RENT SCREENING review (11/8/05)- Page 5

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 11:20pm

I REALLY want to know how the cast feels about the cuts. Or Jonathan's family. Noticec the cuts were made AFTER the support letters and such.

[EvelynNesbit1906]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 11:29pm

On Tarantino:
Yeah, he's got the edgy thing going, but he's edgy in a, "This movie will be all about me and what innovative movies I make" kind of way.
----------------------
That's another funny thing about him. He really isn't innovative. He's a plagiarist. Scenes from his films are virtual copies of scenes from other films. He almost gets away with this by copying from the obscure films of famous directors (i.e. Scorsese's "Boxcar Bertha"). But... no.
Updated On: 11/9/05 at 11:29 PM

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 11:35pm

Columbus justifies his decision in cutting "Goodbye Love" by saying that he learned his lesson making HARRY POTTER about being too faithful to the source material. I'd call the deletion a drastic cut and seeing as how he says the song was "too emotional" for him a jarring personal touch to boot.

Fair point. I was mostly referring to the earlier discussion about what directors might've done a good job than to the final editing choices. I think we at least have to credit him that he TRIED to work most of the material in, even Contact apparently. I really wish he could have made Goodbye Love work (and he should have been able to), and I definitely am going to miss it as much as anyone. I just think that he's been more faithful to the musical (aside from the cuts) throughout the process than a lot of directors would have been.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 9:39am

"That's another funny thing about him. He really isn't innovative. He's a plagiarist. Scenes from his films are virtual copies of scenes from other films."

Oh come on, those are just homages, Evelyn.

Hehe.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 9:48am

Good Point, Siren. Though it's been said, and I tend to agree, that being incredibly faithful sometimes means the director lacks sufficient cinematic vision for the material. The best movie musicals - THE SOUND OF MUSIC, OLIVER, WEST SIDE STORY, CABARET -- all had major tinkering to make them exciting as motion pictures.

But I understand where you are coming from. Yes, its good that Columbus didn't take RENT in the direction of say A CHORUS LINE or THE FANTASTICKS, though it will be disappointing if the film of RENT is as mediocre as EVITA, or last years PHANTOM -- both of which were incredibly faithful to the source material.

[OasisBroadway]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 9:49am

Yikes. I think this is a disaster. I don't think any rent fans have criticized or been too concerned about the cuts (Contact, etc) prior to this. But come on, Goodbye Love is essential to this story! Columbus claims to be such a fan of RENT but I can't see how any huge fan would see no problem in removing the end of Goodbye Love.

In any event, I was wondering if it was removed because of Rosario's acting/singing. Personally while I think she is very good on the CD, I absolutely hate the way she sings Goodbye Love. It seems to lack emotion, she definitely doesn't sound like she is very sick and dying. Really, to me she just sings the song like she does any other. Perhaps it was filmed this way and got a bad reaction because people didn't BELIEVE she was sick and so he had no choice but to remove it. Maybe it would have been worse with it in. I don't know.

I am now very nervous about this film.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 9:51am

No Oasis -- supposedly Dawson's performance in the number is one of her personal best scenes in the film. Supposedly the number doesn't work on film because of Columbus's STAGING of it.

[OasisBroadway]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 9:54am

Oh hmmm, that is interesting. Has anyone commented about what in particular was wrong with the staging? I didn't read anything about this but will beging to search.

[Steeler Jim]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 11:12am

I dunno. I finally got to see the "Making of Rent" thing on Starz last night, and I didn't see anything that made me want to see this film any less. In fact, a couple of things they showed (Tango: Maureen snippet, camera angles on Over The Moon) made me want to see it even more.

I think we all just need to chill and see the thing before we start agreeing or disagreeing with those lucky enough to have seen early screenings.

Just my opinion.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 11:19am

I'm definitely trying to keep an open mind, but it's getting hard.

[OasisBroadway]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 11:39am

Yeah, I tend not to judge things before I see them. But sometimes there are certain things you hear that can make you start to question. This is one of those things for me.

[DAME]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 11:49am

Michael,
I have been holding off writing a review till the film officially opens and becaus the version I saw was a rough cut. I will still wait. But I must say .. your review hit the nail on the head. Particularly the second half of the film.

[overthemoon419]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 2:27pm

i'm in shock. and i'm hurt, but i'm not sure why. if there was any number i thought wouldn't work on film, it was "Over the Moon", which to me was very reliant on live theatre-audience participation. but, as many have mentioned, "goodbye love" is not only beautiful and touching, it's crucial to the plot. as luvtheemcee has so brilliantly phrased, in ways i can barely dream of, april's death by suicide is equally crucial to roger's character development.

and "halloween" is one of my favorite songs, if not my favorite. it's moving, it's a time for mark to really evolve as himself and not as an incendiary for other characters or a narrator for their lives as a whole. its lyrics are perfect, in my opinion, they fit the character, the moment, and many of them easily transcend the film to a universality that few songs achieve.

i'm still going late at night on the 23rd. the trailer makes me tear up (despite its fleeting--if any--front-shots of Angel), nothing could keep me away from this film. but for now, i'm skeptical and sad. i hope i won't be disappointed as many already have been.

