RENT : Blu-ray Review

The Movie Itself is directed by Chris Columbus. The story centers on a group of friends living the Bohemian lifestyle in New York City in the eighties. Told from a variety of perspectives, the ensemble musical covers a lot of ground, predominantly pertaining to the AIDS epidemic, gay/lesbian relationships, and drug abuse. What might sound like a startlingly grim narrative, is in actuality a very moving and inspiring piece of musical art that presents difficult subject matter in a readily approachable way — a loving way. Never are the characters defined by their plight or their sexual preference, in fact they transcend the societal boundaries effortlessly to the point where even the most conservative viewers should be able to thoroughly enjoy the film. To be clear, there are no gratuitous scenes of drug use or sex scenes — that is not what this film is about. The film is about love. Time and again, we are reminded of this, whether through song and dance, or the resonant relationships/friendships depicted on screen. Love, in every form… in every way.

I’ll have to admit that it wasn’t until I watched the feature-length documentary “No Day But Today” that my appreciation of the film, and its message really came together. I, unlike most people, had no prior knowledge of the musical, with the exception being that I was aware of its existence, and it’s acclaim. Nor was I aware of the tragic back story of the play’s creator/writer/composer, Jonathan Larson. So tragic is this story, that you might think it was a work of fiction itself.

Having worked tirelessly — living the Bohemian lifestyle he depicts in “RENT” — for years composing and writing his masterwork, Jonathan Larson was precisely where he imagined himself being the night before he passed away. Everything was moving according to plan, with the play set to premiere the following day. He had accomplished everything he had set out to do, which was to re-invigorate the Broadway musical scene through the integration of pop/rock music, swooning ballads, and uplifting gospel tracks. Beyond that, he managed to write a compelling dramatic story about love and loss that paid tribute to people afflicted with AIDS — subsequently humanizing them for the masses that found it easier to turn a blind eye than to lend a helping hand.

In spite of Jonathan’s tragic passing, there is a certain bittersweet resonance that stems from his untimely death, strengthening his every written and lyrical word, that there is no day but today, and that it is of the utmost importance to live a life of love and joy. This is the legacy we leave behind, and for Jonathan Larson, he succeeded marvelously. He managed to touch the lives of so many audience members worldwide — regardless of the venue, be it on Broadway or on film — and his legacy will live on for many years to come.