HBO's "The Normal Heart": Your Thoughts

It was a very moving and emotional film. The movie showed the many personal struggles as people dealt with the crisis. Although there were many fine perfomances, I was especially moved by Mark Ruffalo, Matt Bomer and Julia Roberts.

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Julia Roberts was totally miscast! The direction a bit off. Julia's exit from her powerhouse monologue reminded me of Timmy from South Park. Julia's performance was a tight lipped monotone. Give me Joanna Gleason anyday!

I was moved to tears at points. I think it works better as a stage play.

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Updated On: 5/25/14 at 11:32 PM

SNAFU: I disagree with you about Julia Roberts. In her portrayal, I thought she displayed the necessary toughness and concern. She was especially riveting when she told off those government bureaucrats who denied funding for her research. But...to each his own.

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Kramer did reinsert his dig at the Reagan's with the line about the First Lady giving good BJs rather then his dig at Ronnie the ballet dancer which was cut from the Broadway Revival, but was kept at the Public.

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One tiny bit that is especially bothersome to me, and I just want to make sure I'm not alone.

The bit with Bruce's Rolodex card at the end. Felt like an unnecessary, and somewhat careless additional dose of sadness. Almost like "you've been through the ringer with these characters, but now maybe there's some hope! ...oh, and he died too."

SporkGoddess, I felt there was more tension overall. There was an urgency and intensity that was exhausting in a great, theatrical way.

After seeing the revival, I feel as if I can deal with Kramer's material if there are artists I trust working with it. On Broadway it was George C. Wolfe and Joe Mantello (and I came to see Jim Parsons as a powerful force for good, too). In this TV movie it was Mantello and Stephen Spinnella and Jim Parsons. I know that they are smart people who can calibrate the more problematic aspects of the script and it needs it.

Ways I think the movie made some nice adjustments: I liked the bit where the guys on the beach told Ned Weeks to leave Fire Island because of "his book." I loved the way that whole thing was handled and Ruffalo's reaction. I am glad that they dropped the complete response Emma used to give after "Some doctors say it's safe if you use condoms." Here she replied, "I know they do." They mercifully cut out the part where she said, "It isn't."

Most importantly, I LOVE that they totally changed Ned's reaction to the first successful fundraiser for GMHC. In the play he bitches and moans that they "ONLY" raised $50 grand in early '80s dollars, no doubt infused with Kramer's reinforcing the "gay people have so much disposable income" mythology. In this movie, Ned was visibly moved, because what they managed to accomplish in a short period of time was remarkable.

I wonder who's idea it was to change THAT? I mean, it demonstrates to those who know the play (and Kramer I presume) that the way he wrote these things down originally turned out to be wrong.

Lastly, it was nice to see the movie and not be accosted by Kramer with a flyer.

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Updated On: 5/25/14 at 11:56 PM

And where the NYC AIDS Memorial will go.

I think the Rolodex was Murphy's attempt to create a more cinematic version of the ever growing list of names that is used so effectively in stage productions.

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I hope they will end up putting the memorial there ( if it is ever constructed). Thought it was destined for farther West.

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No. That was what it was supposed to do in 1985.

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Can I have my friends back now, please?

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Speaking of, wasn't my Alec B supposed to be Ben Weeks? All of a sudden it's Dr. Octopus!

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It's a tour de force in a theater. Opened up, it just isn't. Similarly, Patrick Breen's onstage version of Mickey's breakdown packed a powerful wallop. Mantello did a terrific job with it, but TV's the proverbial cool medium. Onstage Jim Parson's gathering Mickey up to take him home was a breathtaking act of spiritual and corporal mercy.

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