Also... I know that KT hates The Dave100, mostly because she hates movies. Well, she doesnt hate all movies, she's just not a movie watcher... but I got an email from a dear friend who told me they just couldn't wait to see what was next! So, we keep going! And its my 87th favorite movie ever, "Philadelphia".
Rated R, 1993, starring Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Jason Robards, Antonio Banderas
The Plot... Andrew Beckett works for one of the most powerful law firms in Philadelphia, and has just been assigned an extremely important case, one that might make him a partner. Before he can proceed, however, one of his co-workers notice a lesion on Andrew's forehead. Though he tries to explain it away as a sports bruise, his firm finds out that he is not only gay, but that he has AIDS.
His work on the case he'd been assigned seems deliberately sabatoged, which results in his firing, though Andrew is convinced that he was fired because of his lifestyle and his AIDS. He goes to Joe Miller, a homophobic lawyer who refuses the case initially, but comes around to help him.
Why Its In The Dave100... Wow. First of all, as much as I love blow-em-up action flicks, and good, smart comedy, I love courtroom movies. Seriously... they are hard to pull off, at least correctly, because you have to be entertaining while telling a story taking place in the Courthouse, which isn't easy.
This film blows me away. Please understand, and I'll be very clear about this--as a Christ-Follower, I believe that homosexuality is wrong, and just as much a sin as lying, stealing or adultery. Its just wrong. Now, having said that, I believe that homosexuals are people too, worthy of respect and love just like anyone else. And this movie is based on the story of Geoffrey Bowers, who sued his lawfirm for being fired because of his AIDS condition.
I only explained that to let you know good this movie was for me to like it--I'm not a "Brokeback" fan. But I am a fan of respect, human rights and the right to be free and happy. And this movie is really about that--the right to work and live in an environment despite the fact you have a condition that is simply, at the time anyway, misunderstood. We'll be back with another edition of Oprah.
"Philadelphia" is just amazing, with Tom Hanks giving a performance worthy of the Oscar he won (the first of two straight--"Forrest Gump" was the following year), but to me, the gem of the movie is Denzel Washington. Denzel's Joe Miller is such a flawed character, first being scared of catching AIDS from the doorknob that Andrew uses to leave, only to have a great moment at the end, when he touches Andrew's face.
This was a pretty big movie for AIDS awareness... toss in Magic Johnson's revelation, and suddenly, AIDS was a hot topic for many years.
I remember seeing this movie in January of 1994. I was in Atlanta with my chick at the time--for a week previous, and perhaps one week after--Labett White, and our friends Amanda Hawkins, Shana Cheney and my roommate Greg Gibson. The girls went to see "The Three Musketeers", while Greg and I went for this one.
Random Trivia... Tom Hanks had to lose almost thirty pounds to appear appropriately gaunt for his courtroom scenes. Denzel Washington, on the other hand, was asked to gain a few pounds for his role. Washington, to the chagrin of Hanks, who practically starved himself for the role, would often eat chocolate bars in front of him.