Before I begin this review, I need to point out that I am not a Renthead. I have only seen the Broadway show once, and that was in the past six months. I enjoyed the show greatly, but I don’t have the ownership that I feel the people who have seen the show multiple times feel. That being said, I loved the movie.
I had been worried that the film was going to be overproduced, but for me it wasn’t. I’ve heard complaints that the opening number was a little cliché, with the all the tenets on the fire escapes singer and burning paper in the streets, but that didn’t bother me at all.
Overall, I thought the movie was great. I thought the acting was excellent and the singing was magnificent. I had heard the soundtrack, so I knew that the music was going to be updated a little, richer. There are more instruments from the studio that are on the stage in the Broadway show. It sounded fabulous.
The structure of the show was adjusted somewhat for the movie. There are only a couple of phone messages and they aren’t sung. The time line is a little different too. The protest is held on Christmas, not Christmas Eve. Perhaps it gives more time for Angel and Tom to connect. Wilson Jermaine Heredia reprising his Broadway role of Angel was amazing. (Actually, I think Angel is one of the best roles in the show.)
Overall, I thought the movie was great. I thought the acting was excellent and the singing was magnificent. I had heard the soundtrack, so I knew that the music was going to be updated a little, richer. There are more instruments from the studio that are on the stage in the Broadway show. It sounded fabulous.
The structure of the show was adjusted somewhat for the movie. There are only a couple of phone messages and they aren’t sung. The time line is a little different too. The protest is held on Christmas, not Christmas Eve. Perhaps it gives more time for Angel and Tom to connect. Wilson Jermaine Heredia reprising his Broadway role of Angel was amazing. (Actually, I think Angel is one of the best roles in the show.)
There were some great things that could be done with the film that can’t be done on stage. At the life affirmation meetings, people faded away as they passed away. Very moving. There were several times throughout the film that the movie theater was completely silent except for tearful sniffles (I being one of the weepers.).
Some of the scenes were more literal than on stage, having been filmed in different rooms or on the subway as opposed to the one set stage of the Broadway show. This didn’t make it any less dramatic, just different. I really loved the scene of Joanne and Maureen’s engagement party which led into Take Me or Leave Me. I thought this scene was very well done. La Vie Boheme completely rocked.
It was interesting being taken back to 1989 New York City. Times Square is rougher and there is a lot more graffiti. The city looks rawer. The AIDS epidemic is rampant. (In these pre-AIDS-cocktail days, an HIV-positive diagnosis seemed to be an immediate death sentence.)
Some of the scenes were more literal than on stage, having been filmed in different rooms or on the subway as opposed to the one set stage of the Broadway show. This didn’t make it any less dramatic, just different. I really loved the scene of Joanne and Maureen’s engagement party which led into Take Me or Leave Me. I thought this scene was very well done. La Vie Boheme completely rocked.
It was interesting being taken back to 1989 New York City. Times Square is rougher and there is a lot more graffiti. The city looks rawer. The AIDS epidemic is rampant. (In these pre-AIDS-cocktail days, an HIV-positive diagnosis seemed to be an immediate death sentence.)
The only lingering doubts that I have are about the age of the cast. When they all first did the play in the mid 90’s, they were in their mid 20’s. Now they are in their 30’s. I think their maturity brought a depth to their acting and their singing, but I’m not sure that some of the idealistic youth was missing. Overall though, I thought the film was excellent. I have yet to get the music out of my head (which is a good thing) and find myself replaying the movie again in my head. I would definitely recommend this movie.
Cast (lead roles)
Mimi Marquez – Rosario DawsonBenjamin “Benny” Coffin III – Taye Diggs
Angel Shunard – Wilson Jermaine Heredia
Thomas B. “Tom” Collins – Jesse L. Martin
Maureen Johnson – Idina Menzel
Roger Davis – Adam Pascal
Mark Cohen – Anthony Rapp
Joanne Jefferson – Tracie Thoms