Product Description

Set in New York City's gritty East Village, the revolutionary rock opera RENT tells the story of a group of bohemians struggling to live and pay their rent. "Measuring their lives in love," these starving artists strive for success and acceptance while enduring the obstacles of poverty, illness and the AIDS epidemic. RENT is Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer and Tony Award winning musical, one of the longest running shows on Broadway.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1312 in DVD
• Brand: Sony
• Released on: 2009-02-03
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.77:1
• Formats: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, French
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 165 minutes

Amazon.com
For passionate fans of Rent--the popular Broadway rock musical that updated La Boheme with electric guitars, steel drums, strippers, and drag queens--Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway is a must-have.Written and composed by Jonathan Larson (who died suddenly of an aortic aneurysm just before the show premiered), Rent follows an absurdly clean-cut gaggle of hipster artists who, after having been squatting in a run-down building for a year, are now being told they have to pay that rent by the building's owner, a former friend. At least, that's the plot point that launches everything; really, the musical is about modern romance, grappling with AIDS, and celebrating the creative spirit. This film documents the last performance of the Broadway production, which ran for 12 years. Though the aggressive camera moves and sometimes frenetic editing seem intended to make the film feel less stagebound, this Rent first and foremost captures the stage experience. The production's raw set and self-conscious theatricality (which highfalutin' theater folk might call "Brechtian") creates genuine show-biz razzle-dazzle and helps distract from some of the cliches in the musical itself. There are no famous faces (the closest is Tracie Thoms, who played the same role, the lesbian lover of a performance artist, in the movie version), but the cast is solid and exuberant, throwing themselves wholeheartedly into the show's unapologetically sincere paeans to life and love. --Bret Fetzer

Stills from Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway (Click for larger image)

Customer Reviews

Great concept, beautifully done
Unfortunately, I never bothered to see this show live on stage but did see the highly stylized film version. Having now experienced this performance, filmed live on Broadway at the end of its run, I'm truly sorry I never made the effort to see it on stage and also now realize just how short the film version comes to really capturing the essence of what Jonathan Larson created. This high octane, musically innovative and striking show is also a beautiful and heartfelt exploration of youth, both lost and reclaimed; a very poignant portrait of the search for love and compassion, of hope and beauty while all around, the world recedes deeper into the empty comforts of materialism and social acceptability. An updated version of Puccini's masterpiece La Boheme, Rent is obviously not as shy about not only examining the wounds of its characters but of exhibiting them; its blatant honesty and unapologetic credo of life are a million miles away from the subtle, innocent and elegant sentiments of late 19th century Parisian artists, starving in their garrets while courting muses. Rent is the "black sheep" of the Boheme lineage. It's a piece of theatre that bristles with tenacity in the face of hardship and rejection: No one here is willing to take anything lying down. It's really little wonder it was as critically acclaimed as it was and won the many prestigious awards that it did and reason for that is that it manages to be what few musicals have ever managed to be: Authentic, relevant but, ultimately, profoundly human; a rebellious celebration of life even in the face of addiction and death . Add to that mixture some really first rate music, stellar performances and stage direction (an ingenious arc that fluidly shifts its characters around Manhattan yet all within the confines of a stage that's, for the most part, barren) and you've got one heck of a winning recipe. Rent is the musical for people who think they don't like musicals. It's as far removed from traditional American musical theatre as it possibly can be. It is the heir apparent to the socially relevant, politically conscience and in your face musical experience that was ushered in 40 years ago by the groundbreaking rock musical "Hair." But, of course, the most tragic element about Rent was the premature death of its creator, Jonathan Larson, who, sadly and ironically, died the day before opening night, a few days shy of his 36th birthday. But what a legacy he left us all.

Rent-a compelling reason to love Broadway!

"Rent: live on Broadway" is a killer production. Jonathan Larson has created an upscale La Boheme that resonates with passion and diversity.
Never having seen Rent live, I was impressed with the whole presentation.

The music was vivid and raw, while the themes that resonated were ones we see everyday. The issues of homelessness, 'art' vs sell out, and real estate/business vs the little guy are vaild everywhere. While the drug/sexual culuture pervades the storyline, the success of the characters as they live one year on talent and the grace of a benevolent landlord is obvious.

The special features are a good fit for the DVD, and turn this into a must own DVD for musical fans.

This comes highly recomended.

Rentheads and the rest: You won't regret buying this DVD.
I was pleasantly surprised with "Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway". I thought I'd be bored with seeing a stage production on film, I was wrong. The project was in good hands, close-ups in the right places etc.

I have been a "Renthead" since the show opened in '96. I had a chance to hear the original cast on Broadway (I couldn't get in to see the show, but the guy in the lobby let me hang out there and listen to several songs - what a guy) and see Wilson Cruz and Neil Patrick Harris in L.A.

"Rent" was the first time that I heard a love song between two guys in a musical and a semi-sorta love song between two women too. I was blown away. Everything about the musical helped me through some rough times when I was coming out and dealing with people around me dying from AIDS. Jonathan Larson was truly inspired.

With all that being said, it's sad to see the show close on Broadway. But this DVD is a great keepsake to have. The show is complete. Unlike the movie where certain aspects were dropped, this version shows it all. "Christmas Bells" is in it and thank goodness it is.

The cast is phenomenal. Sure it's impossible to replicate what the original cast did, but the show lives on through this cast of fresh faces. Particular stand outs (in my opinion) are Will Chase as Roger and Adam Kantor as Mark.

If you're already a fan or new to the Life Cafe, this DVD is worth buying. There are some pretty awesome extras as well. And seeing most of the original cast at the end is a treat.

No day but today!