Also this film is an attempt to capture a very specific time in American history. Angels in America is a story very rooted in the mid to late 80s as the world faced a plague, a virus plague for sure, but also a plague of extreme selfishness in political culture, an era which ushered in our current political dynamic. It is rooted in living a certain period of time. All of this made filming an Angels in America movie a difficult challenge, yet one the film successfully overcomes, bringing the play to the screen and bringing that play's analysis and narrative to full life. Kushner's screenplay remains true to all he does in his stage play and Nichols brings a cinematic beauty and cohesion to the story of Prior Walter.
I love that they chose not to try to contain the story into a regular movie length and instead stuck to the play's format, two plays with three acts. The film maintains much of the theatrical experience in even having most of the roles played by multiple actors. Other than a few exceptions (which allow the inclusion in the cast of James Cromwell and Michael Gambon for example) the main cast plays all the parts with Streep and and Thompson doing the bulk of that role switching heavy lifting. It all works to enrich the story as it does on the stage. A good example of this is how Justin Kirk playing both Louis' lover and the man he sneaks off to have anonymous sex with brings in all sorts of emotions that wouldn't be there if different actors had played the parts. The cast here is another reason the film is so strong. It has one of the best casts I've ever seen assembled for an event like this.
There is no need to exalt the work of Streep as we all know she is always perfect, but I will just say this, her ability to bring such beautiful complexity to Hannah, the mormon mother who comes to her son's rescue as he flails, is the heart at the centre of the film. Also not shocking is that Jeffrey Wright in his multiple roles, but mostly as the heroic Belize, drag queen nurse, is a revelation. And Emma Thompson has the range to be both glorious angel of God, homeless person living with madness, and butch nurse care giver.
Kushner's portrait of actual historical figure Ray Cohn here is remarkably complex and brilliant. He uses the character to outline American evil and how it manifests. He deconstructs the Republican model we see so clearly in Mitch McConnell and his ilk today. I would argue this may be Pacino's best performance. He brings to it the grandiose scenery chewing that he can do so well but balances it with touches of subtlety in personal moments. It fits perfectly with Kushner's portrait of Cohn and all he represents as complex villain who the film dares us to not feel at least a little for while remaining steadfast in our hate of him.
Kirk has all the amazing screen presence necessary to embody Prior, the centre of this interlocking set of stories, the prophet, revelator. It isn't a small feat to pull him off yet he succeeds with flying colours. But I want to mention the lessor known Shenkman, in the film's most challenging role, Louis, a character who is hard to appreciate. He manages to make him fully real, relatable even. I have a difficult relationship with Louis and think I see a lot of me in him that I don't like. Seeing him played so compassionately here, warts and all, is wonderful. Shenkman's Louis is smart but dumb, weak but strong, and loving yet completely fallible and earns the partial redemption the story gives him.
Also strong is a young Patrick Wilson who has the thankless role of Joe. His scenes with Shenkman and Parker bring a realness to this story that is necessary. Parker herself gives what is likely my favourite of her performances, joyful in her soul crushing sorrow and her ultimate arc towards liberation from her nation, her religion, and her marriage is beautiful.
For me what makes Angels in America, the complete film, work so well is how all involved are dedicated to bringing the original play experience to life so fully. Cast, writer, director, are all A-list and at the top of their game in some of the most complex work I have ever see them do. And as the the 6 hours comes to its completion and Prior gives his inspirational closing remarks, remarks I remember first hit me like a lightning bolt to my heart the first time I saw it performed, I am transported back to that first time and I feel it wholly.
Angels in America is beautiful and painful and full of hope and remains as relevant as it always has been. This film became one of my favourite ever through the sheer power of its story, the beautiful way it encapsulates it in this moment in time, and the collection of remarkable performances. I have watched it more times than I can count and each time I get more and more from it and I still cry as it comes to its conclusion.
Angels in America
Starring: Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, Emma Thompson, Jeffery Wright, Mary Louise Parker, Patrick Wilson, Justin Kirk, Ben Shenkman, James Cromwell, Michael Gambon, Simon Callow
Director: Mike Nichols
Writer: Tony Kushner
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