RENT
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REVIEW DATE: 02/27/06
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FOR anyone who is a fan of the live theatrical version, this Rent is a must-see and probably must-own. Personally, I saw a production of Rent on Broadway in 1999 while in NYC for the first time. Therefore, I have a strong emotional and sense-memory affection toward it. Regardless, as unbiased as possible, I can say this is an extremely faithful and solid cinematic interpretation. One loses some of the intimacy of a live performance, which cannot completely translate to film, but the director retains it with the closed sets, yet adds the ambiance of 1989 NYC by taking scenes onto the streets. So, while some intimacy is lost, there is more life pumped into it. The subject matter of this film is not for the light-hearted. Heavy and controversial themes are broached, such as homosexuality (gay and lesbian), poverty, AIDS, prostitution, drug use, drug abuse, sex, homelessness, death, interracial relationships, anti-establishmentarianism, etc. Sometimes, like any contemporary commentary on the American social, economic, and political structure, there is an over-artistic infatuation and artistic-license, elaboration, and exaggeration in order to promote a particular idea in light of the the structure against which the message is arguing. But the music is great, writing superb, acting phenomenal, singing sensational, choreography stupendous, and is an outright original piece of work. Attention must be called to the obvious players and characters: Mark Cohen (Anthony Rapp), Roger Davis (Adam Pascal), Mimi Marquez (Rosario Dawson), Tom Collins (Jesse L. Martin, Law and Order), and Angel Dumott Schunard (Wilson Jermaine Heredia). |
