls for drag queen Angel, played by Wilson Jermaine Heredia who also came from the original Broadway play. Tracie Thoms also returns for the silver screen version playing Joanne, the woman who is trying to tame the overly flirtatious performance artist Maureen, played by fellow original cast member Idina Menzel. Joining them as Mimi and Benjamin are the films biggest names, Rosario Dawson and Taye Diggs. All of the stars have exceptional voices and know the characters inside and out.

'Rent' is a contempory musical whose issues might seem a little dated to some but like other plays in the genre it captures a time and highlights it in song. With excellent performances from the central cast and an emotional and moving content that should appeal to fans of the musical, this is a film that successfully captures the nature of the play and what it was like on 1989 New York.

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35:1 with Dolby Digital 5.1, the presentation is good.

BONUS FEATURES

Commentary with Director and Cast
Director Christopher Columbus and stars Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal talk about bringing Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning musical. With the director in San Francisco and his stars in New York, the trio talk about the audience and critical reaction to the movie. They also talk about the differences between the play and the cinema version and the problems with translating it to film. The group also discusses the cast, characters and the differences between playing it on screen and on the big screen. This is a good chatty commentary from three people who feel passionate about the film.

Deleted Scenes (11.51 mins)
Entitled 'My Cat Fell', 'Halloween', 'Goodbye Love', 'She still loves you' and 'Alternative Ending', these deleted or alternative scenes have commentary from the director Chris Columbus and stars Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal.

Trailers
Previews 'Mirrormask', 'Sueno', 'The Gospel', 'The Producers' and 'Zathura'

OVERALL

While the commentary track is very good the lack of featurette, especially for a movie like this, will disappoint fans of the play and the movie. The movie is presented well but you want to know more about the production, the history behind the play and the actors.

DVD

Chicago

Fame


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2006