Philadelphia (1993)

Featured Audience Ratings

• John M

  
  Hanks and Washington shine. This was a great movie and it came out at the right time.

• Jens S

  
  A brave film for its time, this movie touches the aspects of how AIDS and homosexuality as they are being viewed by the majority of the uniformed mass and weaves it all into a compelling court drama. While the great opening sequence with Bruce Springsteen's instant classic tune… More
  A brave film for its time, this movie touches the aspects of how AIDS and homosexuality as they are being viewed by the majority of the uniformed mass and weaves it all into a compelling court drama. While the great opening sequence with Bruce Springsteen's instant classic tune shows us the city of brotherly love from its more and less glamorous sides, things soon get up close and personal, just like the fantastic camera work that often turns the audience into a witness of the events on screen. Tom Hanks delivers his strongest performance to date and finds a great counterpart with Denzel Washington. The acting is top notch down to the smallest roles, but what makes this such a enthralling and deeply moving film is that it's the old story of justice being done in a theme that had not been touched yet by a major film before 1993. And in the end, none of that matters anymore. The last five minutes just mourn a great human being with old super 8 videos of his childhood and anyone who can still hold their tears back at that point can't possibly have a heart. Outstanding.

• Matthew S

  
  This movie was made for a specific audience that no longer exists. As a fictional story it doesn't really narrate an honest tale as much as set up moment after moment to preach about prejudice, homophobia and AIDS. These lessons are now obvious 20 years later, and the… More
  This movie was made for a specific audience that no longer exists. As a fictional story it doesn't really narrate an honest tale as much as set up moment after moment to preach about prejudice, homophobia and AIDS. These lessons are now obvious 20 years later, and the film's own stereotyping of a gay person is blazingly obvious (The gay man likes to have gay sex in a gay porn theater. The gay man is actually sensitive and wistfully cries during an opera. The gay man can't resist putting on a military uniform for Halloween). Unfortunately, this story was ripped off from a real victim who died only a few years earlier than this production, and the producers didn't ask for permission or give any ounce of credit to the man. They were sued by the victim's family for unacknowledged exploitation of his life. That leaves a bitter taste.

• Film C

  
  This is a very compelling movie and outlines the differculties that homosexuals had at one stage! its a story that you can relate feel compension and emphasize with the storyline is very good ! the acting was amazing with tom hanks giving his superb acting once again with denzel… More
  This is a very compelling movie and outlines the differculties that homosexuals had at one stage! its a story that you can relate feel compension and emphasize with the storyline is very good ! the acting was amazing with tom hanks giving his superb acting once again with denzel also pulling in an amazing performance! i couldnt feel but let down and disappointed by this movie i had high expectations but the movie didnt deliver especially towards the end i think the movie could have been a bit more emotional and pull at my heartstrings a bit more but nevertheless a decent compelling movie that is worth the watch!

• Jennifer X

  
  If anything, this made me more afraid of AIDS than less, what with those boils growing on Tom Hanks's face. Philadelphia is a touch didactic - which I guess it has to be given the subject matter and the time period - but it's intriguing watching people interact in the face… More
  If anything, this made me more afraid of AIDS than less, what with those boils growing on Tom Hanks's face. Philadelphia is a touch didactic - which I guess it has to be given the subject matter and the time period - but it's intriguing watching people interact in the face of a crisis.

• Emile T

  
  I love Tom Hanks. I love him, I admire him. Forrest Gump, Saving Private Ryan, Cast Away, and now this ?! I thought he gave a great performance in his latest movie, Charlie Wilson's War, but I have now officially seen Hanks's best performance (after Forrest Gump). This… More
  I love Tom Hanks. I love him, I admire him. Forrest Gump, Saving Private Ryan, Cast Away, and now this ?! I thought he gave a great performance in his latest movie, Charlie Wilson's War, but I have now officially seen Hanks's best performance (after Forrest Gump). This movie was, to me, truly moving and heartbreaking. Jonathan Demme did a great job as director, but the script - and Tom Hanks - is what supported the whole movie. Plus, the soundtrack was terrific. A movie I'll remember for th rest of my days.

• Jay H

  
  Those who know me know that I'm an ardent supporter of gay rights, so don't take this the wrong way. "Philadelphia" is, pure and simple, a gay rights propaganda film. Its purpose is to make a point rather than to tell a story. Its story isn't told in nearly as… More
  Those who know me know that I'm an ardent supporter of gay rights, so don't take this the wrong way. "Philadelphia" is, pure and simple, a gay rights propaganda film. Its purpose is to make a point rather than to tell a story. Its story isn't told in nearly as much detail or as thoroughly as it could have been. The writers instead opt to remind us, time and time again, that the public doesn't like homosexuals and that homosexuals aren't bad people. Great, we get it. I watched "Philadelphia" to see an interesting legal story about a man suing his employer for wrongful termination, and instead I get a propaganda film disguised as a big-box drama. If you're going to the movies to watch the filmmaker make a point, "Philadelphia" should serve you well. If, like myself, you're there to see good, quality storytelling, this film may not be for you.

• jay n

  
  many better movies on this subject, watch longtime companion instead

• Curtis L

  
  Yet another mediocre movie wins awards for being contraversial.

• Wahida K

  
  OUTSTANDING!

