My Review of Rent
My Review of Rent
#0My Review of Rent
Posted: 11/29/05 at 2:08pm
Anthony (and everyone else), I write this review being a person that saw you and the OBC at least 40 times, so my viewpoint may be skewed cos I saw the show so many times.
Okay here goes. First I have to say that I liked the movie alot. Here are my opinions of things that I found troublesome. Opening with Seasons of Love on the stage was nice but again started a film that is desperately trying to make the cross over from stage to screen with the actors all on a stage. And then after that, starting "Rent" with Anthony riding his bicycle down the street was really a poor choice. It was imperative to establish the characters of Mark and Roger as roommates and best friends before the song even begins. It was jarring to see him come into the apartment after the song had already begun. Its kinda like who are these two? It would have been much better in my opinion to start with the two in the loft together as they do in the play and it would have been really powerful to start "Rent" after the "power blows". I can still here the "2,3,4" of the band at the Nederlander right before busting out into "Rent".
Another huge problem that is shown right in the beginning is the first exchange with Benny, Roger and Mark on the street. They didn't sing, they spoke, and what they spoke was directly out of the libretto. Hence, it was rhyming dialogue, which Anthony you promised there wouldn't be any rhyming dialogue. It was really distracting. And honestly I understand wanting to stay true to the original libretto but if you aren't going to sing the lines then why should they be spoken exactly as written in the libretto. Other dialogue should have been written for these moments. The same goes for the spoken "You Okay Honey". And again in lieu of singing "Happy New Year" we hear random lines from the libretto like "I'm giving up my vices, I'm going back to school". Which to someone that is used to hearing that sung sounds very strange spoken.
Also, the movie never says that Roger finds April with her wrists slit with the note saying "We've got AIDS" which is a real motivating factor acting wise for the character to be the angry young man he becomes in the play. Not only does he lose the love of his life to suicide but in the same moment he finds out that he is HIV+. A very important backstory that is glossed over with Roger comforting April when she gets an AIDS test result stating she is positive. Which leads me to Roger. Back in the days of 1996-1997 we used to call Adam Pascal the "angry" Roger that we loved and Norbert Leo Butz as the "sweeter more gentle" Roger who we also loved for different reasons. The Roger character without the motivation of the true devastation he faces in the play is not apparent in the film. I mean in the film he is almost a mix of these two Rogers which leaves us with kind of a bland character. I mean in the film he even goes to "Life Support" which would have been unheard of from the "angry" original Adam Pascal Roger.
Another huge problem I had was cutting the second half of "Goodbye Love" and the entire song "Halloween". Halloween allows us to get into the Mark character's mind which I think is really important and not "redundant" as I have heard why it was cut. And the Roger and Mark fight in the second half of "Goodbye Love" that is cut is the impetus of the very next song "What You Own" when they reunite. Not to mention, when Mimi coming out to say "Goodbye Love" to Roger which was cut is what Roger writes about in his song, "Your Eyes".
Okay, also, when Mimi is joined by Mark, Collins and Angel during "Another Day" on the street. She hugs and acts like she knows Collins and especially Angel. When did Mimi and Angel actually meet in this film? In the play she is introduced to Mark in the song "Christmas Bells" which was cut and I can understand why. But in the film about "8 Friends" as it is advertised, we don't see how the interconnections form for some of the characters, it is just assumed the audience won't question it.
Also, I don't know if this was only in the screening I saw in NYC but there are songs that for some reason the music doesn't fit the lyrics as they do in the Motion Picture Soundtrack. "Rent" is one of them, it sounded like the lyrics being sung were out of sync with the music. It could have been some AC3 Dolby Digital problem with the theatre but I have heard the same criticism in reviews and by friends of mine.
On a positive note, the acting in this film was superb. Special props to Rosario, Anthony and Wilson. The only problem I had with Adam was his character as I stated above was not as clear. I loved "Glory" and "Light My Candle" the chemistry between Adam and Rosario is fantastic and it is in these moments that the character of Roger shines. "Tango: Maureen" blew me away!!! I loved every moment of it. Another incredible moment by Anthony and newcomer Traci. Of course Wilson did a phenomenal job in "Today 4 U" and "La Vie Boheme" reminded me of when the cast in the stage production was on fire and really had this incredible energy that just enveloped the entire theatre. The montage sequence shown during "Without You" was wonderful and really conveyed to the audience the loss that was occuring in these characters' lives at that point in time. I thought Stephen Goldblatt's cinematography was beatiful. He really captured the feel of Alphabet City in the late 80's and early 90's.
A question for Anthony - Were "Over The Moon" and "Take Me or Leave Me" re-recorded? They sounded different to me in the film than they do on the motion picture soundtrack which made me very happy cos "Over The Moon" really was hysterical and Traci and Idina really belt out a strong visceral "Take Me or Leave Me" in the film. I loved both of those scenes very much. Closing the film with a shot of Angel brought tears to my eyes which in my opinion was an awesome way to end the film.
Anthony - Also why was "La Vie Boheme" shot in Vazac's Horeshoe Bar aka "7B's" instead of the real "Life Cafe" which is only three blocks north of "7B's"?
A Post Script here: The Angel-Collins relationship WAS NOT WATERED DOWN, come on, give me a break, they get to be together in "You Okay Honey", "Today 4 U", "Santa Fe" and "I'll Cover You", while Maureen and Joanne are really only the focus of "Take Me or Leave Me". So I completely disagree with those that are ranting about the Homophobic Straight Man's "power" over this work of art.
Well there's my rant, sorry for it being so long, but I just had to get all of this off my chest. Thanks to broadwayworld.com to allow us to do so.
cheers
Ajay
All in all this was a great movie. Sorry that I had my nitpicking at certain points but like I prefaced I saw the OBC too many times to ignore the points I made.
#1re: My Review of Rent
Posted: 11/29/05 at 2:10pm
OTM was recorded live. So the soundtrack version *is* totally different from the one that's actually in the movie.
At the end of "Rent," Angel waves up to Mimi as he walks by underneath the fire escape. It's established that they're friends at the very, very beginning.
#2re: My Review of Rent
Posted: 11/29/05 at 2:27pm
hey emcee thanks for the info!! I really appreciate it, it seems you were around for alot of the filming of the movies and met the actors, how was that experiecne? Did you get a chance to see the View of them, I have on DVD and sent it to three people so far, so I can send it to you, and this time I pomised I'll send it, I got sick last time and then lost the adress. I also have something else very special regarding "Rent". God this movie has really brought the feelings and elation of all that "Rent" is and has brought me in the Holiday spirit and the spirit of being an artist myself. PM with your info and I'll send you the "Rent" stuff I have that I can't discuss on this board, but you will be very happy with it.
your the best, always with such insightful comments, you add alot to this board and your analysis and intellect is completely appreciated by me.
cheers,
Ajay
#3re: My Review of Rent
Posted: 11/29/05 at 2:31pm
I saw about.... fifteen hours of filming on two separate days. The first day I was on the set, I "formally" met all of the guys except Taye. One of the best nights of my life. 
Yep, I saw them on The View.
Anyway, thanks.
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