Angels in America (miniseries review)

As I am currently on bed rest against my will (ha ha) I have decided to catch up on my movies and books.  I have a few in my library I either haven’t watched/read or it was so long ago I thought it was time for a revisit.

Today’s review is “Angels in America” by Tony Kushner.   I recall when the two-play series first came out 20 years ago.  “Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes” captured the early days of the AIDS epidemic - swinging between delusional fantastic and ugly realism, the audience receives a front row seat.

In this HBO miniseries Mike Nichols’ direction and Tony Kushner’s words with an amazing cast bring life to this poignant modern period-piece.  As in the play, some actors play multiple roles.  Meryl Streep portrays a male rabbi, the ghost of Ethel Rosenberg, a mother, and an angel.  As always, she melts into each role and becoming the characters.  She brings the audience to anger, derision, sympathy, and finally happiness. Emma Thompson plays a nurse, homeless woman, and the main angel. She holds her own against a strong cast and plays each role with finesse. Al Pacino excels as Roy Cohn, an infamous attorney involved with the McCarthy red scare and responsible for the Rosenberg convictions during a dark yet fascinating period of American history.  Through his money and influence he was able to convince the world he was dying of liver cancer, hiding the truth of his AIDS diagnosis.  A man who proudly abused his power and those of his political friends, it was only on his deathbed that his disbarment is successful

Justin Kirk is fabulous as the shows’ main focus Prior Walter.  He embodies the “everyman” of the epidemic and puts a face on the disease that claims millions.  His story is presented in stark contrast of Roy Cohn.  Ben Shenkman is Louis, Prior’s former boyfriend who waffles between what is right and the easy path.  His guilt-ridden confusion represents all those who turned their backs on the sick and dying.  Mary-Louise Parker aptly plays a neglected housewife with valium-induced delusions. Her closeted husband Joe Pitt is Patrick Wilson evokes sympathy and derision. The only actor who transitioned from the stage to screen versions is Jeffrey Wright.  He provides life to the characters of Mr. Lies, Belize, a homeless man, and an angel.  It is Belize who brings all of the characters together.  He is the night nurse caring for Cohn.  He is Prior’s friend who stays by his side when Louis cannot.  He knows everyone’s secrets and plays as kind of a Jiminy Cricket conscious-type being to each character. Rounding out the cast in brief roles includes the talents of James Cromwell, Michael Gambon, and Simon Callow.

I found the mini-series to be funny, sad, moving, fantastical, and fascinating.  The six hour run time flew by and was worth every minute.  I would watch it again.