Angels In America

#1

Angels In America

Posted: 10/22/06 at 7:47pm

I read the play before watching the movie (or "Television mini-series" is what I guess I should call it) and I was so dissapointed by Mary-Louise Parker's portrayal of Harper. When reading the play, I pitied Harper, and the whole time I was rooting for her. Mary-Louie's Parker was so annoying, I wanted to shoot her! What are your opinions on Mary Louise's work, or the "television mini-series" in general?

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Theatre is a safe place to do the unsafe things that need to be done. -John Patrick Shanley

Updated On: 10/22/06 at 07:47 PM

#2

re: Angels In America

Posted: 10/22/06 at 7:48pm

I thought the movie was aweful.

#3

re: Angels In America

Posted: 10/22/06 at 7:49pm

Harper. I really enjoyed her portrayal of Harper. She's one of my favorite actresses.

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"We don't value the lily less for not being made of flint and built to last. Life's bounty is in it's flow, later is too late. Where is the song when it's been sung, the dance when it's been danced? It's only we humans who want to own the future too." - Tom Stoppard, Shipwreck

#4

re: Angels In America

Posted: 10/22/06 at 7:58pm

I thought MLP was awesome! I saw both plays on Broadway 6 times. My favorite Harper was Cynthia Nixon.

#5

re: Angels In America

Posted: 10/22/06 at 8:02pm

Oh, wow, I'd love to have seen Nixon play the part. I loved loved LOVED Mary Louise; she's one of my favorite actresses. I think she's brilliant, though much more powerful on stage than she is on screen.

There are a lot of people who didn't like her portrayal of Harper, though. I think some people sort of feel like she went way overboard with the drug addict thing, and all of her monotony was annoying. Which... I can see where that would come from, but I don't agree. Love her.

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A work of art is an invitation to love.

#6

re: Angels In America

Posted: 10/22/06 at 8:18pm

i think mary-louise is amazing.

i loved her harper; i thought she captured something really interesting.

i would have loved to see her in proof.

and she went to school in nc, so i mean, represent and all that.

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whatever and ever amen - ben folds five

#7

re: Angels In America

Posted: 10/22/06 at 8:20pm

ps Em I LOVE YOUR AV too much for words

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"We don't value the lily less for not being made of flint and built to last. Life's bounty is in it's flow, later is too late. Where is the song when it's been sung, the dance when it's been danced? It's only we humans who want to own the future too." - Tom Stoppard, Shipwreck

#8

re: Angels In America

Posted: 10/22/06 at 8:26pm

I saw the play on Broadway, with Marcia Gay Harden in the role of Harper. She was right on. I thought Mary Louise was excellent, but not as good as Harden.

As far as the HBO film is concerned, I'd probably rate it as one of the best films ever made, earning every single award it received.

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<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES

#9

re: Angels In America

Posted: 10/22/06 at 8:30pm

I thought the mini series was a total stroke of brilliance. Every actor was perfect in their role, including Marie-Louise. I've seen two different productions of AIA live in theatres, and Harper has always had that sort of grate-on-nerves quality. She has never really annoyed me, but compared with the other two Harpers I saw, Marie-Lousie almost played down the annoyance. I've seen the character played totally for comedic effect- which really does ruin the role. This, Mary-Louise does not do.

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"Are you sorry for civilization? I am sorry for it too." ~Coast of Utopia: Shipwreck

#10

re: Angels In America

Posted: 10/22/06 at 8:32pm

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<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES

#11

re: Angels In America

Posted: 10/22/06 at 8:34pm

I have never seen a live production of this show...but would kill to.

With that said, I love the movie. I missed its run on HBO so I bought the DVD and watched it non-stop in one afternoon. The performances are incredible, with Patrick Wilson being beyond perfect.

#12

re: Angels In America

Posted: 10/22/06 at 10:03pm

Harper... sorry, I don't know what in the hell I was thinking.

I've never seen a live production of the show either, but I'm sure to read a play before seeing it on-stage because I feel that whatever I get from the text is what the character is, I make sure not to have a bad actor distort that (not that MLP is a bad actress, I just didn't like her in the role)

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Theatre is a safe place to do the unsafe things that need to be done. -John Patrick Shanley

#13

re: Angels In America

Posted: 10/22/06 at 10:14pm

I thought the HBO film was perfection. And I loved MLP's interpretation of Harper. I was very happy when she won the Emmy for her performance.

Mary-Louise Parker is one of the very best working actors out there today. She and Cherry Jones are basically "it" for me.

Updated On: 10/22/06 at 10:14 PM

#14

re: Angels In America

Posted: 10/22/06 at 10:24pm

I agree that this is a brilliant movie. I also loved Parker in the role

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"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

#15

re: Angels In America

Posted: 10/22/06 at 10:25pm

I've still NEVER seen her live. I want to so badly.

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"We don't value the lily less for not being made of flint and built to last. Life's bounty is in it's flow, later is too late. Where is the song when it's been sung, the dance when it's been danced? It's only we humans who want to own the future too." - Tom Stoppard, Shipwreck

#16

re: Angels In America

Posted: 10/22/06 at 10:26pm

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A work of art is an invitation to love.

#17

re: Angels In America

Posted: 10/22/06 at 10:31pm

Heh. She's kinda hot in that picture, isn't she?

I loved her in the mini-series. LOVED her. Would kill to see her do anything live.

#18

re: Angels In America

Posted: 10/22/06 at 10:38pm

That's why I posted it. :) Unfortunately it's massive.

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A work of art is an invitation to love.

#19

re: Angels In America

Posted: 10/22/06 at 11:21pm

It's not showing up for me anymore.

#20

re: Angels In America

Posted: 10/22/06 at 11:23pm

SOOOOOO hot.

#21

re: Angels In America

Posted: 10/22/06 at 11:29pm

She was mesmorizing.

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"High time we made a stand and shook up the views of the common man" - Tears for Fears

#22

re: Angels In America

Posted: 10/22/06 at 11:53pm

#23

re: Angels In America

Posted: 10/22/06 at 11:56pm

!!!

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A work of art is an invitation to love.

#24

re: Angels In America

Posted: 10/23/06 at 12:42am

I thought Parker was quite good and did a good job of capturing both the neuroticism and the desperation and vulnerability of the role. I saw the Broadway production several times with several cast and thought Harden was easily the best of all of the Harpers, including Parker (especially early on in previews of MILLENIUM where she was so raw and emotional and fragile that it was a jarring and painful thing to witness). Nixon was quite good good (though she tended at times to push her voice to the point of shrillness when she was projecting). Susan Bruce was also first rate.

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"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie [http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/] "The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney

#25

re: Angels In America

Posted: 10/23/06 at 9:47am

I too saw Harden, Nixon and Bruce. Loved all three.

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