 "Not Quite Epic, But Will Make You Think" | 2009-08-09 |
| - Reviewed By zkonedog |
Over the last few years, I have been churning my way through the films of Denzel Washington. I love the intensity and passion he brings to his roles, plus the fact that, "Manchurian Candidate" aside, he hasn't really been in any bad films. For whatever reason, I had not yet seen "Philadelphia", which is hailed by film critics and garnered Tom Hanks a Best Actor academy award in 1992. After viewing, I found it to be not as epic as some would have me believe, but still an interesting two hours nonetheless.
The basic plot of the film is the story of two lawyers (Denzel and Hanks). Hanks' character contracts AIDS and enlists the help of "Washington" to help him file a discrimination lawsuit against the company that fired him (supposedly due to the disease). Along the way, the plot actually morphs to become more of a "panel discussion" on the treatment/perception of gay people in the United States.
In dealing with such a sensitive topic, the film is able to lay out its message without sounding too crass or too offensive to either side. Basically, director Jonathan Demme knows that viewers will obviously have pre-determined attitudes about the issue before viewing the film, and thus doesn't try to sway any perceptions. Instead, through the legal, court-room setting, he just invites both sides to think about the issues at hand and consider possible scenarios. I liken it to a more recent Denzel Washington film entitled "The Great Debaters", which discussed the issue of the Jim Crow south through a high school debate team. Some pretty meaty issues were thrown around, but under the guise of "debate" the viewers don't really feel any compulsion to take a side, instead just being privy to the information. A similar factor is what I believe is the true brilliance of Demme's film...he treats the viewers like a jury and allows us to come to our own conclusion about the issues he is discussing.
Thus, unless you have incredibly strong feelings one way or the other about the issue of gay rights (then the film is bound to upset in its generalization of the topic), I would recommend this film to pretty much anyone. While it may not live up to critical hype (likely due to the fact that critics are usually bonkers over artsy or heavy-themed films), it will give you some things to think about. |
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| "good condition" | 2009-01-13 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1DG8HDPKROW1N |
| This was my first used purchase and i was extremely satisfied with the condition i recieved my item! |
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 "Valuable Life Lessons Can Be Learned" | 2008-12-31 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1J6IPXXD6WEPD |
When I first had the chance to preview a downloadable Flash Video version of "Philadelphia", I, like many other viewers and listeners, realize that a few valuable life lessons can be learned, especially when watching and listening to this film for the first time.
1. Discrimination against people because of a disability, or even just discriminating against people in general, under any circumstances, is not OK, especially name Calling. For centuries, people have been discriminated against because of their religion, age group, sexuality, customs, skin color, cultural upbringing, intelligence level, or even because they have a disability or a disease.
For example, I remember a time when I was living at Sheldon Oaks Apartments in Eugene, Oregon, which is like an Assisted Living Facility, more like a retirement home, for people who are 55 and older. When I was living there, I was surrounded by folks who thought that I may have been one of their granddaughters. They were thinking, "What's this 'Young Lady' in their twenties doing in our facility?" Little did they know that I'm a 'young woman', not a 'Young Lady'. (I hate the term 'Young Lady' with a passion, and I would never address any females in that manner. I am a young woman who is totally blind, and has Autism Spectrum Disorder, which by the way is the full name of the disability. Those older folks consider people like me with Autism Spectrum Disorder to be nonverbal, unintelligent, good-for-nothing citizens. I happen to be one of those with Autism Spectrum Disorder who is extremely high-functioning, with an advanced level of intelligence, and I know full well that it's not OK to call females "Lady" or "Young Lady", according to the laws of morality. Calling people names that offend them is not OK!
2. People can come up with the phoniest excuses to fire someone from a job, only to hide the real reason why that person is being fired.
For example, I once worked at Lazar's Bazaar in Eugene, Oregon, lacing shoes, which by the way is hard to do when you can't see. Lazar is not only the store owner, but at the time that I worked there, he was also my boss. There came a day when I got fired from my job, just two months after Lazar had hired me. Instead of my boss making up a phony reason for me being fired, it was actually my family. For days, they had spread the news that I had allegedly spoken to my boss in a nasty tone of voice. However, Lazar revealed the real reason for letting me go, which was because my productivity wasn't good enough for him, in other words, my work wasn't fast enough for him. So remember, if you are a boss of a company, and you suddenly decide you want to fire someone from a job, don't make up phony excuses as to why they're being fired. Always tell them the truth!
3. Emotions are not something to be played with! When someone needs help, and especially medical help, try to ask that person what's the matter. Try to have them explain how they feel.
The scene that struck me is when Tom Hanks' character, Andrew Beckett, was in the men's restroom, and I believe he was going to the toilet. But while this was going on, I could've sworn I heard him crying. That made me want to come over to that restroom, put my arms around him, give him a big hug, gently pet him on the back, and say to him that everything's going to be all right. Crying is not uncommon --- Especially in guys! We all have feelings, and sometimes, feelings get hurt. Also, when someone is crying, it's not uncommon for another person to stand there and make fake tears (a common facial expression where people pretend to be crying), and boo hoos (a common sound that people make when they mock someone who's crying.). I say, when anyone is crying, it's not cool to make fake tears and boo hoos! That only makes them cry more! When Tom Hanks emerged from rinsing his mouth (If I'm not mistaken, I believe he threw up in that scene, which probably explains the crying), when I heard him say, "I think I need to go to the hospital", I knew right away that he was in desperate need of medical help. If someone is feeling pain or discomfort, ask them in a tender tone if everything's all right, and try to help them in their situation, whatever the problem may be.
