Demme Takes AIDS and Homophobia to Streets of 'Philadelphia' and Succeeds
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Page 10, Sidelines - February 21.1994 Features Demme takes AIDS and homophobia to streets of 'Philadelphia' and succeeds SAM GANNON CONTRIBUTING EDITOR How can any director make a movie on one the hand and Wyant, Wheeler, in America about a touching, yet Hellerman, Tetlow and Brown on the controversial subject without being other. attacked from all sides? "Philadelphia" is Washington angles in on the dark, the first big-budget, big-star film to deal brooding side of mankind. The with the subjects of AIDS, homophobia homophobia he exhibits is not unnatural and discrimination. The industry has been or uncommon today, but he turns over waiting. The AIDS community and not only a new leaf, but his entire life. He activists have been waiting. Most of all, goes from a man resentful and ignorant the public has been waiting. Now that the about AIDS and homosexuals to a man cat is out of the bag, detractors from all who truly cares about Andy, a gay man, groups have slung muddy criticism at the and his life and death. When Beckett producers, director, actors and appears at Miller's doorstep in search of screenwriter. representation, Miller is frantic, watching There will always be criticism: It what is touched and how it is handled. doesn't accomplish enough, it doesn't He immediately visits his doctor for an explore this, there's too much of this and AIDS test. This is homophobia; true fear not enough of that—the complaints go on. fills Washington's Miller. By movie's end, How much can the first industry film do however, he is embracing Andy. He to combat more than 10 years of denial on comes to terms with his prejudice and the part of Hollywood's movie makers? triumphs over it. "Philadelphia" is just that, only a first step Apart from stunning performances through the archway into a "new" realm by veterans Robards and Woodward, of film subject matter. FIGHTING THE POWER: Tom Hanks (left) plays Andrew Beckett,a man suing Banderas chimes in with his poignant role "Philadelphia" brings, in its for AIDS discrimination. Denzel Washington (right) plays Beckett's attorney Joe as Beckett's longtime lover. Demme used nationwide release, the subjects of AIDS, Miller. Jonathan Demme (below) shares his vision with Washington. Miguel to prove that homosexuals not discrimination and homophobia to only fall in love and form relationships, millions of people from the streets of New but they also have long-lasting York Gty to the cornfields of Kansas. This relationships just like heterosexuals. In a undertaking, this push of AIDS and AIDS- party scene, Miller becomes all too aware related subjects into mainstream film is that as he is dancing and embracing the like uncovering a seemingly taboo subject woman he loves, Beckett is dancing and and forcing the public at large to see and embracing the man he loves. He begins to experience something we've all been acknowledge that it's not just two feeling, writing about, talking about and "faggots," but two people who love and thinking about. care about each other. Miguel is that Director Jonathan Demme takes us other—Andy's loving, caring partner in into the life of Andrew Beckett (Tom life and death. Hanks), a young, successful attorney at a Demme presents Mary Steenburgen top Philadelphia firm. He is respected by ("Parenthood") as the attorney for the his colleagues and admired by the defendants. Steenburgen comes across not partners of Wyant, Wheeler, Hellerman, only as a woman simply doing her job to Tetlow and Brown. He is loved by his the best of her ability, but also as a family, the gay community and his lover, powerful foil to Washington's Miller. Miguel (Antonio Banderas). The camera brings us directly into Andy not only has HIV, but full- Beckett's life and mind. Cinematographer blown AIDS. He is dying and he knows it. Tak Fujimato avoids some typical His family knows. His friends and lover courtroom scenes to show us Beckett's know. Fear of harassment, differential view. The camera floats and seems to treatment or the risk of being fired has homophobic, ambulance-chasing, per- other times the audience sees, beneath that hover and tilt and turn in mid-air as kept Andy's lifestyle and illness a secret sonal injury lawyer, and sues the firm for veneer, the woman who is losing her son Andy's vision fails and his mind begins to from his employers. The partners, led by discrimination. Hanks delivers a performance worthy of flutter. The film moves as if propelled by Charles Wheeler (Jason Robards Jr.), Beneath all the barrage, recognition (he was awarded the Golden the intensity of the emotions involved. promote him to senior associate and give "Philadelphia" holds its own. The movie Globe for Best Dramatic Performance by a This is mostly due to editor Craig McKay him one of their most important and does what Demme says he set out to do: It male last month). The dynamics of his and Demme, who sacrificed some scenes potentially career-making cases. At the tells a story about a gay man who has character expand throughout the movie. to keep the film going at a strong a meeting where this takes place, one of the AIDS and make people feel comfortable The viewer begins to care about Andrew consistent pace. partners notices a lesion on his forehead. with him. The movie shows the audience Beckett as a mar*—a man who is dying of One of the most pivotal scenes, when Within two weeks, he has been fired—for just how heart-breaking AIDS can be. AIDS. A guy who has a family, a partner Andy weeps to an aria, is strongly "misplacing" the important case—but Joanne Woodward delivers a wonderful he loves and who loves him, a successful supported by the technical aspects of the really because he is gay and has AIDS. performance as Beckett's grieving mother. career and strength of character. The film. The blood-red room, the sweeping Angered by the dismissal, Andy hires Joe At times, she is strong and fierce, like a ensuing courtroom scenes define Andy as Miller (Denzel Washington), a mother bear protecting her cub, but at a man courageously fighting against death (Please see Demme, page 11) .