Based on Puccini's classic opera La Boheme, Jonathan Larson's revolutionary rock opera Rent tells the story of a group of bohemians struggling on the raw edge of life to the gritty backdrop of New York's East Village. "Measuring their lives in love," these starving artists strive for success and acceptance while enduring the obstacles of poverty, the pain of love and the AIDS epidemic. One of the longest running shows on Broadway, Rent was the winner of the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the Obie Award, the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, four Tony Awards and three Drama Desk awards.

I think it's almost better to go into the movie not knowing that much about the Broadway Musical than it is to be a huge fan of the hit play. I find most times when you are a fan of a stage performance the film version rarely measures up. The live theater experience has an inherant magic that is almost impossible to capture on film. Most mainstream movie audiences don't have the imagination it takes to see a play in their mind's eye and not miss the special effects and fast-paced action. I knew a little bit about Rent even though I have never had the privilege of seeing it on stage, so the movie worked for me, but I think I would prefer it on stage.

The film is actually shot with a particularly keen eye for the intimate details of this romanticized East Village, which was something of a surprise coming from that master of mainstream Chris Columbus (Home Alone, Harry Potter 1 & 2). Here the director draws you quickly into this beautiful squalor to the point where I could almost sense the missing magic of the Broadway version even though I have never seen it performed any other way.

Naturally a film of this nature is going to live or die on the strength of the music, it is the lifeblood and the only real substance to the prosceedings and let me just say I was absolutely dazzled by it all. Sure the movie has a plot of sorts but it almost plays as subtext to the music itself, which comes at you fast and furious with just enough time to catch your breath between songs. Had the music been in the least bit stilted or flat the film would have fizzled right out of the gates. Thankfully, I was entranced by the songs and the production numbers and left the theater humming a lot of the songs. That's the best compliment I can offer Rent, the characters are only as effective as their ability to sell their songs and almost to a man they carry it off.

As with all musical ensemble casts there are some performances you love, some that are so so for you and others that you just don't care for at all. Ironically one of the performances I didn't care for was by Idina Menzel who plays Maureen in the movie as well as on stage. It's ironic that this is the role that she would be most famous for and what Rent would be famous for and it's the performance I liked the least. I just loved Rosario Dawson as Mimi and Adam Pascal as Roger and their dynamic was the best of all the couples. Their love was so edgy and tortured that it was palpable, it just leapt off the screen for me. Wilson Jermaine Heredia who plays Angel was the humor and wit of the movie. He was the one that always had me cracking up and smiling even though his character also carried the brunt of the film's pathos. I also found it difficult to care much for Taye Diggs character. None of his musical numbers grabbed me - it was as though he was trying to keep it so understated that he seemed to be only half trying. Still these are minor quibbles in the overall scheme of things, I may be in the minority, but Rent really knocked it out of the park for me. One great big Broadway Bohemian Rhapsody.

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