Philadelphia (1993) Movie Review

Philadelphia" src="//cfm.yidio.com/images/article/images/artcile_350.jpg" style="margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; float: left; width: 400px; height: 236px; " />If you haven't ever seen Philadelphia shame on you. Go get it now. It is one of those must watch films. And I'll warn you, not everyone will like the subject matter. It has to do with AIDS, it has to do with a man hiding his sexual identity, it can make those who don't even like those words uncomfortable. But it's not really about that. It's about a man and his struggle to fight for what is right before he is overcome by his illness.

Tom Hanks won an Academy Award for this performance during a time when the Oscars were king. When that trophy meant more to an actor than anything because the people who nominated and chose the recipients believed it was like gold. With so many awards shows nowadays and fake celebrities even the Oscars are losing their grandeur. But this was one of those wins everyone knew was deserved. Tom Hanks is a sensational force. He has so much power and compassion and intensity it's insane. I don't know how the man does it.

Hanks plays a man who is fired from his company shortly after he starts to appear sick from his illness. He believes he was fired because of his AIDS. His employers say it was because of poor job performance. However he had just been made a partner in the firm so weak job performance doesn't seem to make sense. He tries to get every lawyer in town to take his case and no one will, including Denzel Washington. Until one day when he sees poor Hanks in an awkward situation at the library and becomes interested in him and his case. A homophobic, Washington takes a lot of convincing to truly understand Hanks' full situation. But one night after an opera session it is all clear. It is the best scene of the movie and I cannot help but cry every time it comes on. You have to see it to know what I'm talking about.

Antonio Banderas plays his lover and his companion until the very end. It's simply a touching film about justice, family and remaining true to who you are. A must see, really.