Rent
Another musical for Oscar time – the second this year. Maybe they are not my thing entirely but there is a world of difference between a live stage show and film and somehow part of the energy is lost on celluloid. That is not to say that Rent is not a good example of the genre. The tunes are reasonably good and the singing
and acting is fine, although the cast is largely unknown. Perhaps it is the theme – bohemian artists struggling with HIV in New York in the 90’s – an updated version of La Boheme that I found hard to take. The messages of love and tolerance are fine in principal but somehow got rather repetitive towards the end and a good twenty minutes could have come off the film. There are also many elements in the plot where you have to suspend judgement, especially the final scene which may work on stage or in a fantasy but not in grimy New York. Maybe I was just not in a great mood to make concessions. So, Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal, Idina Menzel (two great scenes)
and Rosario Dawson all do their bit. Taye Diggs is not as prominent as one would have expected from his billing. Chris Columbus is a competent enough director but somehow although there is plenty of energy I needed more. Maybe the Pet Shop Boys singing ‘Rent’ would have helped!
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