Philadelphia (1993)
Storyline
Two competing lawyers join forces to sue a prestigious law firm for AIDS discrimination. As their unlikely friendship develops their courage overcomes the prejudice and corruption of their powerful adversaries.
Directors
Cast
Tony Devon, Antonio Banderas, Charles Napier, Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Tak Fujimoto, Ford Wheeler, John Bedford Lloyd, Mary Steenburgen, Anna Deavere Smith, Obba Babatundé, Lisa Summerour, Bob Bowersox, Gary Goetzman, Charles Techman, Daniel von Bargen, Roger Corman, Tracey Walter, Adam LeFevre, Roberta Maxwell, Ann Dowd, Gene Borkan, Paul Lazar, Bill Rowe, Andre B. Blake, Stephanie Roth Haberle, Bradley Whitford, Jason Robards, Joey Perillo, Lisa Talerico, Tom Detrik, Harry Northup, Ron Vawter, Lawrence T. Wrentz, Jim Roche, Kenneth Utt, Buzz Kilman, Lauren Roselli, Robert Ridgely, Daniel Chapman, Chandra Wilson, Jaime Gomez, Tony Fitzpatrick, Robert W. Castle, David Drake, Karen Finley, Charles Glenn, Peter Jacobs, Warren Miller, Dan Olmstead, Kathryn Witt, Joanne Woodward, Mark Sorensen Jr., Jeffrey Williamson, Julius Erving, Q. Lazzarus, Lucas Platt, José Castillo, Roy Blount, Jr., Quentin Crisp, Ana Leza
Trailer
Reviews
88
And yet Philadelphia is quite a good film, on its own terms. And for moviegoers with an antipathy to AIDS but an enthusiasm for stars like Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington, it may help to broaden understanding of the disease.
88
The story is timely and powerful, and the performances of Hanks and Washington assure that the characters will not immediately vanish into obscurity.
80
Variety
On a scene-by-scene basis, in terms of performance and the grave issues under consideration, the film is quite absorbing.
75
Philadelphia fails to create complex characters or finely nuanced drama, but it succeeds in its real goal; the education of an audience whose thinking about AIDS and gay life has been shaped by notions of perversion and divine retribution.
70
The New York Times
In the end, thanks to such effects and to the simple grace of Mr. Hanks's performance, this film does accomplish what it means to. Philadelphia rises above its flaws to convey the full urgency of its difficult subject, and to bring that subject home.
