"Angels in America"

[jenlili]

I have just finished watching the movie "Angels in America," a Mike Nichols film starring Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, Emma Thompson, and several others I don't know so well.

So I just have to say. WOW!!!

As I was watching it, I kept thinking how much of it would apply to, or interest, people on this forum. It's full of existential angst, philosophy, a little politics, and dark dark comedy.

It is, on the most apparent level, political commentary on AIDS and homosexuality: AIDS was not "created" to eliminate the fags. It's also really attached to its time. But on deeper levels, it's so much more; it's about being good and loving, about being true to yourself and to those whom you love, about being open-minded and non-judgemental.

It's really long, 6 hours, so you have to plan for it. And it's really thought provoking, so probably best not to try to watch it all at once...It's not like a "Lord of the Rings, Extended Version" trilogy marathon, or a Star Wars marathon, or even a game of Monopoly. Plan for two or three sittings, or more, it's divided into 6 chapters.

Also, it's not for the immature or narrow minded. But even though it's about dying of AIDS, it's not as gory or heart wrenching as I had expected (the reason it took me this long to get around to watching it).

So how long was the stage play?