- Overview
-
Reviews
- Compare Prices
User ReviewRead All Reviews »
Is The Band Still Playing?
Pros
Well acted, well written, raises awareness
Cons
none
Recommended it?
Yes
I don't consider myself to be a great movie reviewer (For that see Mike_Bracken or ZentropaJK) but I wanted to review this movie and urge everyone who hasn't seen "And The Band Played On", to see this compelling dramatization of the early years of the AIDS epidemic. I have to admit I was able to learn, or at least understand more about AIDS from this movie than all the literature I'd read up until seeing it.
Adapted from Randy Shilts book by the same name, this made for cable (HBO) movie examines the discovery, and the effects of early misinformation that came with this new disease-and follows the resistance of research and battles between scientists for the credit of isolating the virus. The movie also brings to light many people who played important roles in furthuring the cause of research and understanding. The characters are based on real people: gay activists, researchers, government officials, doctors, and victims. Randy Shilts, a victim himself who succumbed to complications of AIDS in 1994, who compiled this well documented chain of events for his book, plays an extremely important role in my mind, for this contribution.
Matthew Modine (Full Metal Jacket, Any Given Sunday) fiercely portrays Dr. Don Francis, and expert in infectious disease for the Center for Disease Control. Still haunted by his past experience with Ebola in South Africa, he finds himself up against a another seemingly similar infectious outbreak, one that appears to be affecting the immune system of mostly young homosexual men. This begins the journey to isolate, understand, research and educate.
Ian McKellan (Rasputin) gives an equally moving performance as gay activist Bill Kraus, who works to raise awareness both in the gay community and with government officials.
In addition to the central characters, an all star cast showed their support by providing cameos that drew viewers in, portraying peripheral characters based on real people. Among them are: Richard Gere(Pretty Woman, An Officer and a Gentleman), Lilly Tomlin (All of Me)
Alan Alda (Same Time Next Year, Murder at 1600), Angelica Huston Prizzi's Honor, Steve Martin (Roxanne), B.D. Wong, Swoosie Kurtz, David Dukes, Phil Collins, Glenne Headley, David Dukes, and Don Francis.
That society in general refused to recognize the velocity of this he epidemic, and work together toward the common goal of both awareness and research is shockingly exposed with this movie.
I am intentionally leaving out details about the storyline, and some of the more shocking occurances because I honestly feel this movie is better absorbed by being as unaware as you were before you saw it.
A very affecting line, spoken adamently by Modine's character (Dr. Francis) to a representative of the blood bank industry, is shocking enough all by itself:
"How many people have to die to make it cost efficient for you people to do something about it? A hundred? A thousand? Give us a number so we won't annoy you again till the amount of money you spend on lawsuits makes it more profitable for you to save people than to kill them."
There are now hundreds of sites that are dedicated to awareness, education and prevention of the AIDS virus- this is one I find very helpful:
http://www.ama-assn.org/special/hiv/hivhome.htm
Adapted from Randy Shilts book by the same name, this made for cable (HBO) movie examines the discovery, and the effects of early misinformation that came with this new disease-and follows the resistance of research and battles between scientists for the credit of isolating the virus. The movie also brings to light many people who played important roles in furthuring the cause of research and understanding. The characters are based on real people: gay activists, researchers, government officials, doctors, and victims. Randy Shilts, a victim himself who succumbed to complications of AIDS in 1994, who compiled this well documented chain of events for his book, plays an extremely important role in my mind, for this contribution.
Matthew Modine (Full Metal Jacket, Any Given Sunday) fiercely portrays Dr. Don Francis, and expert in infectious disease for the Center for Disease Control. Still haunted by his past experience with Ebola in South Africa, he finds himself up against a another seemingly similar infectious outbreak, one that appears to be affecting the immune system of mostly young homosexual men. This begins the journey to isolate, understand, research and educate.
Ian McKellan (Rasputin) gives an equally moving performance as gay activist Bill Kraus, who works to raise awareness both in the gay community and with government officials.
In addition to the central characters, an all star cast showed their support by providing cameos that drew viewers in, portraying peripheral characters based on real people. Among them are: Richard Gere(Pretty Woman, An Officer and a Gentleman), Lilly Tomlin (All of Me)
Alan Alda (Same Time Next Year, Murder at 1600), Angelica Huston Prizzi's Honor, Steve Martin (Roxanne), B.D. Wong, Swoosie Kurtz, David Dukes, Phil Collins, Glenne Headley, David Dukes, and Don Francis.
That society in general refused to recognize the velocity of this he epidemic, and work together toward the common goal of both awareness and research is shockingly exposed with this movie.
I am intentionally leaving out details about the storyline, and some of the more shocking occurances because I honestly feel this movie is better absorbed by being as unaware as you were before you saw it.
A very affecting line, spoken adamently by Modine's character (Dr. Francis) to a representative of the blood bank industry, is shocking enough all by itself:
"How many people have to die to make it cost efficient for you people to do something about it? A hundred? A thousand? Give us a number so we won't annoy you again till the amount of money you spend on lawsuits makes it more profitable for you to save people than to kill them."
There are now hundreds of sites that are dedicated to awareness, education and prevention of the AIDS virus- this is one I find very helpful:
http://www.ama-assn.org/special/hiv/hivhome.htm
![Big Joe Williams and the Stars of Mississippi Blues [Box] by...](http://di1-3.shoppingshadow.com/images/pi/30/50/48/2002268376-60x60-0-0.jpg "Big Joe Williams and the Stars of Mississippi Blues [Box] by...")