[MJohnson05]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 2:42pm

I just want to add that whatever my issues with the film -- and I had many -- I also found parts of it worthwhile and near perfect (the tango, santa fe, etc). It isn't a total wash. I still think the cutting of Goodbye Love is a huge mistake, as I still think speaking the recitative was also a strange choice when mixed with other, non-rhyming spoken dialogue willy-nilly. But I hope everyone still goes and makes their minds up for themselves as I'm sure they will. It's still worth seeing, even if it's frustrating and at times messy. And its successes and failures are studies in what to do and not do. I'm sure like most movies, the response will be devisive. Some of you now worried about the film will end up loving it, and some of you prepared to be blown away will feel they were dealt a blow instead. Isn't that the very nature of art? I think all discussions, positive and negative, are worthwhile and everyone's point of view is equally true - because it's just a point of view, and the view changes from wherever you're standing.

Lastly, I do hope at some point the people involved with the movie stand behind what it is, instead of defending what it (maybe) isn’t. Be proud of what you’ve accomplished. It won’t be everything to everybody – nothing can be – but I’m sure it will be everything to enough.

[LariTheLoud]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 2:54pm

That's an encouraging post, MJohnson. After all the negativity, I think it's very good of you to follow it up with that. People seem to be taking these reviews and blowing them out of proportion before even seeing the film and... yeah. I wouldn't want the people involved with the RENT movie to not feel proud of it anymore.

Just thought I should mention. Thanks.

[EvelynNesbit1906]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 3:32pm

"Oh come on, those are just homages, Evelyn.

Hehe."

LOL, a homage implies some reverence. Copying a scene without acknowledging where it came from or making it meaningful on its own terms is just plagiarism.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 3:39pm

Well you know I was kidding right? :-P

I think he often does reference other films though.

Anyway, plagiarist or not, he has an energy as filmmaker that is undeniable.

Updated On: 11/10/05 at 03:39 PM

[EvelynNesbit1906]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 3:49pm

Right, that's why I put "LOL" there.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 4:03pm

But you still felt the need to put your two cents in, right?

[EvelynNesbit1906]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 4:06pm

"She always has the last word."

"Does she? Does she?"

(Yes.)

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 4:11pm

Hah.

[twotrey]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 4:13pm

On top of what MJohnson said, while I don't think it quite works as a stand-alone work in itself, I do enjoy it as a document of the music and the performances of the cast--which is how I can stand to watch it multiple times, heh. After being disappointed on the first view I was able to accept it a little more for what it is on second view. I still can't say I like it as a film of its own accord (and my official review will be mixed), but there are some good bits in it, and I know many others will enjoy it. Actually, given how well Sony is marketing it, I wouldn't be surprised if the youth takes to it and it becomes a commercial success in some way. It won't win awards, but it could become a popular success. Could.

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 4:56pm

If Goodbye Love was too melodramatic...they probably could have included the scene without it be sung. The should have reshoot it during pick ups. I agree, they needed to have shown the tension between Mark and Roger, sung or unsung.

[EverythingIsRENT]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 10:01pm

I can now read what MJ wrote after seeing a screening tonight...this revirew had me petrified, but, I can now say I respectfully disagree with almost everything.

I do miss Goodbye Love, and I DO think we should be told April committed suicide...but none of that mattered to me when watching the film. I don't see how it's confusing, because I honestly tried to get in the mindset of someone who couldn't "fill in the blanks" like I could. You have the devestating funeral (I did see Jesse cry, but um, oh well) and you get the whole big blow up, you see Roger leave, he comes back, etc. It's not that hard to follow. The audience I was with ate it up, and I think only my whole row was RENTheads. I never should have doubted this cast, because they are amazing. Without You was...I can't even discribe...It ripped my heart out, and I didn't stop baweling through the finale. I'm still compiling my thoughts, I casn't think straight. I have no idea how critics will respond, I asm not a film critic and I am not picky about movies, and since i'm already a biased RENThead, take this semi-review for what it's worth. All I know is that I was worried for nothing. Still crossing my fingers for Oscar gold!!

Updated On: 11/10/05 at 10:01 PM

[LariTheLoud]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 10:11pm

EverythingIsRENT - This is exactly what I figured I'd hear from a lot of us fans.