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left-of-center2012

(34,195 posts)
Fri Dec 1, 2017, 09:42 PM Dec 2017

The Normal Heart (film)

Watching this on HBO right now. It's difficult, as I've lost 13+ friends since 1990 to AIDS, and it brings back some painful memories.
My ex (and still very close friend) is presently "living with AIDS".

"The Normal Heart is a 2014 American drama film directed by Ryan Murphy and written by Larry Kramer, based on his 1985 play of same name.
The film stars Mark Ruffalo, Matt Bomer, Taylor Kitsch, Jim Parsons, Alfred Molina, Joe Mantello, Jonathan Groff, and Julia Roberts.

It was released on DVD and Blu-ray on August 26, 2014.

The film depicts the rise of the HIV-AIDS crisis in New York City between 1981 and 1984, as seen through the eyes of writer/activist Ned Weeks (Ruffalo), the founder of a prominent HIV advocacy group.

Weeks prefers public confrontations to the calmer, more private strategies favored by his associates, friends, and closeted lover Felix Turner (Bomer).

Their differences of opinion lead to arguments that threaten to undermine their shared goals."

Plot here

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The Normal Heart (film) (Original Post) left-of-center2012 Dec 2017 OP
I love that movie. MuseRider Dec 2017 #1
Boys In The Band left-of-center2012 Dec 2017 #2

MuseRider

(34,369 posts)
1. I love that movie.
Fri Dec 1, 2017, 10:01 PM
Dec 2017

I had wanted to see the play for years and years but was never able to. I like Larry Kramer a lot, he may be abrasive but I cannot understand how anyone who lived through that would not be.

When I was working LGBT issues I read as much as I could. I recently read When We Rise by Cleve Jones, also very good. I started with these issues after I had to hold my brother as he died from AIDS related illness. I had always cared about the issues and had quite a few LGBT friends who I should have been out working for but had never thought to work it.

The Normal Heart really had a good cast. Some of my favorites As you said it is very hard to watch and when they got to the part about the Reagan administration I remembered how incredibly awful they were. I was angry once again. It is dealt with again in Cleve Jones's book. Boy In The Band as well, very in depth.

Enjoy the movie even though it is a hard one to get through. It was well done I thought. I had not seen that it was coming back around on HBO. I will have to catch it again.

left-of-center2012

(34,195 posts)
2. Boys In The Band
Fri Dec 1, 2017, 11:00 PM
Dec 2017

Saw the movie at Trinity College, Hartford, CT in the 70's.

Went with a friend. Trinity showed great movies for $1 and offered free herbal tea and cookies in the lobby.
An older couple (male & female) were seated in front of us.

After "Boys In The Band" began, and about ten minutes into it, the old couple said:
"I don't think this is a musical"
and got up and walked out.

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