No day but… wait, what year is it? EW’s Whitney Pastorek weighs in on an, ahem, inconsistency in Christopher Columbus’ film adaptation of Rent:
"We’ll skip our rant about Rent’s mangling of New York City geography (love that Tompkins Square Park subway station), but we gotta ask: Who decided to set the movie in 1989, despite the song lyric about 1991’s Thelma & Louise? There is no future, there is no past…but, dudes, there is IMDb. Look into it."
Okay, so we know Columbus filmed it in San Francisco and all, but it seemed like a lot of people (including EW critic Owen Gleiberman) really liked the movie.
Did you? Could you spend another 525,600 minutes with these characters or is your season of love with Rent over?
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The film was great. I’d never seen Rent before or heard any songs except for Seasons but I totally loved it.
such an awesome movie! just like dunksahoy i hadnt seen the play, but id heard the soundtrack before, none the less, even with its little flaws, the movie overall was phenominal and ive been recommending it to everyone i know! just, wow, awesome movie!
I’d rather dip my testacles in scalding hot tea than sit through this movie.
Remember the parody from “Team America”? Sing along if you remember the lyrics: Everyone has Aids! Aids Aids Aids Aids!
Curse Chicago for bringing about the return of the movie musical. Though I am a little hopeful they’ll redo Pirates of Penzance…
I felt the film lacked a real energy and power that the stage show has and it felt very anticlimactic. I know it’s NOT the stage show but i felt the filmmakers didn’t try to do much in the translation to film. I didn’t like the Seasons of Love at the beginning…started it off kind of like, blah…but don’t get me wrong- I LOVE THE MUSIC, but it should’ve started off with a bang! I think all the actors did their jobs well and sounded great. I’ll still be a Rent-head, but found this kind of disappointing.
Hideous, as was the extremely cliche and derivative play. Like a bad hybrid of community theatre productions of Hair and Footloose.
EpSato.. in actuality, you may blame EVITA for bringing back the movie musicals… 1998. Chicago only went into production after the success of EVITA.
(let the hating begin, bring it on!)
A new cult movie. Loved reliving the story of rent. I hate how people always says that Rent is about gay people and AIDS. That is a characteristic of the movie but not the focus. The focus is on friendship, love and getting through the rough times. So powerful- everytime. I loved seeing Rent from the new perspective. Three thumbs up.
I am a devout Rent head. The play was really good, I had the fortune of seeing the orignal cast off broadway, so I was real thrilled when I read EW back in March I think it was that the movie version would feature most of the original cast. Upon seeing the movie I loved it, I took some friends who hadn’t seen the play and they were blown away. Then I let them hear the soundtrack from the broadway show and they agree with me. We missed the phone call interludes, especially the one from Alexi Darling. All and all Chris Columbus, and crew and the actors did a great job. I simply loved Rosario Dawson as Mimi, she brought energy to the movie!!!
Absolutely the WORST movie I have EVER seen
Um…what do you mean “A lot of people liked the movie?” At Rotten Tomatoes, the film only gets 50% approval and is low enough to qualify as “Rotten.”
Personally, I’ll wait for “The Producers.” Between singing AIDS victims and movies about Gay Cowboys (any scenes where they’re eating pudding?), it seems like Trey Parker and Matt Stone will have a lot to right about.
LOVED IT! It is so close to the original stage production. I saw it 3 times opening weekend and took one friend who has never seen it or heard about it and she was BLOWN away. For those who don’t like it, you just don’t get it and that is so sad but to each his own. THERE IS NO DAY BUT TODAY!
One of my favorite musicals of all time. And I am sorry that so many people hate it and hate musicals but they are very popular. I am personally glad that they are back in fashion because I love going to the movies and am able to sit and watch people sing around a stage. It is so engrossing and amusing. I also love the fact that I can go to the closest movie theater instead of having to go to a city to see a play at a theater. I hope there are more musicals to come.
I was dragged to Chicago and loved it. So, I went into Rent with an open mind. That’ll teach me. Where was Kander and Ebb’s music when I needed it? After awhile, I looked for Velma Kelly to clear out half the cast cause they had it comin.
HATED it SO MUCH. I’d go on, but I already wrote a full on pan of it for the college newspaper. Chris Columbus needs to be stopped, and RENTheads need to come back down to earth. It was a mediocre musical to begin with, and it’s an even worse film.
And I disagree that most critics liked it. I was honestly shocked a disappointed to see that Owen went so positive – and went negative on Goblet of Fire! Most critics, from what I’ve seen, have disliked it immensely. The Boston market, at least, was overwhelmingly negative.
But, um, Rent has killed the movie musical revival. And I have bad news: The Producers is better, but not much so. After Chicago, it’s all so disappointing
I loved the movie. Anyone who’s a fan of Rent should read Anthony Rapp’s memoir, WITHOUT YOU, out in stores in February.
The Movie was amazing, and the soundtrack is even better. Everyone who says musicals should die and then say Rent is the worst movie obviously have biases.
And those of you who say the play itself is bad and only about gay, AIDS infected characters need to actualy see the show. Its much more than that.
I was v. excited to see this movie, but I was sorely disappointed. The movie lacked the plays energy. And it REALLY bothered me that they didn’t sing the dialogue, like in the play. And I thought it was set in the early 90s???
