Released: 11/23/05

Viewed: 11:59pm 11/22/05

Starring: Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal, Rosario Dawson, Jesse L. Martin, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Idina Menzel, Tracie Thoms, Taye Diggs

Directed by: Chris Columbus

People forget that musicals once ruled the silver screen. Musicals were the superhero movies of the cinema of yesteryear. Thanks to the big success of movies like Moulin Rouge and Chicago's there has been a resurgence of interest in the genre that built Hollywood. RENT is a perfect example of a classic musical told from the modern perspective. It's hip and edgy, even 15 years after the year it takes place in, and it works better than any modern musical, taking place in modern times, has in over 20 years. The reason it works is because the themes are the same. Regardless of when or where it takes place it's still about love and about life and the tragedies and inspiration that come along with it. That's beautiful.

I won't pretend to judge this movie as a fan. Never saw the play, never heard a song all the way through before, and I knew next to nothing about the story. For me to judge the movie as a comparison to its source material is also unfair. This plays been around for a while and people love it and who am I to say what should be different? It's like saying Hamlet's mother should have killed Ophelia. You don't rewrite a classic.

I can only judge it as a curious movie fan going in thinking that Taye Diggs is the man and Rosario Dawson is hot. So pardon my ignorance. I'll miss-name songs, I'll speculate on how it relates to the stage version and do other unforgivable things. Part of me recognizes this as lazy. I could easily look up the songs, and take an afternoon to read the script, but will your average moviegoer do that. That's my excuse.

It's horrible, I know. Bare with me.

This is a musical. If you didn't know that, then this is your wake up call. Welcome to Thunderdome, bitch. Some of the songs are great. Two I hated. But for the most part its used really well, and once you get over the shock that people are actually singing at the movies, it's fine. The music is obviously modern but still theatrical in that most of the songs are narrative and easily lend themselves to story progression and jazz hands, if the director should see fit. I would say the best songs are those that are less specific to a scene. For me "Seasons of Love" and (guessing on the title here) "No Day But Today" are the standouts. It doesn't hurt that they bookend the film and are both echoed in different ways throughout the movie. I like them the most because they're universal and could almost apply to anyone. The idea of using love to measure a year is a brilliant idea and the whole "carpe diem" theme of "No day" is something most people can relate to. Plus "Seasons" just sounds really good.

"Seasons" is so strong in fact that it opens the movie even though I get the feeling it wasn't really supposed to. The movie starts with the 8 cast members on a stage singing it. I wondered if it was meant to act as a transition. Sort of a "this is a play, but now it's a movie! TA-DA!" I thought maybe the original opening (narration from Anthony Rapp about viewing life in a new perspective.) wasn't strong enough, or possibly was misleading or not a big enough introduction to a proper musical. And I realized it didn't matter. The opening performance, as simple as it is, is awesome. And they were really having fun. To show that really gets the film off and running on the right foot, and it lets people know what the movie is all about. I counted two walkouts.

Though those were the ones I enjoyed the most I also enjoyed the (another guess) "Light My Candle" song and (guess what this is? a guess) "Dignity". Dignity is just a haunting chant where the same lines are said over and over adding in new layers at it progresses. I found myself humming it on the way out. Candle is playful and fun, and introduces the relationship of Dawson and Pascal's characters very well. You really see the development and believe in their love.

One of the other less obvious love stories I don't feel was handled well at all. It sort of sneaks up on you. It starts out as two friends bonding over AIDS and helping people cope with disease. Then BAM! They're a couple. Looking back it's believable and very sweet, but the origins of their love is not given proper treatment on screen. I say origins because later in the movie you realize just how real it is.

The movie is sad. I haven't shed a tear since Toy Story 2 and I STILL haven't, but damn did I come close. It's easy to get wrapped up in it, watching people deal with addiction, death, and disease. It's tough. Life is tough. It's part of what it's all about. Performances are great all around. It's the entire original Broadway cast except for two replacements, so there's a real chemistry between them. You really feel the friendship and you can tell that they've spent the better part of a year seeing each other constantly. They can all sing too. Jesse Martin from Law and Order can really belt it out! Who knew?!

The movies director is Chris Columbus who might not seem like the obvious choice, but he's got a lot of experience with big huge complicated stories, plus he must be a fan of the play/music. Otherwise he would have gone insane. He's made movies in the past with this level of complexity and they've worked pretty well. I will say though that he's the safe choice. In his hands you know the movie will turn out fine. It's just no guarantee that it will be amazing.

For the record, I don't think it is, but it is very good.

Here's why. It's long. REAL long. I mean, does that guy really go to New Mexico!? Does that actually happen? I couldn't believe the movie wasn't over at that point. Clearly things needed to get wrapped up, but that just set up a whole other set of problems to be solved. And I got to admit I was curious how they made that work on stage.

Also, it's all song. There's a good bit of dialogue to thread it together but it really is wall-to-wall songs, some that are no good, and some that go on for too long. I like songs and I understand that the story is told nearly all in song, but for the love of God even Mary Poppins took a breath in between to open her umbrella.

Even with my two complaints it's still greatly entertaining, and a real testament to what can be done with a musical. It's not for everyone, but it's certainly more accessible than movies like Chicago and Moulin Rouge. Don't get me wrong, some times I feel like a 1920's black widow or a French hooker, but most of the time I feel much more like a struggling artist. That's just me though. Sorry to all the French hookers of the world reading this.

It's 7 strong but 6 long so I'm compromising with a 6.5 out of 10. Theater geeks will freak out of the transition from stage to screen. Music geeks will appreciate the songs for how good they actually are. Movie fans will "get it" but how much they "love it" will depending on how far they're willing to bend in the theater and music department. Take it for what it is and you'll enjoy it.

DVD worthy?:

To buy this on DVD you have to really love the music. There's a strong story there, but if you don't feel passionately about the tunes you'll cringe every time an obvious intro rears its ugly head. If you like a couple of the songs but not all of them, just buy the CD. I won't be getting it, I can tell you that, but I'm sure it will do fine.

If you liked this movie check out: ???

I've been trying hard to think of a movie that really shows the ups and downs of struggling to live and love in New York City. Or something that at least captures the same spirit of just getting through life the best you can. I seriously can't think of one. Maybe something like Fame but I was never really crazy about that movie. But actually, it has music and dance and real life situations nested in the heart of NYC. The people that liked RENT are probably all about Fame, so go nuts.

Trailer Hitch: Freedomland

Freedomland is a movie about child abduction starring Julianne Moore and Sam Jackson. Seems like a worry that a lot of people could relate with. A woman gets car jacked and her child is in the back seat of the car unbeknown to the thief. The trailer makes the rest of the movie out to be an interesting detective story about following the clues to find the missing child. Did they give too much away by showing the trial leads to an abandoned insane asylum for children? As long as it doesn't end with the reveal that the story took place in the mind of a younger crazy Julianne Moore? That would super suck.

Today's incentive shows the extent of my dance skills. Just vote The Muggle shirts are selling strong, but we did have a problem with the store over the holiday weekend. If you were looking to grab on, the problems been fixed and we've extended the pre-order date to December 7th to pick up any stragglers. Thanks for reading, everyone.