Reviewing the Reviews: 'Rent'
In the words made famous by disco diva Gwen Guthrie, ”there ain’t nothin’ goin’ on but the rent.” And while a trip to your local multiplex will prove that’s not exactly true — Syriana, Just Friends, and The Ice Harvest all open today, too — the film adaptation of Rent (left), Jonathan Larson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway musical gave critics across the country the best opportunity to work their headline magic. Which one is your favorite?
‘Rent’ checks…and balances
The Mercury News: This “Rent” is already spent
Des Moines Register: ‘Rent’ skips out on promise
San Francisco Bay Guardian: Past due?
Lexington Leader-Herald: Remodeling can’t raise ‘Rent’
Philadelphia Inquirer: Musical more than pays its way
Arizona Republic: ‘Rent’ pays off by staying true to the Broadway musical
Globe and Mail: Back rent owed to rock videos
Contra Costa Times: ‘Rent’ could do with new landlord
But how’s the view?
San Bernardino County Sun: Life in the low-‘Rent’ district
The New York Times: New Tenants in Tinseltown
San Diego Union Tribune: Lively new lease on life for ‘Rent’
Denver Post: ‘Rent,’ the movie, barely leases our emotions
Casting their votes
Asbury Park Press: Big-screen ‘Rent’ benefits from great casting
Hollywood Reporter: ‘Rent’ veterans turn musical into lively movie
The Seattle Times: Aging cast, fussy sets make “Rent” long overdue
Detroit Free Press: Back to the Big Apple: Original ‘Rent’ castmates too old to be believable as New York squatters
Center stage
New York Daily News: ‘Rent’ can’t dance around it: Film version’s too theatrical
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: ‘Rent’ works as a movie, too
Akron Beacon Journal: Story’s liberation from stage has pluses, minuses
Hartford Courant: ‘Rent’ Retains Power Of Play A Decade Later
Interesting composition
Star Tribune: ‘Rent’ is a floperetta
Boston Globe: Bohemian Atrophy
Saint Petersburg Times: The musical, the madcap and the muddled
Charlotte Observer: Musical ‘Rent’ rocks on screen
Press Telegram: ‘Rent’ just doesn’t sing
‘Tis the season
Star-Telegram: The fowlest of ’em all: ‘Rent,’ one of the worst movies of the year, leads a pack of Thanksgiving turkeys
Kansas City Star: Have a heavy Thanksgiving
Where’s the pun at?
NBC 5: ‘Rent’ Exuberant Celebration Of Life Against All Odds
Salt Lake Tribune: It’s a decade too late for movie version of ‘Rent’
New York Sun: No Day but Today
Unlikely inspiration
Los Angeles CityBeat: ‘Rent’ a Wreck
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