Philadelphia wasn't the first movie about AIDS (it followed such worthy independent films as Parting Glances and Longtime Companion), but it was the first Hollywood studio picture to take AIDS as its primary subject. In that sense, Philadelphia is a historically important film. As such, it's worth remembering that director Jonathan Demme (Melvin and Howard, Something Wild, The Silence of the Lambs) wasn't interested in preaching to the converted; he set out to make a film that would connect with a mainstream audience. And he succeeded. Philadelphia was not only a hit, it also won Oscars for Bruce Springsteen's haunting "The Streets of Philadelphia," and for Tom Hanks as the gay lawyer Andrew Beckett who is unjustly fired by his firm because he has AIDS. Denzel Washington is another lawyer (functioning as the mainstream-audience surrogate) who reluctantly takes Beckett's case and learns to overcome his misconceptions about the disease, about those who contract it, and about gay people in general. The combined warmth and humanism of Hanks and Demme were absolutely essential to making this picture a success. The cast also features Jason Robards, Antonio Banderas (as Beckett's lover), Joanne Woodward, and Robert Ridgely, and, of course, those Demme regulars Charles Napier, Tracey Walter, and Roger Corman. --Jim Emerson
Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating: Summary: One of the first films to take aids seriously Comment: I love Tom Hanks in anything of course, but this was a very good movie about how America was back in the 80's when the Hiv virus first appeared. Customer Rating: Summary: cried like a baby Comment: Total Tear Jerker!! I cry everytime I watch this movie cause it brings me closer to reality. I deal with people everyday with HIV/AIDS, and everyday I see people get treated like crap simply because they are sick. I would recommend this movie to anyone that has not watched the movie and knows someone with HIV/AIDS. Customer Rating: Summary: Love this movie Comment: I have all of tom hanks movies on dvd and i have to say that this one is one of my top 3 favorites. Customer Rating: Summary: Excellent portrayal of Philadelphia Comment: This is the only movie that I have watched this summer and has impacted me in such a positive way. Being away from Philadelphia has made me realize that I do have some love for the city and I wanted to see a movie that dealt with individuals living ...(read more)in the city of brotherly love. I saw it at blockbuster and rented it. The movie is awesome right from the beginning, where there is a display of different snapshots from the different communities in Philadelphia and Bruce Springsteen's song "Streets of Philadelphia". The movie not only depicts a very accurate picture of the city's atmosphere but also informs its viewers about the gay community in the city, something that I feel is not as present in Philadelphia compared to larger cities like Chicago or New York. The best part of the movie is that the film is based on a true story. The only reason why I did not give the film five stars is due to the fact that most of the movie takes place inside of a courtroom and after a while I became frustrated when the problem would not get resolved. I was also a little confused by the special features. I was not sure if the special features on the individuals protesting outside of the courtroom were real protestors or not. The extra feature made it seem like they were, but I was just confused. I recommend this film to everyone, but I also believe that it will be even more appreciated by those who have lived in the city itself. Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington also give great performances. Customer Rating: Summary: Philadelphia Comment: The first mainstream film to deal squarely with the issue of AIDS, Demme's groundbreaking "Philadelphia" is a profoundly moving drama that digs into the ethics of how society views gay men. Strong performances by Best Actor winner Hanks as the ailing Beckett and Washington as a city lawyer who comes to see his client's disease not as a scourge to fear, but as an opportunity for compassion, will not leave a dry eye in your den. This is an eye-opening film, and still tremendously relevant today, with a memorable title song by Bruce Springsteen.
