Philadelphia [Region 2] | ![Philadelphia [Region 2]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5177W%2BvAlPL._SL500_.jpg)
| Director: Jonathan Demme
Actors: Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Roberta Maxwell, Buzz Kilman, Karen Finley
Category: DVD
Buy New: $6.06
as of 2/9/2010 21:19 EST details
New (1) Used (3) from $6.05
Seller: pbshop
Rating:  112 reviews
Sales Rank: 251934
Format: PAL
Languages: English (Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired), Arabic (Subtitled), Dutch (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), German (Subtitled), Hindi (Subtitled), Italian (Subtitled), Portuguese (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), Turkish (Subtitled), English (Original Language), French (Dubbed), German (Dubbed), Italian (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 2
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Running Time: 125 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 5035822988293
ASIN: B00020JQFI
Theatrical Release Date: December 23, 1993
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| 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
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 112
 Philadelphia January 4, 2010
Arnita D. Brown (USA)
Andrew Beckett is a young up-and-coming lawyer who has just been fired by his prestigious law firm. His former colleagues claim he's just not good enough; Andrew says he's been fired because he has AIDS. Determined to defend his professional reputation; Andrew hires fierce personal-injury attorney Joe Miller to represent him as he sues his former firm for wrongful termination. Separated from Andrew by a deep social and cultural chasm, Joe is initially reluctant to take the case. For Andrew the battle is clear cut--he's fighting for his reputation, his life and for justice. Joe, however, faces a different kind of struggle as he confronts his own fears and prejudices about homosexuals. Philadelphia is a brilliant movie. You have to have an open mind and not be so prejudice to understand the meaning of the movie. I recommend it to everyone.
 Not Quite Epic, But Will Make You Think August 9, 2009
Zachary Koenig (Fergus Falls, MN)
Over the last few years, I have been churning my way through the films of Denzel Washington. I love the intensity and passion he brings to his roles, plus the fact that, "Manchurian Candidate" aside, he hasn't really been in any bad films. For whatever reason, I had not yet seen "Philadelphia", which is hailed by film critics and garnered Tom Hanks a Best Actor academy award in 1992. After viewing, I found it to be not as epic as some would have me believe, but still an interesting two hours nonetheless.
The basic plot of the film is the story of two lawyers (Denzel and Hanks). Hanks' character contracts AIDS and enlists the help of "Washington" to help him file a discrimination lawsuit against the company that fired him (supposedly due to the disease). Along the way, the plot actually morphs to become more of a "panel discussion" on the treatment/perception of gay people in the United States.
In dealing with such a sensitive topic, the film is able to lay out its message without sounding too crass or too offensive to either side. Basically, director Jonathan Demme knows that viewers will obviously have pre-determined attitudes about the issue before viewing the film, and thus doesn't try to sway any perceptions. Instead, through the legal, court-room setting, he just invites both sides to think about the issues at hand and consider possible scenarios. I liken it to a more recent Denzel Washington film entitled "The Great Debaters", which discussed the issue of the Jim Crow south through a high school debate team. Some pretty meaty issues were thrown around, but under the guise of "debate" the viewers don't really feel any compulsion to take a side, instead just being privy to the information. A similar factor is what I believe is the true brilliance of Demme's film...he treats the viewers like a jury and allows us to come to our own conclusion about the issues he is discussing.
Thus, unless you have incredibly strong feelings one way or the other about the issue of gay rights (then the film is bound to upset in its generalization of the topic), I would recommend this film to pretty much anyone. While it may not live up to critical hype (likely due to the fact that critics are usually bonkers over artsy or heavy-themed films), it will give you some things to think about.
Philadelphia May 25, 2009
Lanie Johnson (Oklahoma)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
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)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
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 3 found this review helpful
This was my first used purchase and i was extremely satisfied with the condition i recieved my item!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 112
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