Reviews by Matt

Rent

As a guy, I’m not supposed to like musicals. It’s not in our DNA. The closest we can come is “The Blues Brothers.” Even then it is by the mere fact that John Belushi is the star that we can allow ourselves to love the movie. So why then, when I took the chance, did I love “Rent?” What is it that makes this movie musical one that I enjoy watching? There must be something that sets it apart from other musicals because I hated movies like “Chicago.” So just what it is about “Rent” that makes me actually sing along when I watch it? Hopefully I can use this time to figure it out.

“Rent” is the story of a group of eight friends living in the East Village of New York. Dealing with AIDS, love, loss and struggling to pay the rent the film follows them through one year in their lives. The two main characters are Mark Cohen (Anthony Rapp,) a struggling film maker and Rodger Davis (Adam Pascal,) a struggling musician. As Mark tries to capture “real life” for his documentary, Rodger struggles to write a song, something he has not done since his ex-girlfriend died. On Christmas Eve, the power for the block they live on is turned off because no one has paid their rent. When their friend Benny (Taye Diggs,) who has become successful after marrying the owner of their block tells Mark and Rodger that if they get Mark’s ex-girlfriend Maureen Johnson (Idina Manzel,) to cancel her protest against them, they can live in their loft for free. This is complicated by the fact that Maureen left Mark for a lawyer named Joanne (Tracie Thomas.) Their friend Tom Collins (Jessie L. Martin,) a college professor comes to visit and falls in love with Angel (Wilson Jermaine Heredia,) a drag queen street musician. During the landlord-induced power outage, Rodger meets Mimi (Rosario Dawson,) a drug addicted stripper and begins to fall in love with her, but won’t admit it because they both have “baggage.”

As a cast, these are some of the best performances I have ever seen, but it is expected when most of the cast (with the exception of Rosario Dawson and Tracie Thomas,) have been playing these characters for ten years. They should know all the nuances of their characters by this point and be able to show the relationships with the other characters. The two newcomers, Rosario Dawson and Tracie Thomas, seem like they were there from the beginning. They have great connections with the original members. Of the two “newbies” I was most impressed with Rosario Dawson. I knew she could act, but she can also sing really well. I was convinced that she had her voice dubbed, but I was wrong. She has an incredible voice to go along with her acting ability. Tracie Thomas also has an amazing voice. When she sang her solo in “Seasons of Love,” I was blown away. They picked two great additions to the cast who even though are new, fit just like they were supposed to be there from the beginning.

Of the original cast I was most impressed by Jessie L. Martin (Tom Collins.) Why you ask, well because he is one of the detectives on “Law and Order.” I’m a fan of all the “Law and Order” shows and was shocked to see Detective Ed Green singing. It was also interesting to see him play a gay character with AIDS. It is the complete opposite of his “Law and Order” character. The one scene where I see this is evident is when he sings the reprise “I’ll Cover You.” I cannot say much about the circumstances with out spoiling the end, but when you see it you will understand what I feel that he alone makes it one of the most powerful scenes in the second half of the play.

I would not be doing this film justice if I did not comment on the music. Written by Jonathan Larson for the play, which was first preformed in 1996, it still holds up ten years later. You are destined to find yourself singing some of the songs after you are finished with the film. Jonathan Larson was able to write rock songs, ballads, and even a tango themed song. The music in the film/play is a credit to Larson’s ability. “Rent,” the play, was Larson’s first big hit and unfortunately he died before he could see how much his play would be loved.

So what is it about “Rent” that makes me sing along and actually enjoy a musical? It is many things. The music is actually good and very well written. The actors care so much for the material that they wanted to do it justice in the film version. The message of “No Day But Today” is something that tells the viewer to not miss out on life and to live each day to it’s fullest. Whether you are dying from AIDS or not, “life is yours to miss.”

So give the movie a try, I did and was impressed so much that I have seen in a few times since. It is amazing what can happen when you open yourself to something you would not normally watch or something you could easy write off as not “your thing.” Life is about taking chances and taking risks in everything you do; love, friends, opening you mind to new ideas. Take chances on things…even movies and you will be surprised at what you find.

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material involving drugs and sexuality, and for some strong language.
Runtime: 135 min

9 out of 10