Film Review : PHILADELPHIA * * * *

Submitted by jblack on Sun, 03/18/2001 - 03:21
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Philadelphia (1993)

CAST Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Jason Robards, Mary Steenburgen, Antonio Banderas
DIRECTOR Jonathan Demme

Jonathan Demme's "Philadelphia" is a serious study of prejudice in the work force. It's the first real film to deal with the AIDS issue, and it is handled without the kid gloves.

Tom Hanks plays Andrew Beckett, an attorney for a big law firm in Philly PA. He is given a big case to handle and it's almost botched. Andrew gets the blame for it and is fired. Andrew has another idea why he got fired and he decides to sue. After going to several lawyers to handle his case, Andrew comes to settle with Joe Miller, played by Denzel Washington. Their opening meeting is handled smoothly by Demme, and it makes you really think about this country's prejudice. Through a couple of moving events in the film, the two men land up working together on Andy's Case. Jason Robards is splendid as Charles Wheeler, the chairman for the law firm Andrew was fired from. He's the one targeted in the lawsuit, and he seems not to have a heart.

Tom Hanks is at his best in this dramatic depiction of the prejudices we have on certain types of people. Namely homosexuals and people with AIDS. It could have been real cheesy but it was brought along like a dalmation in a dog show. During the whole film I sensed an emotional explosion waiting to happen. It was so thick in the air you could see it on the screen. It was at the ending with the Neil Young song "Philadelphia" playing while we see a home video of Andrew when he was a little kid. Try as you might, if you were paying attention, you will cave in. The last five minutes is soaked with sobbing material. But thats ok, because you were expecting it.

We shouldn't have prejudice like this, and that what the movie preaches. Along with a good moral, the film was photographed exceptionally well. There are many aerial shots that captivate, showing the famous structures of the city. And the streets and surroundings are very rooted and mesmerizing. Denzel and Tom are powerful and show a good lesson in breaking down barriers and bridging the gap between unity and division.