HBO's "The Normal Heart": Your Thoughts — Page 3

I'm thinking you might want to design said course.

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This thread is living history. There are just so many stories of bravery in the face of terror, of a community coming together when no one else would help. Can't tell you how many Mom's I took out to coffee after their visits with their dying sons who they never knew were gay or what fabulous friends they had. Even took a couple to AA meetings.

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I found the film to be quite powerful and very moving. I think it serves as a very important reminder to us all of a very dark and frightening time in our history. I thought the cast did an outstanding job. I have to say that I did not find Mark Ruffalo's character to be too likeable. I thought he did a great job embodying Ned Weeks. I also think I liked Julia Roberts performance a bit more than Joanna Gleason's performance in the 2004 revival, though I admit I did not see the latter performance by legitimate means. I truly hope that this reaches the huge audience that deserves and needs to see it.

First, a humbling thank you to all that have shared their personal rememberances in this thread.

I thought there was much to appreiciate in this telling of The Normal Heart. I wonder, if Ruffalo's tamed down Ned was more of a directorial thing. I could see Ryan Murphy wanting to make Ned more likeable and more misunderstood/wronged. Of course, that's one of the beautiful things about the play, Kramer doesn't seem to mind showing his less than pleasant side.

I was much more moved, however, by the revival. That, too, may be because that was my first experience SEEING the play performed.

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I will always think of Kramer what I will and I will be grateful to whomever had enough control in the making of the film to shoot the sex scenes and cruising scenes beautifully and without the theme from Jaws or Psycho aim the background, which I think would be Kramer's preference.

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I came out exactly then and exactly there and this film devastated me for many reasons. I love a good cry -- I'm good for the next couple of years now.

Nothing could ever match the intense reaction I had to the last revival.

It is a fine film, and is sure to rack up plenty of Emmy nominations soon enough. Second only to Murphy's direction, I was most worried about Julia. While she was wildly out of her depth in August: Osage County, I found her to be quite good here. Some of her line readings can make me cringe, but this was her best performance since Erin Brockovich.

So interesting to hear everyone's takes on the play vs. the movie and their own personal connections to it. Personally, I thought they did a beautiful job and Matt Bomer was heartbreaking. Has anyone heard anything about ratings? Wondering how it did and hoping people were tuned in.

When my roommate and I saw the revival on Easter Sunday, we were both so devastated we could not speak to each other. We just went home and went to bed. Not a word was spoken until the next day.

I thought the film was very good. I was not devastated. But I was moved greatly.

I have to say, Kramer did an extremely good job at adapting his script for the screen.

But the material is visceral and, I think, loses something when it is not seen live.

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Thanks Pal Joey. I know "Jeffery". It takes a humorous look at the subject matter.

I appreciate the advice, and I know you are right, but I don't think I could ever be the same as I was before AIDS. I'm much better that's for sure. I don't want to give you the impression I am a basket case walking around. But the movie did bring back a lot of those emotions.

Thank you again. I am so glad there is finally a thread on this board where people are kind to each other. lol.

Just watched the film, and loved it.

I do understand the narrative structure would have been easier to understand had the viewer seen the play first.

Just watched the film, and overall I enjoyed it greatly.

Of course, it doesn't pack the same punch as seeing it live onstage, but I expected that. The most recent revival remains (for me) the most visceral, cathartic, experience I've ever had in a theater. Never before, and not since, have I left a theater in such a mixed state of shock, rage, and anger, while at the same time being profoundly moved by the performances of Joe Mantello, Ellen Barkin, John Benjamin Hickey, Lee Pace, and Jim Parsons.

I thought the film cast did a fine job overall, though nothing will be able to top my memories of seeing those actors onstage. Ruffalo gives an admirable performance as Ned, though I agree he seemed too likeable. I don't think he was angry enough or showed enough rage. He wasn't able to take the character to the places Mantello did, but again, I enjoyed him overall.

Speaking of Mantello, you can see flashes of his brilliant Ned in his scenes in this film. Likewise, I think Jim Parsons only got better since the revival.

If there was a misstep I thought it came from Julia Roberts, who I was enjoying up until her "big scene." I don't think she got angry enough. That's the scene where Emma's frustration finally boils over and she loses it. I got none of that from Julia Roberts. The "you are all idiots!" line, which was such an important finish to Barkin's speech, is little more than a throwaway here.

But these are quibbles. Overall, I remained profoundly moved by the piece and am proud of HBO for getting it made. I was a very young child when all of this was happening in the 80's, so I don't have the same personal connection that PalJoey and others do, but this piece has always been profoundly important to me. It made me proud to be a part of this community, and it's certainly helped me understand the struggle the gay community has undergone for recognition.

Updated On: 5/27/14 at 11:41 PM

Anyone know where I can catch it if I don't have HBO? Or if there are plans for it to be available online?