Movie Info:
Writer: Jonathan Larson
Director: Michael John Warren
Cast: Adam Kantor, Will Chase, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Michael McElroy, Justin Johnston, Eden Espinosa, Tracie Thoms, Rodney Hicks
Rating: NR
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Info:
Theatrical Release: September 24, 2008
DVD Release Date: February 3, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $27.99
I am the ultimate musicals connoisseur. I love musicals. I have a musical theatre background. It’s pretty clear that’s why I am the one who had the opportunity to watch and review Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway. I also have seen Rent, live on Broadway. I guess that makes me somewhat of an authority on the show. I also went through a period of my college life where I was addicted to anything and everything Rent related. That makes me the perfect guy to review this DVD.
Truth be told, there will NEVER be a better cast than the original. The cast, which included Taye Diggs, Idina Menzel, Anthony Rapp, Jesse L. Martin, and Adam Pascal have all gone on to do other shows on both Broadway and television. The cast had excellent chemistry and personified the roles they played. The cast I saw was primarily made up of those who replaced the original cast, but it was still very exciting and unlike any other performance I’ve seen on stage, to date.
I was looking forward to seeing Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway. I knew it was a filming of the final production of Rent, so I wanted to celebrate this remarkable show. Come to find out, I’m really disappointed in this Blu Ray. Not only is Rent no longer on Broadway, a show that was on stage for over 12 years, but I felt the cast, the final cast, didn’t do Jonathan Larson or his musical justice. It’s the casting that I have the biggest problem with, because I know the musical and I love it. There were performers who couldn’t sing the actual part so they sang up in another octave, which ruined the songs, in my opinion.
The actors just didn’t fit with the vision Larson created for Rent. Their own interpretation of the characters really sucked. You will never experience a show like you will when actually watching it from the audience. Still, the Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway Blu Ray didn’t make me even want to see this group on stage. If this group had been the original cast, I don’t believe the show would have been a success and it’s sad to see how their sub par singing and over the top acting ruined a wonderful, Broadway creation that I hold near and dear to my heart.
The Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway Plot
I could tell you the plot to Rent in my sleep. I’ve heard the songs a million times. I’ve listened to the original soundtrack so many times I can’t even count that high. I’ve seen this show in the “Rent” theater, on Broadway (well technically off the side street to Broadway) and I’ve enjoyed sharing this show with my family and friends. I’m very sad that Rent has ended its run on Broadway. I only hope one day the show can be revived, with a deserving cast.
Rent is a rock opera more than a musical. It parallels La Bohème, the opera by Puccini in many ways. It’s easy to see that Jonathan Larson, the creator of Rent, was inspired by the opera. Larson even uses the music of “Musetta’s Waltz” as a central theme that plays throughout the entire show. Of course, this modern day show is about a group of New York “bohemians” living in the village, with AIDS, poor, and some are facing the oppression of being gay, lesbian or bisexual. The primary cast is made up of seven interconnected friends and their one mutual enemy.
Rent is centered around the storytelling of filmmaker Mark Cohen. He is roommates with Roger Davis, a musician who has HIV. Roger contracted the virus from his girlfriend and found out after she committed suicide. The two once lived with Mark’s now ex-girlfriend, Maureen Johnson, a singer and performer who cares about human rights. She’s also a shameless flirt who dumped Mark to date a lawyer, Joanne Jefferson. The three also once lived with on and off professor of philosophy/anarchist, Tom Collins. Tom has AIDS, and he’s back in town after getting kicked out of MIT, where he taught/performed anarchist-like stunts.
At the beginning of the show, we learn that Mark and Roger live in a dingy apartment with no heat, occasional electricity and various other problems. The last roommate they had was Benny or Benjamin Coffin III, now that he’s married into money. Benny lets them live there, rent free, but he’s changing his mind, now that he’s going to be tearing down the lot nearby where homeless people live. He tells the guys they can stay in their apartment in the building he now owns, if they stop Maureen from protesting in the lot later that evening. Mark and Roger won’t agree because they are actually on Maureen’s side.
Tom is stopping by to visit around the same time, but he gets mugged and beat up. He is found by a drag queen named Angel Dumott Schunard, who also has AIDS. Angel takes Tom home, and tends to his wounds before they head over to Mark and Roger’s place. Angel has just scored big on the street, as a street percussionist, so she’ll be taking everyone out after Maureen’s show. In the meantime, Mark has to go fix Maureen’s equipment for the protest. Joanne has become her new stage manager, but doesn’t know what she’s doing. Mark warns Joanne about Maureen’s roaming eyes, actually making himself feel better as he fixes the mic, something Joanne cannot do.
Back at home, Roger meets the new neighbor, Mimi Márquez, a 19 year old who is addicted to smack, has HIV, and also works at a kinky sex club. The power has gone out and she’s in need of a “light” for her candle. She is attracted to Roger and he is to her, but he was badly hurt by his ex, April, so he’s shut just about everyone out, including Mark.
As Maureen’s performance approaches, Joanne grows nervous, because Maureen does flirt. Of course, Maureen makes it clear she loves Joanne, even if everyone is always staring at her. This only appeases Joanne for so long. As the performance goes off well, ending in a riot, Mark has the potential to sell his footage for profit. Roger struggles with his feelings for Mimi, especially since she’s still addicted to smack. Maureen and Joanne must deal with Joanne’s insecurity and jealousy, though much of it is warranted due to Maureen’s flirtatious nature. As Tom and Angel struggle with the effects of having AIDS, the two fall in love, and provide hope to all their friends, in the process.
