Newsfeed
Printer-Friendly ModeMusical worth the Rent
December 12, 2005 —
The movie Rent, based entirely from Jonathan Larson's 1996 Tony Award-winning musical, recounts the struggle of eight friends trying to stay alive in New York's dingy East Village. They face poverty, illness, death and despair in a story that pulls the audience in. There is nothing glamorous about this movie; there is no cheery undertone, and it is as raw of a look at the life of these people that would be allowed in theatres today, sharing the reality of many problems we often dismiss.
The plot line is nothing more than the lives of these eight entangled friends, set to music, and played out with the background of poverty stricken neighborhoods and filthy streets. Their adventures spark protests, inspire marriages, take them to funerals, and show love and loss, all the while weaving a fine balance between song and dialogue.
Bringing back six of the main characters from the original Broadway cast, the movie version has a certain familiarity of tone and style that can help admirers of the original relate to this version. These actors are also comfortable enough with their parts to make them feel real to newcomers.
One obvious downfall is the energy the audience loses from the live stage as it is converted to recorded material, something director Chris Columbus attempts to cover in most circumstances. He does his best using intimate camera angles and revealing shot sequences to help relay the depth of emotion the characters are undergoing. I would say, however, that he seems to gloss over some major points in the second half of the movie, which does do some damage to the dramatic buildup towards the end of the movie.
It is obvious that the characters do not have an easy time navigating their way through life, but I would argue that it is their struggle that holds the key to the success of the movie. The truth is that throughout their fight, this group of friends discovers what really matters, and it is nothing more complicated than the relationships they share. No matter how bad their lives get, how sick they are, or how much money they have, they are together through it all.
However this movie is portrayed, you know that the story is about discovering the true happiness friends feel when they are living their lives together. The movie will never be as powerful or intense as the stage production, and I would not claim that it is better than the original. I would say, however, that the opportunity it has given many more people to experience this inspiring and true-life story is worth the few concessions that were made in the transition from stage to film.