Angels in America
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Movie Reviews of Angels in America
Movie Review: An Enlightening Experience...
Summary: 5 Stars
Tony Kushner's film adaptation of his prize winning play, 'Angels in America,' is at once a haunting yet compelling tale about the lives of people stricken with AIDS during the Reagan era. Under Mike Nichols' direction, the film manages to capture the mangled emotions of not only those who are affected by the devastating disease but also of their loved ones, their friends and the medical professionals who attend to them.
While the movie centers mainly around Prior Walter (Justin Kirk) and Louis Ironson (Ben Shenkman) and portrays their conflicted relationship once Walter finds out that he has AIDS, the film manages to capture superlative performances from Al Pacino as Roy Cohn and Meryl Streep in four different roles. Emma Thompson as the Angel and as Walter's nurse also gives a memorable performance as do Patrick Wilson as the "Gay Mormon Republican" Joe Pitt, Mary Louise Parker as Pitt's wife, Harper, and Jeffrey Wright, who reprises his stage role once again as the fierce Belize.
The film also attempts to offer an interesting mix of political and philosophical issues that are examined and re-examined throughout the movie. Presented during Reagan's conservative Republican administration, the turmoil in the lives of homosexuals, not to mention those stricken with AIDS, struggling to find an acceptance is expertly shown. The religious and philosophical bonds that the Mormon Joe Pitt possesses turn him into a painful and convoluted soul, who himself is incapable of accepting of who he really is.
Al Pacino as Roy Cohn probably sets himself apart from the crowd (once again) in his portrayal of the slimy, conniving divorce lawyer who is used to getting what he wants even in the face of death. Modeled on a true life character, Pacino's constant yelling seems a tool to reassure himself that his connections and the dirt that he has on people will get him through anything even the deadly disease that he is fighting. As the movie goes on, Cohn's slow realization that he will slowly perish to a painful death has been captured brilliantly on film. In the end he is a sad sight: debilitated, defeated and dead.
Where the movie falls short is in its length but the slow movement at times seems to drive in the movie's beautiful message. The closing scene sums it all up and I urge you all to see it and understand just what I mean!!
Movie Review: An extraordinarily moving, complex piece of modern art...
Summary: 5 Stars
There are so many things to say about ANGELS IN AMERICA, but each of them is as difficult to put into words as the last. To all of those who found this 6-hour adaptation of the play boring, consider looking beyond the superficial oddness and confusing nature of the story to its core. When you dig down deep, ANGELS is a story about coping with life, with heartbreak, with disease, and learning what it means to be human.
With this said, ANGELS is anything but easy to understand. Its references are as complex as they are hard-hitting, and it is as unforgivingly brutal in its honesty as it is right on the money. The AIDS epidemic of the mid-1980s is the focus of the work -- but on a broader level, it's a study of how individuals live and function in modern day America. The constant political references are apt to confuse all except the most politically-minded -- myself included -- so you may have to do a little reading and research to best understand the myriad references found herein. Still, ANGELS is a full-force criticism of political neglect and ignorance -- things which still abound today.
The storyline being as complex as it is, it's astounding to see such superb performances from the cast. Pacino, Streep, Thompson, Kirk, Shenkman, Parker, and Wright give brilliant performances that should not be missed. The anguish and strife of the time, combined with the difficulties of relationships and dealing with situations we simply have no control over, make this film a masterpiece of modern cinema.
Make no mistake -- this film is not something you should watch with the assumption that you'll leave it with a smile on your face and a warm feeling in your heart. It's honesty is piercing, and its sadness nearly heartbreaking. Still, there is always hope -- we have an incredible resistance to change, and yet we're amazingly resilient creatures. For better and for worse, we fight for what we believe -- as Prior says, we refuse to lay down anymore, to suffer and die in secrecy.
With unsurpassed poignancy, Kushner produces a tale that is sometimes funny and often heartwrenching. Thomas Newman's delicate compositions ring true in the background, as well -- his soundtrack is compelling and truly breathtaking. Prepare yourself for a brilliant work that won't leave your mind anytime soon -- if ever.