Storyline/Plot: 
Replayability: 
Acting:
Singing:
Directing:
Audio/Visual:
Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway looks acceptable though I don’t know that it represents Blu-ray in the best way possible. The strong vibrancy that comes with Blu-ray isn’t really here and it makes for just a standard presentation. The colors are fine, though the blacks have a tendency to occasionally look a little drab. The skin tones look natural, which is good and it’s easy to see the detail in their faces, especially because the director loved to fill the screen with close-ups more than anything. Things like sweat are easily visible on the cast during their performance. People that loved this cast shouldn’t find major problems with this transfer, but Blu-ray lovers will find much more to complain about overall.
Like the video, the 5.1 Dolby TrueHD leaves a lot to be desired. The sound is clean and manages to handle itself in a basic sense, but it’s not as strong and explosive as it could have been. For a live theatrical performance that has been put on Blu-ray there isn’t much to complain about. The music sounds fine. I would have loved to hear it as strong as it would have been live, in person, but being that I am by no means fond of this cast, I won’t complain too much. I would just hope that in future live musical performances studios would learn the importance of top notch, flawless audio. Rent, even with this cast, deserved much better. Subtitles are available in English and French.
Visual:
Audio: 
Bonus Features:
There are a number of special features here. Maybe I would be able to appreciate that assuming I liked the cast, but being that I didn’t I had a hard time dealing with a lot of the repetition found here. Some of these are good and if you like the cast you will probably love most of them. Still, how much you favor them will depend on your overall feelings for this cast for Rent.
“Rent: The Final Days on Broadway” – This documentary looks at the last week of performances before Rent ended its run on Broadway. The documentary is led by a number of people from cast to producers and the director. They discuss the overall impact this musical has had on the world, the tragic death of the writer, and plenty of things in between. In this segment, it also is explained that while it was filmed “live” the majority of scenes were shot sans audience in case any re-shooting needed to be done.
“The Final Curtain Call” – Cast members from the past listen to the final number behind the scenes and when it’s finally over they head on stage to sing Seasons of Love one last time with the current cast. It was nice to see some of the old crew, from Rent. I only wish they’d have been in the actual show!
“The Wall” – This six minute feature looks at the wall outside of the Nederlander Theater. This is a spot where Rent fans are able to write their feelings about the show and say goodbye.
“The Final Lottery” – This interesting process details how producers offered a daily lottery for front row seats at Rent. This process allowed people that could have never afforded tickets, to see Rent for $20 a seat. This feature just explains the process for the final show and lets the excited winners have a say.
“National Marfan Foundation PSA” – Anthony Rapp takes a minute of his time (literally) to explain what Marfan Syndrome is and how you can tell if you have it. This is the affliction that led to the death of Jonathan Larson.
“Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation PSA” – This is a short PSA for the composer of Rent, Jonathan Larson. This includes some information about the Foundation that helps theater professionals in their time of need.
“Casting” – This eight minute feature looks at cast members and the audition process for Rent. The producers and director also appear to talk about how hard casting has been from the original cast until now.
“Home” – This is all about the Nederlander Theater, the place where Rent lived in its 12 year run. The theater was actually empty for three years before Rent moved in, but it’s seemed like home ever since.
The only thing left is a series of trailers for I’ve Loved You so Long, Saarwariya, Across the Universe, Passengers, The Wackness, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, and Rachel Getting Married.
Bonus Features:
Bottom Line:
Neither the movie by Chris Columbus or Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway can capture the true essence of this show, as it once was on Broadway. Still, if I had to pick a favorite of the two DVDs listed above, it’d be Columbus’ Rent. Sure, it has some film adaptations that the show didn’t have on Broadway, but the original cast own their roles and it’s enough to make a true fan nostalgic. I’m sorry, but no one beats Idina Menzel as Maureen. That’s just the way it is.
Still, Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway suffers from far too many flaws for me to take it seriously. When I go to see a show, I expect the performers to actually be able to sing. I consider myself someone with a good ear when it comes to music (considering I’ve had 16+ years of training), so I know good when I hear good. I didn’t hear good in this production. The sad thing is that this show is the one that suffers from the poor casting. I can’t recommend Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway. I can’t send you to Broadway anymore to see the show either, so the only advice I can give is to purchase the original Broadway cast recording, instead. I’ve worn my CD pretty much out, but it’s been worth it to hear the best singers and actors for the job perform the songs Jonathan Larson wrote for them.
Overall Rating:
Technorati Tags: Rent, Filmed Live on Broadway, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Jonathan Larson, Musicals, Blu-ray
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Written by Dominick - Visit Website
Dominick Evans is in his late 20's. He spends his days working as a full time writer/editor and a part time musician/composer. His passions in life include music, directing films, watching movies, reading books, watching sports, wheelchair football, politics, his religion (Hellenic Reconstructionism) and spending time with his family (fiancée Ashtyn, son Robert, and shih-tzu Oliver). Other interests include being an advocate for the disability and GLBT communities.
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