Philadelphia ★★★½ 1993 (PG-13) AIDS goes Hollywood as hot-shot corporate attorney Andrew Beckett (Hanks), fired because he has the disease, hires brilliant but homophobic personal injury attorney Washington as his counsel when he sues for discrimination. Boxoffice winner was criticized by some gay activists as too mainstream, which is the point. It doesn't probe deeply into the gay lifestyle, focusing instead on justice and compassion. Boasts a good script, make-up that transforms Hanks, sure direction, great soundtrack, and a strong supporting cast, but all would mean little without Hanks' superb performance, his best to date. ♫Streets of Philadelphia. 125m/C VHS, DVD, 8mm, Wide. Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Antonio Banderas, Jason Robards Jr., Joanne Woodward, Mary Steenburgen, Ron Vawter, Robert Ridgely, Obba Babatunde, Robert Castle, Daniel Chapman, Roger Corman, John Bedford Lloyd, Roberta Maxwell, Warren Miller, Anna Deavere Smith, Kathryn Witt, Andre B. Blake, Ann Dowd, Bradley Whitford, Chandra Wilson, Charles Glenn, Peter Jacobs, Kathryn Witt, Dan Olmstead, Joey Perillo, Lauren Roselli, Bill Rowe, Lisa Talerico, Daniel von Bargen, Tracey Walter; Cameos: Karen Finley, David Drake, Quentin Crisp;
Director:
Jonathan Demme;
Writer:
Ron Nyswaner;
Writer:
Tak Fujimoto;
Cameo:
Howard Shore. Oscars '93: Actor (Hanks), Song ("Streets of Philadelphia"); Berlin Intl. Film Fest. '94: Actor (Hanks); Golden Globes '94: Actor—Drama (Hanks), Song ("Streets of Philadelphia"); MTV Movie Awards '94: Male Perf. (Hanks); Blockbuster '95: Drama Actor, V. (Hanks).