Movie Review: Really Good Miniseries
Summary: 5 Stars
Just rented the movie this weekend and was glad that I found the movie. Yes people who have reviewed it this is about the gay lifestyle but it takes it about 2 steps further and it tells the story of three gay people. One about Roy Cohn the famous attourney who committed two people to death and then he and his gay lover are documented in this movie and he ends up having Aids and ends up in the hospital dying of this very death and in the end the friend of the lawyer that Roy has working for comes in and says a Jewish Prayer over the dead body of Roy. Second there is a story of a man named Prior Walter and this man also is a gay person but ends up getting AIDS also and ends up living for six years after he gets the disease and during the first few months of this disease he sees this angel and ends up in the end going up to heaven to beg of forgiveness to the higher authority and comes back down to earth and preaches the word to everyone and takes the bible the angel gives to him. The third story in this miniseries is about a man named Joe and his wife and his wife ends up taking some Valium everyday of her life and ends up hallucinating everyday and going into dreams and also in the end of the first disk she ends up in her makeshift dream of Antartica which in my estimation is very weird and very cooky but in the end Joe is a closet lesbian and comes out to his wife and her mother played by Meryl Streep and he ends up dating Prior Walters boyfriend but in the end they break up and Priors boyfriend comes back to him. At the end of the miniseries we see Prior, his boyfriend, Joe's mother, and Roy Cohn's nurse in the middle of Manhatten in front of a statue and Prior is giving us a monologue of the rest of his life six years after getting diagnosed with Aids. To me this was a riviting miniseries and a very eye opening one for me because I should not be judging people by who they go out with for what reasons everyone has their choice in who they go out with and we can be thankful for that. That is why this miniseries was nominated for 21 emmy awards and won half of them 11 including Best Actress in a Miniseries and Best Supporting Actress in a Miniseries plus the Best Miniseries. So all in all very well done by Tony Kushner and Mike Nichols for adapting it to the small screen.
Movie Review: Kushner is the new Shakespeare
Summary: 5 Stars
This film version of Angels in America is an exceptional accomplishment. The production and acting were superb, possibly some of the best caught on film. Al Pacino does a wonderful job of playing the dying Roy Cohn. Meryl Streep is magnificent playing both the ghost of Ethel Rosenberg and the Mormon matron, Hannah Pitt. Mary Louise Parker plays the Mormon housewife struggling with a gay husband while also struggling with her sanity. Justin Kirk is superb as Prior, a gay man dying of AIDS while also dealing with the abandonment by his partner, Lewis.Patrick Wilson suffers through the guilt of leaving his wife, telling his mother about his sexual orientation, while being propelled into the energy of his new gay identity. All the other actors were superb but Streep and Pacino were extremely powerful and moving.
The script is poetic, much like Shakespeare in beauty, fluidity, and emotional penetration. Therefore the viewer should not expect realistic naturalistic dialogue. The stage is often more suited for the poetic than is the screen, but Mike Nichols stayed true to the message and kept the beautiful dialogue as originally written. The language is so stimulating that I suggest the viewer have a copy of screenplay nearby so they can re-experience the lines.
What is this play about? It is about AIDS, conservative politics, history, relationships, self awareness, religion, theology, love, forgiveness, survival and transcendence.
What are the angels? They are the ever expanding idea of freedom. Only a genius of Kushner's standing could equate the movement of the Mormon's to Utah to gain religious freedom, with the modern gay civil rights movement, with the rise of Gorbachev and the fall of the Soviet Union.
What is the central theme? The tension between our duty and responsibilities to others and the duty and responsibility to be true to ourself. Joe and Lewis both struggle with this dilemna which is the central armature of the play. However upon that armature hangs far more pain and history that almost any other theatrical production.
I strongly recommend this production and wish I could give it more than 5 stars.
More life. Let the great work begin.
Movie Review: Best Movie of the Year
Summary: 5 Stars
Had it been released theatrically, I think 'Angels In America' would be best movie of the year. Ironically, no studio would ever release this theatrically. Too long. Too smart. Nothing that would make it's money back...even w/the talented folks in it.
Religion, sexuality, disease, environment are all touched on - and not so lightly. Tony Kushner's play tells a great interwoven story - but I see some reviewers here must have forgotten (or been uninformed of) the '80s and the culture that was predominant during the Reagan era.
The cast pulls it off flawlessly...almost. Streep is does a wonderful job as Mother Pitt, but especially as Ethel Rosenberg (the make-up to look like Rosenberg is dead-on). For me, Al Pacino was, well, Al Pacino. I know Roy Cohn is supposed to be over the top, but for much of his performance, Pacino plays it the way he's played many of his characters of the last decade.
As for other actors (who are not supporting, but as much of leads characters as the ones played by Streep & Pacino) they are wonderful. You cannot truly separate the men into whom is better than the next. Ben Shenkman, Patrick Wilson, Justin Kirk and Jeffrey Wright do outstanding jobs. (Though personally, I think Wilson does an A+ job as the sexually conflicted Republican.)
I cannot say enough good things about the job Mary-Louise Parker does. I found her simply amazing. In a much more limited roles(s),Emma Thompson does a good job as the angel and a homeless woman....and an ok job as a nurse.
Even tertiary characters do an excellent job - including Simon Callow as one of Prior Walter's ancestors.
The story, though maybe exaggerated at points, delves into deep emotional waters. The fear of disease, being sick, dying and the emotions that go with it are real....and at times unsettling (at least for me). The loss of love on almost every character angle is just as hard. There are no neat tied-up bows at the end...not really.
Yes, the DVD has no extras - which is disappointing. But a bigger disappointment would have been if the play had been adapted in a half-ass manner. I can live w/out the extras.