Rent (2005)

Director:

Chris Columbus

Writers (WGA):

Stephen Chbosky (screenplay)
Jonathan Larson (book)

Release Date:

23 November 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

Eight friends. One extraordinary year.

Plot:

This is the film version of the Pulitzer and Tony Award winning musical about Bohemians in the East Village of New York City struggling with life, love and AIDS, and the impacts they have on America.

Plot Keywords:

Hiv Positive | Bohemian | New York City | Love | AIDS

Awards:

1 win & 17 nominations

Cast

Anthony Rapp	...	Mark Cohen
Adam Pascal	...	Roger Davis
Rosario Dawson	...	Mimi Marquez
Jesse L. Martin	...	Tom Collins
Wilson Jermaine Heredia	...	Angel Dumott Schunard
Idina Menzel	...	Maureen Johnson
Tracie Thoms	...	Joanne Jefferson
Taye Diggs	...	Benjamin Coffin III
Julia Roth	...	Rent Tenant
Porscha Radcliffe	...	Rent Tenant
Stephen Payne	...	Homeless Squeegee Man
Darryl Chan	...	Thug
Ken Clark	...	Thug
R.C. Ormond	...	Thug
David Fine	...	Homeless Man on Range Rover

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material involving drugs and sexuality, and for some strong language.

Runtime:

135 min | Philippines:138 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | UK:12A | Canada:14A (Manitoba) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Finland:K-11 | Singapore:M18 | Ireland:15A | Argentina:16 | Sweden:7 | Brazil:14 | Australia:M | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:14 | Germany:6 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:15 | Malaysia:U (DVD) | Philippines:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Alameda, California, USA

Company:

Rent Productions LLC

Trivia:

Director Chris Columbus considered casting "American Idol: The Search for a Superstar" (2002) contestant and "Rent" (1996) Broadway replacement cast member Frenchie Davis as Joanne Jefferson, but decided upon Tracie Thoms for the role.

Goofs:

Continuity: On the subway train during 'Santa Fe,' the woman at the end of the train with them sits down twice - when Collins sings the line 'Computer Age Philosophy' and when the camera goes back to the shot of all four of the people in the song.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Mark, Angel, Maureen, Roger, Collins, Benjamin Coffin III, Mimi: Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes. Five hundred twenty-five thousand moments so dear. Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes. How do you measure, measure a year? In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee. In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife. In five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes - how do you measure a year in the life? How about love? How about love? How about love? Measure in love... seasons of love.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Psych: Any Given Friday Night at 10PM, 9PM Central (#3.13)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Seasons of Love

Keeping an open mind.

I saw 'Rent' at a screening on Nov.12. I had seen the stage version both in NYC with the original cast as well as in LA with a different cast. The music and story has been echoing in my head for the past 10 years. So I was bound to be critical, but determined to be open-minded as this was going to be a film, not a stage musical. Chris Columbus did a wonderful job in preserving the message and feelings Jonathan Larson I think wanted people to take away with them. The changes made to bring this story to the screen were artfully accomplished. The film is gritty and sad and has a feeling of hopelessness that was difficult to transmit in a stage venue. The music that made it into the film is spectacular, and the soundtrack is indeed better than the OBC recording. The loss of several songs, though at first disappointing, works in the context of the movie. I hope all you fellow 'Rentheads' give this film the chance it deserves. I will be in the theater on opening day next week to see it again for sure.