And for anyone who thought RENT was a “mediocre” play – hello, it one a Pulitzer prize! It is excellent… Chris Columbus’ direction was anything but…
Conicidence we’re being asked to comment on “Rent” on World AIDS Day? Hopefully not… But to comment on the show… I’ll admit that there are cheesey moments in Rent, as there are in ALL musicals. There are many musicals I’ve enjoyed, and many I’ve hated. I met my partner 8 years ago, and he and his roommate were big Rent-heads — they could sing every line. I found it annoying, to say the least. But I ended up seeing it twice on stage, and saw the movie last weekend, and it gets me every time. I get goosebumps at all the same spots, and teary eyed at others, despite my cynical exterior. It’s kind of how you can get chills during a particularly patriotic moment, no matter how “liberal” you are. (As if liberals can’t be patriotic — but that’s a whole other can o worms) But it’s hard not to take the negative comments about the SUBJECT MATTER of Rent personally, since my partner has been living with HIV for 10 years. I’m fine with complaints about not liking musicals or Chris Columbus’ version of the show, but considering AIDS and gay rights are still very much a part of our world (and not going away anytime soon) people need to be more sensetive, more open-minded, more compassionate. I wonder if people who criticize how “gay” the show is, or how it “glorifies AIDS” actually know anyone with AIDS, HIV, or who is homosexual. It will change your perspective.
It just goes to show that not everyone feels the same way about every movie. I thought this film is the best of 2005 by far. I would see this movie again tomorrow and I will be first inline to buy the DVD.
I’m assuming we are discussing Rent because Brokeback Mountain premieres next week. I’m expecting Jake and Heath on the cover!! Anyway, being gay does not mean I have to like every 10 year old musical that is thrown our way. Rent has more cheese than a deepdish pizza. I find it offputting for movie characters to break into song. So,if they do, the music had better advance the story and be great.
To anyone who thought this was the worst movie musical ever, I have 3 words :
A Chorus Line
Rent was a very good movie. I have never seen the play and have only heard the soundtrack. So I was pleasently suprised.
btw – best movie musical – Hair
Dan,
)
You say:
“I’d rather dip my testacles in scalding hot tea than sit through this movie.”
I guess if you had average amount of the rest of the parts, you would reconsider… How hot should the tea be??
I loved RENT, even though I can’t stand Rosario Dawson!!!
I only saw the play once (in Sarasota, Florida!) and remembered liking it but I couldn’t remember the plot. I was blown away by the movie. I can’t believe that Jesse L. Martin is the same guy from Law & Order. His exuberance and humanity were riveting. Long live the movie musical!
susanna…ummm (cuz that’s not obnoxious), 50% means half….so i guess that is alot. and it’s “write”!
TZARFATIT,
I left off an important part of it – “again.”
I sat through the movie. I thought there were a couple of neat moments/songs, but the lack of believable/likeable characters, plot, and development really screwed the pooch.
The movie reminded me of all the people I know who moved to Brooklyn from all points of the country, and now are holier-than-thou hipsters. All the sappy singing in the world can’t conceal the fact that this is a movie about poseurs. Sappy, unlikeable poseurs.
I couldn’t stand this movie. Could. Not. Stand. It.
PS. I thought the Rick Springfield imitator was particularly heinous.
i was really impressed, but i also understand why a lot of people didn’t like it. i think that our society has become so reliant on seeing the real. we want everything on film to look as real as possible. i laughed when i heard how “real” star wars episode III looked. it’s star wars! stage is supposed to be be about the willing suspension of disbelief. you need to check your doubt at the door when you are in the world of theater. sets will never look perfectly accurate. people might break into song, sing and dance, and act like nothing has ever happened. chicago took this into consideration by making (most of) the musical performances a figment of one character’s imagination. but rent is shot straight on. in the medium of film, i think that’s hard for people to get past. it’s why we are harping on one silly “thelma and louise” reference. if you allow your heart to accept the story – to accept the flow of the piece – i think you will truly enjoy the experience. the performances are great (traci thoms is a stand-out for me!). i think jon larson would be proud – his message is as alive as ever.
don’t you just hate that people have differing opinions?
personally, i love musicals.
i saw RENT last year on Broadway when that Lachey kid starred in it, and it was alright.
the CD has been a part of me for many years, and I love the music.
not so much the story.
I thought the movie was amazing. I didn’t have any faith in Columbus, but he actually did something right (yes, the first HP movies sucked the big one).
When I saw it (twice) a week ago, I kept on getting a feeling like I wasn’t watching a movie. It drew me in. I loved this movie, and I think the replacement actors made it so much better than the OBC.
And on top of that I look forward to The Producers.
See? i can love all different types of movie (musicals).
i’m sorry you all have to deal with the fanaticism of “RENTheads”. i truly am sorry.
This movie was very very bad. The actors were very strong and did their best, with the exception of Rosario Dawson. Dawson can hit the notes, but has no vocal character, making everything she sang a bland lifeless experience. I’ve seen the stage show, but have never been a big fan of the musical. Besides, Chris Columbus slaughtered it, he made some parts unbearably cutesy and silly. This movie should come with a “FOR SUPER FANS ONLY” sticker.
oh, and yes i like the RENT in its entirety.
and no, i hate the ending.
that certain person should die rather say what they are made to say. its worse in the stage version.