525,600 minutes...........how do I measure the film of the year?

Author's Rating:

Pros: "The music ignites the night with passionate fires."; very good acting

Cons: The best songs are cut short, and some songs are cut out

The Bottom Line: 
Watch it ASAP. Remember, there's no day but today.

Author's Review
Well, how about LOVE!?!

I've never seen Rent in the theatres. However, being the musical fanatic that I am, I was ecstatic when I heard that Rent was hittin' the big screen. After viewing it, I can say that my ecstacy was certainly well placed and that it is very easy to become a "Rent-head".

Based on the 19th century opera La Bohème, Rent is the story of 8 young Bohemians struggling to survive and make a living on the East Side of New York City. Through their hardships, the group learns the precious value of life, love, and friendship over the course of one year (which is approximately 525600 minutes long).

Mark Cohen (Anthony Rapp) is a filmmaker who is currently working on a documentary. According to his narration at the beginning of the movie, he never leaves the loft without his camera. When he's on the street, he simply winds up his camera and records, hoping it'll pick up something interesting. He is the only member of the group who is not directly involved in any of the conflicts they face throughout the year.

Roger Davis (Adam Pascal) is a guitarist who was once the lead in a rock band. He is also a former drug addict. Just like his roommate Mark's goal for the year is to finish filming his documentary, Roger's goal is to write a new song, but he can't find anything to inspire him. He lost his inspiration after his girlfriend, April, committed suicide after learning that they both have contracted HIV. After the tragedy, Roger vows never to become involved with drugs again. And then Mimi comes along...

Mimi Marquez (Rosario Dawson) makes a living as an exoctic dancer at the local nightclub. When she meets Roger, the two fall instantly in love. However, Roger realizes that Mimi is addicted to heroin. Not wanting to give Mimi AIDS, Roger resists temptation and shuns her away. However, when they realize that they both have AIDS, Roger and Mimi become lovers. But before Roger commits completely, Mimi must get over her addiction to smack.

Tom Collins (Jesse L. Martin) is a computer whiz/hacker, and a good friend of Mark and Roger. Though he prefers a life on the streets, he often visits them in their loft. As he is infected with HIV/AIDS, Collins worries that he will never find true love. However, his life is thrown for a loop when he meets his guardian Angel.

Maureen Johnson (Idina Menzel) and Joanne Jefferson (Tracie Thoms) are two L-word lovers who seem to have nothing in common (besides gender). Maureen is a free-spirited flirt, and Joanne is a stern lawyer. Mark (who was previously dumped by Maureen) warns Joanne about Maureen's unfaithful nature. Though Joanne doesn't believe him at first, it gradually becomes evident that Maureen has no sense of committment whatsoever. Soon, friction begins to emerge between the two of them.

Benjamin Coffin III (Taye Diggs) is what some would call the "villain" of the story. A former roommate with Mark and Roger, Benny turned his back on Bohemia and married Alison, the daughter of a wealthy company owner. A man of business now, Benny's goal is to evacuate the neighboord where Mark and Roger live in, tear it down, and build a new cyber media center in its place. The gang consider him to be a traitor to the Bohemian ways. They want to become artists without the help of Benny and his cyber centre. Later on, Benny starts a love triangle between Roger, Mimi, and himself.

Angel Dumott Schunard (Wilson Jermaine Heredia) is a drag queen and a street performer. Though he too has contracted AIDS, the flamboyant and appropriately-named Angel has a heart of gold and a soul of fire. From the moment he first meets Collins, the spirited cross-dresser begins to change the lives of his 7 peers. Through his kind, generous, and fun-loving nature, Angel teaches the gang the value of love, life, and friendship.......to the very end. Angel is by far the most important character in the movie.

NOTE: Besides Rosario Dawson (Mimi) and Tracie Thoms (Joanne), all of the principal cast members starred in the 1996 Broadway production of Rent in the same roles they play in the movie. Sadly, Jonathan Larson, who wrote the book, composed the music, and devised the lyrics for Rent passed away right before it first went up on Broadway.

I can't say much about the set. Most of the scenes were shot in a studio. However, some outdoor scenes were shot on location in New York.

The music..........OMG the music! Though some of the songs were cut or cut short, and other songs were in different places then in the stage version, it made no real difference. The music was incredible! Rosario Dawson has a lovely voice, certainly better then the woman who played Mimi on Broadway. Some of the most memorable songs are "Seasons of Love", "Rent", "La Vie Bohème", and my personal favorite: "What you Own".

I've heard some people suggest taglines for Rent when it comes out on video. The ones that come up most frequently are "Rent Rent" or "Rent the movie Rent: the movie". Humorous as they may be, their no good as taglines for one simple reason: it's not enough to simply rent it. Rent is the type of movie you want to see over and over again.