"Angels in America" (2003) TV mini-series

User Rating:

8.3/10   

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

7 December 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy

Tagline:

The messenger has arrived.

Plot:

Playwright Tony Kushner adapts his political epic about the AIDS crisis during the mid-eighties, around a group of separate but connected individuals.

Plot Keywords:

AIDS | Marriage | Closet | Friend | Attorney

Awards:

Won 5 Golden Globes. Another 33 wins & 27 nominations

Cast

Patrick Wilson	...	Joe Pitt (6 episodes, 2003)
Al Pacino	...	Roy Cohn (6 episodes, 2003)
Meryl Streep	...	Ethel Rosenberg / ... (6 episodes, 2003)
Emma Thompson	...	Homeless Woman / ... (6 episodes, 2003)
Mary-Louise Parker	...	Harper Pitt (6 episodes, 2003)
Justin Kirk	...	Leatherman in the Park / ... (6 episodes, 2003)
Jeffrey Wright	...	Belize / ... (6 episodes, 2003)
Ben Shenkman	...	Louis Ironson / ... (6 episodes, 2003)
James Cromwell	...	Henry - Roy's Doctor (2 episodes, 2003)
Michael Gambon	...	Prior Walter Ancestor #1 (2 episodes, 2003)
Simon Callow	...	Prior Walter Ancestor #2 (2 episodes, 2003)
Robin Weigert	...	Mormon Mother (2 episodes, 2003)

Runtime:

352 min (6 parts)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Hebrew | Aramaic | Yiddish

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:A (Ontario) | Argentina:13 | Germany:12 | Netherlands:16 | Singapore:(Banned) | Portugal:M/16 (DVD rating) | USA:TV-MA | Finland:K-15 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Bethesda Fountain, Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Avenue Pictures Productions

Trivia:

P.J. Hogan was another director under consideration.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Louis takes Joe to his Alphabet City (tenement) apartment, he opens his door which is in a long line of doors down the hallway. Once inside, he suddenly has two large windows, front and back, where there shouldn't be windows because there are more apartments on either side of his.

Quotes:

The Angel Oceania: I-I-I think I have a copy.

Movie Connections:

Features The Sun Also Rises (1957)

Soundtrack:

So Fresh

a must-see and one of my all-time favorites.

Angels in America is definitely one of my favorites. I was a loyal viewer when it was on HBO, and rushed out to buy the DVD when it was released. I think this miniseries was very tastefully done. I was delighted to see such diversity in the movie. It was very refreshing to see Jews, Mormons, Protestants, Homosexuals, Heterosexuals, Republicans, and Democrats together. I think this movie was very real in it's portrayal of AIDS, and it really raised awareness for me, because it showed AIDS as a real disease, not just something we hear about on the news. I was very excited to see minorities presented like average, real people. I didn't see the play, so i can't compare. but i was thoroughly pleased with Mike Nichols direction, i think the cast was incredible, and brought life to each character in the best way possible. i think Mary-Louise Parker especially brought with her character, Harper Pitt, something to the play that was very difficult to do. Harper, other than her marriage to Joe, was irrelevant to the story; Parker was able to take the character, though, and make Harper one of the most insightful and endearing characters in the show. I especially like Justin Kirk in this movie. He did not have a particularly challenging part, but he really grabbed my heart in a subtle way. I have heard much criticism directed toward Al Pacino. However, i think Pacino did very well as is character. I have little knowledge of the real Cohn, but Pacinio was able to give Cohn an evil personality, while still keeping the audience aware of how human Cohn really is. It was very interesting. I was also very pleased with the characters of Belize and Mother Pitt. I found Angels in America very inspiring, and after seeing it for the first time, I seemed to see the world in a whole new light. I know that sounds cheesy, but it is true. For someone very passionate about equal rights, like me, this movie seemed to relay exactly what I stand for. If you are an easily offended Conservative, this movie may not be for you, but I recommend this to anyone with an open mind.