"Rent" (2005) is the screen adaptation of the long-running Broadway rock musical, and six of the eight major roles are reprised by the original stage performers (Taye Diggs, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Jesse L. Martin, Idina Menzel, Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp). New to the cast are Tracie Thoms as Joanne and Rosario Dawson as Mimi.
Inspired by Puccini's 1896 opera "La Bohème," "Rent" is about the bohemian life in Manhattan's East Village in 1989-90. In the 19th-century opera, the pall that hangs over the characters is caused by tuberculosis, which is replaced in the late 20th-century musical by AIDS.
But the focus in "Rent" is on the musical numbers, such as the cast doing "Seasons of Love" and "La Vie Bohème." Other noteworthy numbers include "Take Me or Leave Me," which showcases Idina Menzel and Tracie Thoms, and Rosario Dawson performing "Out Tonight."
On DVD "Rent" comes as a two-disc set, where Disc One contains the feature film and an audio commentary track with director Chris Columbus and cast members Anthony Rapp (Mark) and Adam Pascal (Roger).
Disc Two contains a six-part making-of documentary titled "No Day but Today" that is an hour and 52 minutes in length. This begins with information about Jonathan Larson, the creator of "Rent," who at age 35 unexpectedly died of a cardiovascular disorder shortly before the stage musical's opening. Then the documentary goes on to trace the development of "Rent" from raw idea to the New York Theatre Workshop to Broadway to the movie version.
Also on Disc Two are five deleted scenes with a total running time of about 12 minutes. These include Anthony Rapp performing the musical number "Halloween" and an alternate ending. The five scenes can be watched either with or without director commentary.
There are two DVD editions of "Rent," one with the feature film in widescreen, the other with the movie in full frame (1.33:1). Both editions contain the same extras. Below I have given the details for the widescreen edition of the "Rent" DVD.
DVD Details for the Widescreen Edition:
Release Date: February 21, 2006
Number of Discs: 2
Feature Film Run Time: 2 Hours 15 Minutes
Anamorphic Widescreen (2.40:1), Color
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for Mature Thematic Material Including Drugs and Sexuality and for Some Strong Language
English 5.1 Dolby Digital
French 5.1 Dolby Digital
English Subtitles
French Subtitles
Audio Commentary by Director and Two Cast Members
Making-Of Documentary: "No Day but Today" (1 hr. 52 min.)
Deleted Scenes (5 scenes totaling 12 min.)
Public Service Announcements (2)
