Review of Philadelphia (1993) by Byron B — 10 Dec 2013
Hanks is touching as a man who enjoys his work as a lawyer, has a great circle of friends and family, and confronts AIDS and injustice. Washington makes his character real by showing his fear and prejudice toward homosexuals even as he recognizes the common fight against discrimination that causes him to represent Andrew Beckett in court.
Robards plays a powerful bigoted man who snarls intimidatingly. Banderas, in one of his very first American movies, plays Andrew's partner fiercely and incredibly gently. Woodward plays the matriarch of Andrew's supportive family.
The role is a great match for her. Though we never see Banderas and Hanks kiss or do anything else very intimate, the movie breaks boundaries in portraying Banderas deeply caring for Hanks when he becomes ill, in the attitude of the Beckett family, and in the honest look at the stigma of being gay in the 1980's and early 90's.
This review of Philadelphia (1993) was written by Byron B on 10 Dec 2013.
Philadelphia has generally received very positive reviews.
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