Based on Jonathan Larson's award winning Broadway musical, it is the story of eight Manhattan artists struggling with their sickness and to pay their "Rent".

All the characters in the film live in the 1980's Manhattan's East Village. Roger Davis (Adam Pascal) is a song writer coming out of his drug habits. His roommate Mark Cohen (Anthony Rapp) is a struggling documentary filmmaker who is worried about not fulfilling his dream of making a hit film.

Mimi Marquez (Rosario Dawson), their neighbor living downstairs, is a beautiful dancer who has a crush on Roger. But Mimi herself is struggling with her drug habits and is HIV positive due to the use of tainted needles. The moment both Mimi and Roger realized that they don't have much time to live, the thought brings them together.

Their circle of friends include Mark's ex-girlfriend Maureen (Idina Menzel) who left him for a Harvard educated woman attorney Joanne (Tracie Thomas). Tom (Jesse L. Martin) is an unemployed computer science professor in love with Angel (Wilson Jermaine Heredia) who is a drag queen street musician. Tom and Angel are also HIV positive. Another friend of these people is Benjamin Coffin III (Taye Diggs) also known as Benny, who married the  landlord's daughter and is trying to become a real estate developer. But Benny had promised his poor friends that they don't have to worry about their rent.

But on a Christmas Eve, Benny makes a deal with a developer and decided to evict his artist friends out of their lofts and build a multistory building there. All these people have nothing to fall back other than their small circle of friends for comfort and support in their time of need.

Talented director Chris Columbus skillfully narrates the pathetic tale of a group of struggling artists. His characters include dancer, songwriter, filmmaker, computer whiz, lawyer as well as a drag queen, who are all trying to make a name in the crowded New York City. He has an excellent cast and draws wonderful performance out of them. Most of the cast members are coming from the original Broadway show and has many years of experience. This has helped him to make the film better than the stage show. Through the film he is delivering a message of compassion,
tolerance, friendship and love to the world.

All the cast members present an excellent performance. New comer Rosario Dawson as Mimi is exceptionally good. As one of the longest running Broadway show "Rent" was the winner of 1996 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and the film version literally follows the stage show. It pays tribute to talented but under privileged artists of New York City who never had a chance to achieve their dream of fame, name and success. This is one of the best films of the year and if you liked the stage show, you will love this film.

We rate this movie VERY GOOD.