4. This whole world, and especially the city of Philadelphia, is in desperate need of Brotherly and Sisterly Love. For those who may not know, the name Philadelphia is Greek. It comes from the words, "Philos", which means "Love" or "Loving", "Adelphos", which means "Brother", "Brothers", or "Brotherly", and "Adelphia", which means "Sister", "Sisters", or "Sisterly". It is high time we take a moment to come together, give peace a chance, live in perfect harmony, stop the fights and the wars, Stamp out the Profanity and the name calling, put an end to hating and killing each other, and once and for all, bring the Brotherly and Sisterly Love back home to Philadelphia! |
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| "Tom's best acting yet.." | 2008-09-25 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2917NCUBRULI0 |
| This is, by far, one of the best movies. The story is moving, and will have you in tears multiple times. Tom truelly shines, and is one of the few actors that you no longer see as a person, but as their character. Very emersed. This will also question your thoughts and beliefs, and possibly make you reconsider the next time youre about to make a snap judgement. |
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| "An important educational film." | 2008-06-24 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2II09GQGWOMTQ |
Right when the world needed a film about HIV we got Philly.
Actually we could have used this movie ten or fifteen years earlier.
This movie puts a very human face on HIV and the discrimination that goes along with it.
Brilliant performances by Hanks and Washington.
A brilliant script, direction, and paced very well.
And now I'm going to rant just like I did with Brokeback Mountain.
Philly and Brokeback share the same issue.
Why can't gay people have one movie made about us without the movie stereotyping us as HIV pos. (Philadelphia)
Totally dysfunctional, (Brokeback) Or just plain psychotic, (Basic Instinct)?????
Don't get me wrong I love and admire Broke and Philly.
They were and are two of the best and most important films to come out of Hollywood.
I however think it would be nice to see a movie like............Forever Young (Mel Gibson) with two leading men.
Just one ordinary film without the usual "gay" drama and stereotypes.
Please??????
Do I recommend Philly?
Yes, its pretty much mandatory viewing for everyone.
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 "An `important' film that is highly `over-hyped'..." | 2008-05-20 |
| - Reviewed By User: ANCOMAI0I7LVG |
`Philadelphia' tells the heroic tale of Andrew Beckett, a one time hot young lawyer who was unjustly fired from his job when his superiors discovered he was suffering from the AIDS virus. At times this film is extremely touching and ultimately it is inspiring, but it suffers from clichés and an air of simplicity that robs it of any real emotional impact. I won't say that this is a bad film; it is just not a great one.
Andrew Beckett is young and smart and steadily climbing the corporate ladder in his law firm. He has a caring young boyfriend and very caring and understanding parents; yet something is terribly wrong. Andrew has contracted the deadly virus known as AIDS and as time progresses this virus begins to ware away at his health. He conceals this disease from his workmates, but when his illness becomes visible he is unable to hide it any longer and he finds himself being fired. Of course the law firm will not admit their reasons are based on his physical condition, but the reason given is so shaky that it leads Beckett to conclude the obvious. This is when Beckett approaches lawyer Joe Miller to represent him on trial. Joe turns down the case claiming that he doesn't think Beckett's lawsuit would hold up in court but it is more than obvious that Beckett's condition as well as his `alternative' lifestyle sit crossly with Miller and are the real reasons for his refusal to help. Joe does have a change of heart though and takes on Beckett as a client.
The initial concept for the film (loosely based on a true account) is intriguing and stock full of potential, but I feel as though it missed the boat somewhere. Many parts of the film seem clichéd to me, as if they were just presenting us with what we think we are supposed to see. I can't help but feel too that the film was a tad too simple, one-dimensional even. There really seemed to be no true character development (aside from Miller) and this just didn't sit right with me.
This leads me to Hanks.
I have a feeling I am in the minority here but I just didn't appreciate Tom Hanks' performance. I felt that it was clichéd and gimmicky and in the end it never really felt `real'. I never felt like I really knew `who' Andrew Beckett was. I knew his circumstance and I knew his plight, but I didn't know him. Hanks tries to explain Beckett to us during an excruciating opera scene where Hanks reaches levels of ridiculousness I just couldn't believe would be omitted in this film. The scene itself should have been stirring and emotionally reaching but Hanks just didn't get it and it comes off mediocre at best. As a whole I felt that his performance was weak when compared to his co-stars, especially Denzel, who completely owed his performance.
Denzel Washington really surprised me here. His performance is by far the best in the film, for he actually tells the audience a story. We know where this man came from, why he feels the way he does; we know what upsets him and what makes him uncomfortable and ultimately we see a progression of character, real growth that delivers to us the man he is when the credits begin to role. This is much more than can be said for Hanks' portrayal of Andrew Beckett. In my humble opinion Oscar got this all wrong, awarding Hanks for a playing a gimmick yet snubbing Washington for creating an honest character.
The supporting players are decent here, some better than others. Antonio Banderas has a tendency to over-act, sometimes it works (his Zorro is flawless) and other times it is too much, which is the case here.
Director Jonathan Demme had a lot to live up to with all the attention and praise he garnered for `The Silence of the Lambs', but he just couldn't really pull this one together. The film plays out well, it looks good, and there are moments that touch the audience, but there is not the intended impact; at least not for me. I know that a lot of people really enjoy this film, laud it even and I know that the critics sang its praises (or at least Hanks' praises) but I can't do either. The film is important in that it takes its serious subject very seriously and it proved to open the eyes of many to a growing problem, but in the end I'm just not `that' impressed. Washington is award worthy, that is for sure, but the film as a whole is lacking. |
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