Well, my personal crusade to see the film prior to opening finaly came true when I won a tix at the lottery at the Symphony Space benefit! Now I've been back for a bit reading through this thread and some other reviews and clarifying my own thinking regarding the movie.
I have to say that seeing the film (for the first time) in this context of people ready to give it amazing amounts of support was a joy-filled and affirming experience. I will be seeing it again this weekend at a suburban multiplex. I wonder if I'll have the same emotional reaction :)
I've read (though I've tried so very hard not to) countless personal reviews and perspectives from the various posters who have been attending screenings. And now it's finally my turn for my two cents.
Overall I found the movie to be enjoyable and exuberant. The music is brilliant. There is no argument there. And because of that many of its flaws can be overlooked. Having not had the privilege of seeing the original cast perform the live stage version, I feel like I have obtained that privilege now. My hunch from all the blogs, clips, soundtrack, interviews, etc. that Tracie and Rosario would fit in and do well in their roles was totally validated. They are wonderful. The sheer delight and excitement that this cast had in working together to make this film and how much they all respect and care for one another is palpable (even in the sad, somber parts). That I believe is the biggest strength and gift of this movie.
Of course the deeper message RENT tries to spread does resonate (and again it is the music and the performances we have to thank for that) and it is my greatest hope that each audience member in his/her own way, no matter who they are or where they come from can find a kernel of it to hold onto, walk away with, and incorporate into their own life.
Now I have only seen the RENT stage show once but have listened to the cast recording countless times. And while the movie was being made, I read much about how it allowed for clarification of many of the things left muddled by Jonathan's untimely passing (and the subseuqent "freezing" of the show). It is this notion that i disagree with most vigorously. I found it to be quite honestly confusing and requires, in my opinion, a lot of inferential leaps on the part of the audience. I must be clear that I do not think this means it had to be "dumbed down", but there is most definitely a lack of character development and plot coherence.
In particular, I find that Benny's character is ridiculously underdeveloped and unexplained. In the USA today review, he wrote, "Stage original Taye Diggs, playing an erstwhile friend turned evictor, actually made a stronger screen impression in Malibu's Most Wanted." I completely agree with this and it is not a dig (no pun intended) on his acting but he literally has almost nothing to do. Whoever was saying that the movie allows us to understand his character and his motivations more must have seen a different movie than I saw. I think that you get a much clearer sense of Benny's role in this group in the stage show (esp. in his interactions with Mimi and at the funeral).
Another reviewer wrote, "in between the vibrant song-and-dance numbers, none of the characters are fully defined, and the story's more contrived and melodramatic shortcomings are brought to the fore." Again I completely agree. The same reviwer wrote, "and since the audience no longer has that immediate connection to the performers, the characters should have better developed to make them more engaging and defined. " Once more, I completely subscribe to this point. Yes most of the story is told and laid out through the music but there is a greater need for more development and coherence between scenes in a film than in a stage show, and in this area this film lacks.
I was disappointed by this. But again I cannot stress enough how much amazing work that cast is doing.
Some highlights/lowlights for me:
Seasons of Love (I almost didn't want to like this. At first, I thought, "I don't know too stagey, too stagey" but by mid song I was like loving it. It really does get you motivated to start on this journey)
Rent (Initially a little too over the top and stagey but the ending is very powerful. Although I do agree that while cinematically all the fire is exciting, it really doesn't make sense why they would be throwing it out!)
You'll See Boys (Thank God Benny has one shot at giving us a sense of why he's acting the way he has been!)
Glory (not too big fan of the "flashback" and I think the suicide thing is important. Especially since it contrasts so much with Mimi, Angel and Collins embracing of the No Day But Today mentatlity. )
Light My Candle ...fun and flirty. Rosario is captivating. You don't want to take your eyes off of her.
Today 4 U and Tango Maureen, Out Tonight are great cinematic musical numbers. The kind you want to applaud as if you were watching a live version.
Another Day starts out just fine but I don't like how Collins, Angel, and Mark turn the corner and already appear to be singing the song. I'm all for suspending my reality, but that was a little much.
I actually really liked Santa Fe and the idea of singing about this magical place while on the subway, one of the least romantic spots I can think of.
Over the Moon IS funny. But again, I don't think you get enough of an understanding that Maureen is going to be the world's worst performance artist earlier in the film. She is not talked about enough for anybody with no prior RENT epxerience to gauge that. And I can see then why many people will be confused.
LA Vie Boheme is great. To me the best part of the whole movie.
I Should Tell You (one of my new favorite songs, based on the soundtrack), I don't know something about them walking up and down that alley bothered me.
I really loved Take Me or Leave Me. I think it gave both Tracie and Idina a moment to shine. I agree that it is one of the best songs in the score. And i think they did an excellent job of it. But I do think the country club was the wrong setting for it. Mainly because again i don't think the audience is necesarily expecting that just beause Joanne is a lawyer, doesn't mean that she comes from that kind of snooty, stuffy background. The real opposites attract of Maureen/Joanne aren't explored enough prior to that scene for that country club to make a whole lot of sense
I did like Without You. I'm a bigger fan of the flash forward than the flashback I guess. But again that was an incredibly large amount of plot to cover in that time span...without dialogue...and without previous character development (read: MIMI and BENNY!)
Angel's funeral was touching. Jessie was really wonderful and the cast as a whole did a nice job with this
I think the storyline does suffer without the rest of Goodbye Love. The two minutes What You Own thing didn't work for me. I hated the New Mexico scene (whoever said it is the same cliff Britney stood on in her video was spot-on) and while I like the embracing on the rooftop at the end I was disturbed by the Alexi...Mark part...not actually being him calling her and quitting)
I did like the Finale, I think the Mimi coming back to life part was done very well and not cheesy at all. I liked Mark's film and I do think it appropriate to end with Angel.
I'm sorry I wrote so much, but I think doing this gave me an opprotunity to really clarify my thinking. I really did enjoy it. I would not have wanted anything cut and while I wanted more, I'm not sure how packing more in could have worked. I'm not a filmmaker. But at the end of the day, I do still believe that the cast that was assembled (including the new additions) was the BEST possible choice and I am glad we have this preserved.
I do hope it does well this weekend! I'll be seeing it again. But I can't wait for the DVD!
Updated On: 11/23/05 at 12:06 AM
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