Saturday, July 20, 2019
Philadelphia :: essays research papers
This movie caused a lot of hoopla when it was released back in ââ¬â¢93, for it was the first Hollywood studio movie to fully tackle the subject of AIDS. Now, I donââ¬â¢t want to take anything away from the film, because it is still quite entertaining, but it certainly doesnââ¬â¢t come off as a groundbreaking film anymore. Even back when it was released, I personally didnââ¬â¢t think it was that big of a deal because by that time weââ¬â¢d already seen the subject matter covered for years, in news reports, documentaries and independent films; so when PHILADELPHIA finally came along, it seemed like it was just a little overdueâ⬠¦ What the film does succeed in doing is taking a deep look at a new kind of discrimination that grew as AIDS became more prevalent in the minds of the general public and how some peopleââ¬â¢s hatred towards gays got even more fueled as this new disease became a harsh and frightening reality in the world. I was a bit surprised to see the qu ote ââ¬Å"An emotional powerhouse!â⬠on the back cover of the DVD because as it does have its share of emotional scenes, theyââ¬â¢re far from overwhelming and it isnââ¬â¢t likely that that is what youââ¬â¢ll take away from it in the end. The most memorable, powerful scenes, in fact, are those awkward moments that are examined as we see how people around Andrew react upon learning of his illness ââ¬â the most famous ones being Washingtonââ¬â¢s reaction to Hanks in his office and the confrontation in the public library between Hanks and an employee there. Demme also does an admirable job in making the City of Brotherly Love a real presence in the movie. The opening credit sequence is a beautiful montage of all the great sights of the city and its people, giving us a real sense of the metropolis. From the rich neighborhoods to the slums, from the working class to the homeless sleeping on the streets ââ¬â it all plays wonderfully as we witness many of them waving to the camera, all from different backgrounds, cultures and races, and all very proud to be Philadelphians. To me, itââ¬â¢s one of the best opening credit sequences in recent memory. Bruce Springsteenââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"Streets of Philadelphiaâ⬠plays over it all and itââ¬â¢s still as emotionally involving as it was back when it was ruling the airwaves in ââ¬Ë93.
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