'Philadelphia'
The Ringer's Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan are joined by The New York Times' Wesley Morris as they look to be a part of justice and discuss what that case is really all about by rewatching Jonathan Demme's 1993 drama, 'Philadelphia,' starring Denzel Washington and Tom Hanks.
Cast
Tom Hanks as Andrew Beckett
Denzel Washington as Joe Miller
Antonio Banderas as Miguel Alvarez
Jason Robards as Charles Wheeler
Mary Steenburgen as Belinda Conine
Joanne Woodward as Sarah Beckett
Bradley Whitford as Jamey Collins
Directed by: Jonathan Demme
Written by: Ron Nyswaner
Notes
- Demme made 'Philadelphia' partly as an apology for the backlash over Buffalo Bill in Silence of the Lambs, and because a close friend had been diagnosed with AIDS.
- Wesley's thesis: 'Philadelphia' is 'the Vogue of AIDS movies' – a mainstream, palatable version that ran alongside radical underground art and collectively moved the cultural needle on gay rights.
- Chris's hot take: this is Denzel's movie and Joe Miller's movie – the film is really about Denzel's character's journey, even though Hanks won Best Actor.
- Daniel Day-Lewis was offered Andrew Beckett but turned it down for In the Name of the Father. Michael Keaton was the second choice – this is the moment the Hanks/Keaton career flip happens.
- John Leguizamo was offered Miguel but turned it down to play Luigi in Super Mario Bros.
- Bill's obsessive research pinpointed the exact Sixers-Magic game filmed: November 18, 1992 – Shaq had 29 points and 19 rebounds.
Categories
Quote from Rog's review:
“Sooner or later, Hollywood had to address one of the most important subjects of our time. And with Philadelphia, the ice has been broken.”
Ebert called it 'a good movie, sometimes more than that' and praised Hanks's performance
- The opera scene – Maria Callas, 'La Mamma Morta' – won Hanks the Oscar per Bill
- Joe coming home and ranting to his wife about gay people, only to discover Aunt Teresa is a lesbian
- Andy's promotion to senior associate – the foreboding sense that the shoe is gonna drop
- Hanks and Banderas scenes – feel authentic, some of the best work Banderas has done
- Springsteen's 'Streets of Philadelphia' – one of only two songs to win Oscar, Golden Globe, and Grammy for one artist
- Jason Robards as the evil law firm partner
- Three homophobia scenes with Denzel may be one too many
- The Andy/Miguel relationship lacks any detail or tension
- The courtroom drama's legal logic is a bit flawed
Denzel's cross-examination tactics – asking witnesses if they're 'pillow biters' or 'rump roasters' – pushed too far
Bruce Springsteen's 'Streets of Philadelphia' over the opening credits
The opera scene shot in red lighting by Tak Fujimoto
Chris: This is Denzel's movie – the film is really about Joe Miller's journey, even though Hanks won Best Actor
- Daniel Day-Lewis was offered Andrew Beckett, turned it down for In the Name of the Father
- Michael Keaton was the second choice – the Hanks/Keaton career flip moment
- John Leguizamo turned down Miguel to play Luigi in Super Mario Bros.
- The Maria Callas opera scene, if you're being unkind
- Jason Robards
- Chandra Wilson (Grey's Anatomy) – her first role
- Charles Napier, Tracy Walter, Anna Deavere Smith
- Tom Hanks – close but probably Forrest Gump; the 1992-1995 stretch is a 'Rockies range of Apex Mountains'
- Springsteen used in movies – yes, apex
- Evil Jason Robards – apex
- Would 10 lawyers really turn down Andrew's case? Seems like an easy win.
- The entire Beckett family is uniformly supportive with zero conflict
Joe Miller spinoff series – 'Better Call Saul' but for a Philly civil rights lawyer
- And the Band Played On (HBO, 1993)
- Angels in America (HBO adaptation)
Denzel Washington – unanimously, 'it's not even close'
If you're making a real-life cameo in a movie, make sure you know what the part is