Review of The Normal Heart (2014) by Douglas C — 30 May 2014

Who would have thought the man behind "Glee" and "American Horror Story" could helm such an absorbing and richly moving ensemble film that not only informs but also in equal parts entertains.

While it is true that the AIDS epidemic was prime-time fodder for documentaries and plays over the last 30 years, Ryan Murphy injects narrative flourishes and tour-de-force performances from a well-rounded cast to bring some levity and humanity to scribe Larry Kramer's whip-smart screenplay.

Murphy, himself a homosexual, approaches the hot-button topic with a refreshing newness and personal attachment to the material that acts as a catalyst for the proceedings. Ruffalo has never been better and really transcends his character's unflinching commitment to a cause that even the President is turning a blind-eye to.

Out of all the cast members, it is Matt Bomer that disappears into the role as he channels a bit of Jared Leto's chameleon-acting from last years Oscar front runner "Dallas Buyer's Club." The film is briskly directed and Murphy keeps the emotional beats and the film's overall resonance at a sonic level.

There are more than a handful of powerful monologues delivered, surprisingly, by Julia Roberts as well as Alfred Molina as the put-upon brother of Ruffalo's character. More than anything, The Normal Heart succeeds in amplifying the human drama that underscores why the gay community was so profoundly angry at a nation that seemed so completely in denial.

The film traverses some familiar terrain but it primarily examines Ruffalo and his committee's activist agenda in terms of fundraising for research and treatment measures. Ruffalo convincingly comes full-circle and makes the viewer believe in the up-hill battle that had occurred.

Some parts of it do seem a bit deliberate in execution and there are times where characters take part in shouting matches that seem counterproductive and makes the film lose some of its narrative drive/focus.

Despite some occasional hiccups, this is largely ESSENTIAL VIEWING particularly for those of us still unfamiliar with the tumultuous origins of AIDS and how it is still prevalent in today's world.