• Dean M

  
  Emotional, powerful and tragic story I ever watched. Jonathan Demme's drama film throws us into a world of pain and stark truth that is few and far between in mainstream cinema. Tom Hanks gives the most powerful performance of his career as Andrew Beckett, the afflicted lawyer.… More
  Emotional, powerful and tragic story I ever watched. Jonathan Demme's drama film throws us into a world of pain and stark truth that is few and far between in mainstream cinema. Tom Hanks gives the most powerful performance of his career as Andrew Beckett, the afflicted lawyer. Denzel Washington is well cast as the homophobic lawyer who ultimately takes Hanks' case, and Mary Steenburgen is surprising in an uncharacteristic villain role.

• Anthony L

  
  Powerful and very sad. Think it could have had more oomph though, the direction went a bit odd in places and I think I would have been handled completely differently had it been made in the last few years. That said, for its time it was powerful stuff and hasn't (And I doubt ever… More
  Powerful and very sad. Think it could have had more oomph though, the direction went a bit odd in places and I think I would have been handled completely differently had it been made in the last few years. That said, for its time it was powerful stuff and hasn't (And I doubt ever will) become dated. Probably Tom Hanks at his best.

• Alice S

  
  Poignant and groundbreaking for its time and beyond. Joe Miller is a truly complex character - morally and emotionally - played to perfection by Denzel Washington who should have been <i>nominated</i> at least! A few problems though: A. All the POV shots are so cloying… More
  Poignant and groundbreaking for its time and beyond. Joe Miller is a truly complex character - morally and emotionally - played to perfection by Denzel Washington who should have been <i>nominated</i> at least! A few problems though: A. All the POV shots are so cloying that it takes away from the one place where I think it works - Joe watching Andrew's spiritual experience of opera. B. The court never proves sabotage. How did the papers get lost? C. The montage of baby videos at the end is way heavy-handed; I'd rather have seen more of the wake and perhaps a concrete statement on whether Joe has truly overcome his prejudice or not, although I understand why it's left to be slightly open-ended. D. And now that I'm reading over my review, I realize most of it is about Joe, which goes to show even a "groundbreaking" movie about AIDS and homosexuality has to have a straight protagonist to be marketable (in the film-about-Africa-with-a-white-protagonist way). I know Andrew is "the lead" but I'm using protagonist in the Greek <i>dynamic</i> character sense (one who goes through a dramatic change from beginning to end). But of course, times have changed. It's just a minor gripe.

• Lady D

  
  This is an emotional story and shows up the predjudice encoutered towards people with AIDS and Homosexuals. A Brillient performance from Hanks who I would not normally rate as one of the best Hollywood actors despite his reputation.

• John H

  
  Tom Hanks does it again! A wonderful performance. One of his best to date. And the fact that this story is about a homophobic lawyer defending a gay AIDS victim against a possible offense towards his lifestyle that got him fired, despite his great work in the field....Wait....where… More
  Tom Hanks does it again! A wonderful performance. One of his best to date. And the fact that this story is about a homophobic lawyer defending a gay AIDS victim against a possible offense towards his lifestyle that got him fired, despite his great work in the field....Wait....where was I? Anyway, this movie's performance and direction is definitely worth seeing. It will amaze you!

• Derek D

  
  I bought this movie, watched it, and eventually gave it away. I do not miss it. Not in the slightest. Given the choice of watching this movie or contracting encephalitis, I would have to give it some thought.

• Tim S

  
  Thank you Jonathan Demme.

• Robert C

  
  At first I was simply happy that a film on this subject was getting such a mainstream face. But let's be honest, while the intentions were good...the film is a bit formulaic and the relationship between the to men involved seemed very clinical.

• Craig S

  
  <u><b>Directed by:</u> Jonathan Demme.</b> <u><b>Starring:</u> Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington.</b> To say the film is original or unique is untrue, as many critics have stated that it never aims for anything new and it never needs to, the… More
  <u><b>Directed by:</u> Jonathan Demme.</b> <u><b>Starring:</u> Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington.</b> To say the film is original or unique is untrue, as many critics have stated that it never aims for anything new and it never needs to, the film is personal, the film is emotional, the film is true and overall it feels real. The film follows Andrew Beckett, a top lawyer who is gay and catches AIDS, now he does not tell his colleges about it, he wants to but he soon finds out that it is best not to (seeing as his higher ranks are homophobic). One day Andrew Beckett is fired, they say it is because he was 'mediocre' and that another cause was because of a particular file went missing, but Andrew knew it was because of his AIDS. He tries to sue the company but no one will take his case, that is until homophobic lawyer, Joe Miller steps up to the case.........now I know you may already know where the film leads, you are quite right, it is predictable, but the film is just so touching and never forced, that we oversee that. Jonathan Demme directs the film very simply, but very intimately, he uses simple POV shots most of the time, I guess as a way to get 'into the characters', there is no new technique or new level of direction here, but there is heart and pure flowing emotion injected into every scene that is never forced, we are never grabbed by the neck and forced to feel sentimental. The performances are amazing, with Tom Hanks, who before this film did such comedy roles as Big and Turner and Hootch, proves himself as a powerful actor by portraying his character perfectly. Denzel Washington is.....well Denzel Washington, the majority of his roles he is the same, which is not a bad thing at all because he is an outstanding actor and there is no exception here. The soundtrack is fitting and beautiful, with the addition of Opera to the "Opera scene" (respectably) makes it the most powerful scene in the entire film. Of course I can't go on without stating one small problem and it is the start of the courtroom sector....its just something I saw that started to throw me off a little in the beginning and that was just how weak the law firm's words were, but thankfully it improves. Overall the film isn't going to break new ground, it isn't a film that forces you to feel, it all comes naturally, powerfully and realistic, with some amazing performances and a great soundtrack. Recommended.

• Candy R

  
  Very sad and moving movie about an AIDS victim.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings