Rating: PG-13
Release Date: November 23rd, 2005
Director: Chris Columbus
Starring: Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal, Jesse L. Martin, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Idina Menzel, Taye Diggs, Tracie Thoms, Rosario Dawson
Based on: Rent by Jonathan Larson
Screenplay: Stephen Chbosky
Running time: 135 Minutes
Rent is a film adaption of the rock opera of the same name. That sentence alone would make any "Renthead" cringe, luckily this movie didn't turn into the cringe worthy fest it could have been. Not to say the film isn't without flaws, that would be a ridiculous statement. The film was well received by Rent fans or those with previous knowledge of theatrical show, but the film fell short with the critics.
Jonathan Larson's Rent, a rock opera loosely based on Puccini's La Boheme, tells the story of a year in the life of seven friends in 1990's New York City. The story begins on Christmas Eve, roommates Mark (Anthony Rapp) and Roger (Adam Pascal), are at least a year behind on their rent. Mark, Roger, and their neighbors are given a choice, eviction or pay, no one's really into that paying option. Later, their landlord Benny (Taye Diggs), Mark and Roger's ex-roommate shows up with a proposition for the boys, if they stop a protest by their friend, Maureen (Idina Menzel), he will let the two of them off easy. Benny proposes a future where they achieve their dreams together. However, Mark and Roger aren't biting.
Later that night, when Mark goes out, Roger laments the death of his girlfriend, his disease (HIV), and questions whether or not he will be able to produce one truly great song before he dies. After, Roger is visited by his neighbor, Mimi (Rosario Dawson), a dancer and a drug addict. She shamelessly flirts with Roger. Roger becomes anxious when learning about Mimi's drug habit and as a recovering addict, tries and fails, to hide Mimi's "stash" that fell on his floor.
The next morning Tom Collins (Jesse L. Martin), an old friend of Mark and Roger, who was mugged on Christmas Eve and was nursed back to health by a drag queen, Angel (Wilson Jermaine Heredia), shows up with gifts. The two are also HIV positive and are heading to a life support meeting. They extend an invitation to Mark and Roger. Mark accepts and plans to stop by after helping Maureen, his ex, whose production manager can't properly set up the equipment for the protest. Mark and Joanne (Tracie Thoms), the new spouse and production manager, strike up an unlikely friendship. Meanwhile, Mimi pursues Roger, who denies her in hopes of protecting her. Roger apologizes and the two attend Maureen's protest together. Benny orders an injunction effectively ending the protest.
The first half takes place over approximately 48 hours and over the year to come, everything will change. Relationships will be tested, dreams will be discovered, steps will be taken, and the group will face the death of one of their own. So what makes the divide? Why do theater enthusiasts love the film, while critics hate it?
Well, bringing back more than half the original Broadway cast definitely helped win over fans. That scored Chris Columbus major brownies point with the fans and is mostly likely one of the reasons this film is so widely embraced in the fan community because, whether they admit or not, all Rent fans have a favorite cast, and let's face it the original cast is simply adored. That's not all the film does well.
The story as flimsy as it may sound transitions to the screen fairly well, however many little facets of the plot are lost and the film suffers for it. Witty dialogue becomes gritty and back story is lost. Of course, the plot is still strong, it just lacks the humor of the complete libretto and some of its greatest moments. What I'm saying is that Chbosky's fluid and heart-wrenching writing lacks some of Larson's initial humor.
The highlight of Rent is it characters. The feisty Maureen, the uninspired Roger, the lonely Mark, the charismatic Angel, the intellectual Collins, the playful Mimi, and the disciplined Joanne. Each character is three dimensional and relatable. We've all felt something similar to love and to heartbreak. We've all felt lonely before. What makes the show's energy is the real edge the characters present. This is why Rent is so successful. Not only is it a rally cry for the youth, it's a rally cry for people. People from all walks of life can find themselves in the triumph and the heartbreak that Rent presents because at its core Rent is a human story. It's about the the cycle of life and death and celebrating the days we've been given.
While Larson's message and his characters are what shines the brightest in the film, the acting is superb as well. Adam Pascal shines in his delivery of "One Song Glory" and "Your Eyes." Pascal's raw emotion makes Roger's reluctance heart-wrenching and Pascal's subtle wandering eyes convey a deep sadness, lots of "baggage." Also, Anthony Rapp, like Pascal, uses his singing voice to really draw the audience towards his dilemma, his massive fear of being left behind as his friends continue to become ill. As he makes sacrifices to pay the rent, as he sits with his best friends and is still isolated. The stand out performance is, as always, Wilson Jermaine Heredia as Angel. Heredia is not only a fantastic singer and dancer, but he also gives a chilling performance. He is the face stuck in your head. He will be the character to haunt your memory; his portrayal will uplift you and shake you.
In conclusion, this movie isn't perfect in any manner of the word. It could include more of Larson's joke and more of the short songs. It isn't perfect technically, but what film is perfect? Isn't that the point that it isn't perfect? Columbus's vision is better than the critics believe. The film captures the spirit of Rent. The humanity and the humility. And at the end of the day that's all the film needed to be. "Rentheads" didn't need a gritty or overly polished film. All they needed was Larson's words.
In the end, there isn't much more to be said but this:
Thank you, Jonathan Larson
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