(no subject)
Just a few thouhgts on RENT the movie before I finish off beta-ing fic for muffinbutt and indy_go. It was quite enjoyable, although I am now suffering the side-effect of having Rent songs stuck in my head for the past week. Which makes it hard to sleep, but oh well.
First, this might not be the final version of the film, because the screening I saw was different from one some people on IMDB saw. For what it's worth. So, there goes.
I really enjoyed the fact that you could see everything that was going on; and Christopher Columbus (for all his soppyness) did a good job of integrating the idea that was a musical with New York City-ness. The whole cast did an excellent job: Jesse L. Martin especially, which mostly stuck out because of the amusing contrast I feel when I see him singing (Detective Green from Law and Order? SINGING? hee), which he did superbly.
Some of the structuring was different than the play (most of the first act is now spread over 4 days instead of 1), which made lots of Mark's opening narration unusable. I really like the way that "Rent" was filmed, and also "Take Me or Leave Me" (I'm sorry, I find it hysterically appropriate that it was held at Joanne's parents country club). Mark's role makes a little less sense, in a way, because all of the film makes it that much more obvious that he's the only one who's alone, while at the same time not giving him enough of his "outside-observer" angst (which the play asides made so poignant). Also, Anthony Rapp's performance was very much of still a stage acting, while everyone else acted much more like they were in a movie. What looks all right on a big stage looks a little... spastic on camera. *giggle*
The version I saw cut out "Christmas Bells", "Halloween", and the second part of "Goodbye Love", which I thought was really unfortunate. I don't know whether or not that'll stay, though I have heard that it will be on the DVD. "Contact" didn't make any version, the staging didn't work apparently (although that would have been a priceless rehearsal day to attend...). Because we don't have the second part of GL, we miss some of the angst of Roger and Mark, and Roger doesn't actually get to say goodbye to anyone... it just transitions to him going to Sante Fe (where his car, I admit is fabulously ghetto).
It was an enjoyable movie, that I will want to see again and own, but doesn't replace the show in any way. The energy is there, and the friendships (Collins/Mark/Roger are adorable together, and Roger/Mimi is extremely believable, huzzah Rosario Dawson!) work well--though we don't get much resolution out of Taye Diggs, which is too bad because he's a fine actor and makes you want to know more about Benny--but due to my overly obsessive score-memorization, maybe I just felt the gaps too much.
Also, the only phone message was from Mark's Mom at the beginning. No chorus of parental voices later in the show, no stern lecture from Joanne's parents, nothing. Sad.
On a high note, I thought that the Life Support scenes were some of the most moving in the movie. As something that is staged as almost hidden on the stage show, it was great to really get in there. The actors they cast as group members were excellent, full of emotion and humanity. There's a great scene where Roger (post "Who Do You Think You Are") finally decides to get out of the house and shows up at the meeting just in time to sing "Will I Lose My Dignity". It's so cute; Collins looks like he'll cry. *huggles them*
Chris Columbus took full advantage of new staging opportunties because of the medium of film (one of my favorites is putting Mimi's "Take Me Out Tonight" in the strip club she performs in), so that's fun.
I guess I'll have to wait and see how it all works out in the end. Who's up for a viewing over Thanksgiving?
Beware the link, it's a bit long and rambly. Needless to say, I have great fodder for Rent!fic. Just as soon as I finish beta-ing, and reading for class, and... yeah. Soon. Cheers!
First, this might not be the final version of the film, because the screening I saw was different from one some people on IMDB saw. For what it's worth. So, there goes.
I really enjoyed the fact that you could see everything that was going on; and Christopher Columbus (for all his soppyness) did a good job of integrating the idea that was a musical with New York City-ness. The whole cast did an excellent job: Jesse L. Martin especially, which mostly stuck out because of the amusing contrast I feel when I see him singing (Detective Green from Law and Order? SINGING? hee), which he did superbly.
Some of the structuring was different than the play (most of the first act is now spread over 4 days instead of 1), which made lots of Mark's opening narration unusable. I really like the way that "Rent" was filmed, and also "Take Me or Leave Me" (I'm sorry, I find it hysterically appropriate that it was held at Joanne's parents country club). Mark's role makes a little less sense, in a way, because all of the film makes it that much more obvious that he's the only one who's alone, while at the same time not giving him enough of his "outside-observer" angst (which the play asides made so poignant). Also, Anthony Rapp's performance was very much of still a stage acting, while everyone else acted much more like they were in a movie. What looks all right on a big stage looks a little... spastic on camera. *giggle*
The version I saw cut out "Christmas Bells", "Halloween", and the second part of "Goodbye Love", which I thought was really unfortunate. I don't know whether or not that'll stay, though I have heard that it will be on the DVD. "Contact" didn't make any version, the staging didn't work apparently (although that would have been a priceless rehearsal day to attend...). Because we don't have the second part of GL, we miss some of the angst of Roger and Mark, and Roger doesn't actually get to say goodbye to anyone... it just transitions to him going to Sante Fe (where his car, I admit is fabulously ghetto).
It was an enjoyable movie, that I will want to see again and own, but doesn't replace the show in any way. The energy is there, and the friendships (Collins/Mark/Roger are adorable together, and Roger/Mimi is extremely believable, huzzah Rosario Dawson!) work well--though we don't get much resolution out of Taye Diggs, which is too bad because he's a fine actor and makes you want to know more about Benny--but due to my overly obsessive score-memorization, maybe I just felt the gaps too much.
Also, the only phone message was from Mark's Mom at the beginning. No chorus of parental voices later in the show, no stern lecture from Joanne's parents, nothing. Sad.
On a high note, I thought that the Life Support scenes were some of the most moving in the movie. As something that is staged as almost hidden on the stage show, it was great to really get in there. The actors they cast as group members were excellent, full of emotion and humanity. There's a great scene where Roger (post "Who Do You Think You Are") finally decides to get out of the house and shows up at the meeting just in time to sing "Will I Lose My Dignity". It's so cute; Collins looks like he'll cry. *huggles them*
Chris Columbus took full advantage of new staging opportunties because of the medium of film (one of my favorites is putting Mimi's "Take Me Out Tonight" in the strip club she performs in), so that's fun.
I guess I'll have to wait and see how it all works out in the end. Who's up for a viewing over Thanksgiving?
Beware the link, it's a bit long and rambly. Needless to say, I have great fodder for Rent!fic. Just as soon as I finish beta-ing, and reading for class, and... yeah. Soon. Cheers!