Philadelphia, written by Ron Nyswaner, directed by Jonathan Demme, 9 out of 10

Philadelphia, written by Ron Nyswaner, directed by Jonathan Demme

9 out of 10

Notes and thoughts on other books are available at:

-              https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEVa4_CsRStSBBDo4uJWT8BSWtTTn0N1E and   http://realini.blogspot.ro/

Philadelphia is one of the best films in recent history.

The director is an excellent film maker, the one who was at the helm of

-          Silence of the Lambs

Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington need no further introductions or words to describe their performances…

I mean the ones in the good old days, I am not talking about Inferno, The Da Vinci Code and the like, films that I will never see.

The film has won two Academy Awards and two Golden Globes in the same categories, even if Denzel Washington deserved to be at least nominated:

-          Best Actor in the Leading Role- Tom Hanks

-          Best Music, Original Song- Bruce Springsteen

Streets of Philadelphia has become a hit in itself.

Tom Hanks has the challenging role of Andrew Beckett, a talented, hardworking, intelligent, resilient lawyer.

He has True Grit and even manages to tell jokes, at a late stage in his disease, which we learn about early on:

-          What do you call ten thousand lawyers at the bottom of the ocean?

-          A good start…

Alas, Andrew is diagnosed with AIDS and his firm, instead of supporting him in every possible manner fires him.

The case and the film have some important themes at the center, in a period when these issues were still very disputed…not that there aren’t at the moment many countries in the world where being gay is punishable with serious penalties, in some cases even death

-          Homophobia, discrimination are just some of the crimes committed by the firm that is called to trial

They are of course not the only ones to manifest a loathing, fear and disgust towards gay people- and Andrew is a homosexual- and the trial becomes a landmark and activists are manifesting outside the court house.

Joe Miller portrayed by Denzel Washington with great skill is the lawyer that represents Andrew Beckett.

But even he shows a marked awkwardness and fear, when his would be client enters the office and says he has AIDS.

The scene is both humorous and somewhat appalling, for this is the common approach to serious and infectious diseases.

In the first place, Joe Miller actually refuses to take the case, goes to see his doctor to check if now he could have AIDS…

When meeting a man that is enthusiastic about the way the trial is going and Miller’s role in it and being approached for a date, the counsellor is getting really mad, grabs the young homosexual by the collar and shouts and puffs…

Jason Robards, a magnificent heavyweight, has the role of the obnoxious Charles Wheeler, a homophobe that fires Andrew

There are scenes in the court room which are both funny and terrible to a degree, especially when Joe Miller becomes more assertive

“Joe Miller: [to Jamey Collins on the witness stand] are you gay?

Jamey Collins: [confused] what?

Joe Miller: [gradually raising his voice] are you gay?, You know a faggot?, A, a punk, a fruit, a queen, a fairy a booby snatcher, rump roaster, pillow biter, ARE YOU GAY?”

And the maneuver works, both in terms of spectacle for the film audience and for the trial, because as the excellent counsellor explains further, the trial is actually about this, an aspect that is on everybody’s mind.

And it also provokes reactions from those question that are instantaneous, unprepared and reveal how loathsome they find the idea and so it is proved that they did not really dismiss the brilliant lawyer for any mistake, but for his sexual orientation.

Philadelphia is an excellent, thought provoking film.