Philadelphia [Region 2] |  | Director: Jonathan Demme
Actors: Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Roberta Maxwell, Buzz Kilman, Karen Finley
Category: DVD
Buy Used: $13.98
Rating:  111 reviews
Sales Rank: 195315
Format: Ntsc
Languages: English (Subtitled), Italian (Subtitled), Hungarian (Subtitled), Polish (Subtitled), Russian (Subtitled), Czech (Subtitled), English (Original Language)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 2
Discs: 1
Running Time: 125 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 5035822988231
ASIN: B00004CWJB
Theatrical Release Date: December 23, 1993
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
| |
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com essential video
Philadelphia wasn't the first movie about AIDS (it followed such worthy independent films as Parting Glances and Longtime Companion), but it was the first Hollywood studio picture to take AIDS as its primary subject. In that sense, Philadelphia is a historically important film. As such, it's worth remembering that director Jonathan Demme (Melvin and Howard, Something Wild, The Silence of the Lambs) wasn't interested in preaching to the converted; he set out to make a film that would connect with a mainstream audience. And he succeeded. Philadelphia was not only a hit, it also won Oscars for Bruce Springsteen's haunting "The Streets of Philadelphia," and for Tom Hanks as the gay lawyer Andrew Beckett who is unjustly fired by his firm because he has AIDS. Denzel Washington is another lawyer (functioning as the mainstream-audience surrogate) who reluctantly takes Beckett's case and learns to overcome his misconceptions about the disease, about those who contract it, and about gay people in general. The combined warmth and humanism of Hanks and Demme were absolutely essential to making this picture a success. The cast also features Jason Robards, Antonio Banderas (as Beckett's lover), Joanne Woodward, and Robert Ridgely, and, of course, those Demme regulars Charles Napier, Tracey Walter, and Roger Corman. --Jim Emerson
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 106 more reviews...
 Philadelphia May 25, 2009
Lanie Johnson (Oklahoma)
This is one of my favorite Tom Hanks films. The seller was a third party seller through amazon. My movie arrived promptly and in excellent condition. I would purchase from them again.
 philadelphia April 24, 2009
Manon Shokoff (To-Ca)
i love tom hanks, I have a few of his movies. he's a very good actor. I n this movie they play a homosexual with antonio banderas my two favorite
actors. At the end of the movie I CRIED because it was sad . he was dieing .it was good
good condition January 13, 2009
C. Taylor
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
This was my first used purchase and i was extremely satisfied with the condition i recieved my item!
Valuable Life Lessons Can Be Learned December 31, 2008
Annabelle (Eugene, Oregon)
When I first had the chance to preview a downloadable Flash Video version of "Philadelphia", I, like many other viewers and listeners, realize that a few valuable life lessons can be learned, especially when watching and listening to this film for the first time.
1. Discrimination against people because of a disability, or even just discriminating against people in general, under any circumstances, is not OK, especially name Calling. For centuries, people have been discriminated against because of their religion, age group, sexuality, customs, skin color, cultural upbringing, intelligence level, or even because they have a disability or a disease.
For example, I remember a time when I was living at Sheldon Oaks Apartments in Eugene, Oregon, which is like an Assisted Living Facility, more like a retirement home, for people who are 55 and older. When I was living there, I was surrounded by folks who thought that I may have been one of their granddaughters. They were thinking, "What's this 'Young Lady' in their twenties doing in our facility?" Little did they know that I'm a 'young woman', not a 'Young Lady'. (I hate the term 'Young Lady' with a passion, and I would never address any females in that manner. I am a young woman who is totally blind, and has Autism Spectrum Disorder, which by the way is the full name of the disability. Those older folks consider people like me with Autism Spectrum Disorder to be nonverbal, unintelligent, good-for-nothing citizens. I happen to be one of those with Autism Spectrum Disorder who is extremely high-functioning, with an advanced level of intelligence, and I know full well that it's not OK to call females "Lady" or "Young Lady", according to the laws of morality. Calling people names that offend them is not OK!
2. People can come up with the phoniest excuses to fire someone from a job, only to hide the real reason why that person is being fired.
For example, I once worked at Lazar's Bazaar in Eugene, Oregon, lacing shoes, which by the way is hard to do when you can't see. Lazar is not only the store owner, but at the time that I worked there, he was also my boss. There came a day when I got fired from my job, just two months after Lazar had hired me. Instead of my boss making up a phony reason for me being fired, it was actually my family. For days, they had spread the news that I had allegedly spoken to my boss in a nasty tone of voice. However, Lazar revealed the real reason for letting me go, which was because my productivity wasn't good enough for him, in other words, my work wasn't fast enough for him. So remember, if you are a boss of a company, and you suddenly decide you want to fire someone from a job, don't make up phony excuses as to why they're being fired. Always tell them the truth!
3. Emotions are not something to be played with! When someone needs help, and especially medical help, try to ask that person what's the matter. Try to have them explain how they feel.
The scene that struck me is when Tom Hanks' character, Andrew Beckett, was in the men's restroom, and I believe he was going to the toilet. But while this was going on, I could've sworn I heard him crying. That made me want to come over to that restroom, put my arms around him, give him a big hug, gently pet him on the back, and say to him that everything's going to be all right. Crying is not uncommon --- Especially in guys! We all have feelings, and sometimes, feelings get hurt. Also, when someone is crying, it's not uncommon for another person to stand there and make fake tears (a common facial expression where people pretend to be crying), and boo hoos (a common sound that people make when they mock someone who's crying.). I say, when anyone is crying, it's not cool to make fake tears and boo hoos! That only makes them cry more! When Tom Hanks emerged from rinsing his mouth (If I'm not mistaken, I believe he threw up in that scene, which probably explains the crying), when I heard him say, "I think I need to go to the hospital", I knew right away that he was in desperate need of medical help. If someone is feeling pain or discomfort, ask them in a tender tone if everything's all right, and try to help them in their situation, whatever the problem may be.
4. This whole world, and especially the city of Philadelphia, is in desperate need of Brotherly and Sisterly Love. For those who may not know, the name Philadelphia is Greek. It comes from the words, "Philos", which means "Love" or "Loving", "Adelphos", which means "Brother", "Brothers", or "Brotherly", and "Adelphia", which means "Sister", "Sisters", or "Sisterly". It is high time we take a moment to come together, give peace a chance, live in perfect harmony, stop the fights and the wars, Stamp out the Profanity and the name calling, put an end to hating and killing each other, and once and for all, bring the Brotherly and Sisterly Love back home to Philadelphia!
Tom's best acting yet.. September 25, 2008
Stephanie H. Bell (Spokane, WA USA)
This is, by far, one of the best movies. The story is moving, and will have you in tears multiple times. Tom truelly shines, and is one of the few actors that you no longer see as a person, but as their character. Very emersed. This will also question your thoughts and beliefs, and possibly make you reconsider the next time youre about to make a snap judgement.
|
|
|
