GOOD: The Best Movie I’d Never Seen

I have about a half an hour left to an exceptionally compelling film that I’ve heard about often from my parents and their friends, but had never seen until now.  The movie I am referring to is the 1993 release Philadelphia, starring Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington.

I’ll give a very brief synopsis for those of you who don’t know:

Tom Hanks won an Oscar for his portrayal of Andy Beckett, a homosexual manwho is fired from his law firm because he contracted the AIDS virus.  Denzel Washington plays Joe Miller, an [originally] homophobic little-known lawyer who is the only one willing to make a case for wrongful dismissal.

Obviously I am very pro gay rights and equality, but that does not even have bearings on how good this film is. Every actor really gave his and her all to make the story believable and to bring out the compassion of the jury as well as the viewers, including a swoon-worthy Antonio Banderas who plays Beckett’s partner Miguel.

Philadelphia proves that you don’t need a big budget, impressive scenery and sexy starlets to make a great movie.  In fact the spareness of the material and cinematic trappings of the film help underscore its touching plot and profound message.

Also, there is a pretty amazing joke about Philadelphia being the City of Brotherly Love.

 

I like this painting of Philadelphia by William C. Ressler

 

 

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