Slowly Going Bald

• So, at the end of Rent, Tom Collins shows back up with a wad of cash at Mark and Roger's apartment. Understandably curious, they ask him where he got the money. Tom replies that he rewired the ATM at the Food Emporium with what's apparently some kind of override code, so all you have to do is enter "A-N-G-E-L" as the password and out comes the money. But hold on, man: Are you seriously advocating that? What about the residents of Alphabet City who don't give a shit about your life, and whose money you seem to be okay with stealing; what about them? I mean, yeah, it sucks that Angel died on you like that, but still. If I were your neighbor, and I found out that you were ripping off my cash just because you think you're broke enough to deserve it, I would beat you down. And I know I'd win, too.

• Also, seriously, in what alternate world can Anthony Rapp pass as straight? At the beginning of the movie, he says he just broke up with Maureen, which made me pause and think, "That's odd. Maureen sounds like a woman's name." I mean, come on. It's Anthony Rapp. Good actor, good singer. Very gay. Am I the only one who felt the cognitive dissonance?

• Easily the most enjoyably random thing about Rent was the appearance of Aaron Lohr — of "Newsies" and "The Mighty Ducks" — as one of the AIDS support group members. When he stood up and started singing "Will I lose my dignity ..." I wondered if he would whip out a hockey stick and start checking the counselor.