HBO's 'The Normal Heart': Your Thoughts

[RW3]

This is one of the times that I'm mad that my mom cancelled our HBO subscription

[SNAFU]

I was glad to see he finally acknowledge the Lesbian factor. One of the major factors in helping me through Kevin's illness and ultimate death was Rev Karen, Lesbian clergy of the MCC. She made him meatloaf, his favorite, in his final weeks. A miracle since she is a devout Vegan!

Ete spelling correction.

[FindingNamo]

Yeah, I liked that a lot too.

And her opening speech was great.

[PalJoey]

Re: The Rolodex.

I still have my pocket address book from then. (We didn't have Smart Phones back then--we didn't even have cellphones--it's just a skinny lined book with spaces for name, address and telephone numbers but I've never been able to throw it out.)

The pages are filled with entries that have been crossed out. Many of them are half a page long, since my friends worked in theater and had a home phone and a service (like in Bells Are Ringing--this was before voice mail or answering machines).

Before the plague, I would cross out an address or a phone number each time a friend left a job at a regional theater or in summer stock. Or if they moved or had to vacate a sublet.

Mixed in, of course, were names (first names only, usually) and phone numbers of guys I met at a bar or in the baths.

And then, at a certain point, I had to cross out not just phone numbers and addresses but their names too.

After a while, some of the pages had so many cross-outs that it was hard to see the names and numbers of those still living. That's when I got a Filofax, I think...and, ultimately, a cellphone that stored numbers.

But I never threw out that pocket address book.

[SNAFU]

Believe or not, I still use my Roledex, I have never completely crossed over. 1/3 of it contains numbers of people who were taken away from us in the 80's- Early 90's.

[AwesomeDanny]

It wasn't able to pack the same punch as the play did, which I figured going in. Still, I thought it was a wonderful film. I thought everyone gave terrific performances, especially Joe Mantello. Some of the cuts disappointed me (the shrinking of the "I belong to a generation that includes..." monologue), but most of them I hardly noticed. And apart from the opening sequence, I really liked the new material. Jim Parsons's speech at the funeral was really touching. But I think the greatest benefit that came from adapting the piece to this medium is that we saw a greater portion of the community (not just Jonathan Groff's and Finn Wittrock's characters, but also the waiter and random others who were reoccurring in the background).

At the end of the day, while there were many things I had reservations about, I am just so glad that this film was made and it was made well. It tells a story that simply needs to be told. It's an important way to honor those who were lost, and it's important for young people today to be familiar with a chapter of our history that is not being properly remembered.

[Ed_Mottershead]

First of all, I don't have HBO, so I didn't see it. But I was around at the time, saw the revival in ?? with Raul Esparza and, of course, the one that was done three years ago. IMO, it's a terrific play that defies the ages. Ah has spoken!

[mjohnson2]

I saw the 2011 revival, but not the original one. Am I the only one who thought that Ruffalo did a fantastic job? His earnestness was different from the stage version, but it worked better for the movie. I thought it was truly incredible, and good job Ryan Murphy for finally making something good.

[FindingNamo]

Was the "men have to choose not to love" bit originally a Felix line? It really is the only way to explain Ruffalo's version of Kramer not ever having a lover.

[promisespromises2]

Coming as someone who has never read/seen the show, I loved it. I was moved to tears way more than once. My friend read the play awhile ago and she didn't cry once during it! I just remember looking at her after it was done and saying something along the lines of "I don't think I could ever handle watching this live."

And I agree about the camera moving away from Julia during her big scene. Especially because she is so expressive with her face/hands during it that when they panned the camera out you literally just see her sitting in the chair not moving one bit.

I really loved it though and coming from a generation where we literally don't really learn about this, it opened my eyes to how the government reacted to HIV/AIDS when it first began here in the States.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

I'm curious about something. Is there anyone else, aside from Larry Kramer, who is still around from that first GHMC board? It would be interesting to get the perspective of someone from those in the founding group. P.S. I found a link to Rodger McFarlane (played by Jim Parsons). Very interesting


Rodger McFarlane

[PalJoey]

Rodger was a giant with the smile of a pixie. Basically, without him, there would have been no GMHC, no ACTUP, no BC/EFA and no Bailey House. And without him, my friend Jed would have died 5 years sooner. Roger's suicide was a sad shock and a huge loss.

[PalJoey]

This is Larry's 1983 Today show interview, which was featured in the movie.



TODAY SHOW 1983: Finding a Cure

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Thank you PalJoey for your poignant memories. Have you ever given some thought to putting your memories to writing, in some format? RC in Austin, Texas

[Jane2]

Please let me say at the outset that in no way do I compare my experience to that of a gay man. Not at all. And I"m not always very articulate but I want to make my post in this thread.

I was experiencing the story as a girl who spent the summers in the Pines, living with her gay male family. I was right there, shocked and horrified and all our conversations were about this "gay cancer." Our first dear family member died in 1982. Thank goodness his partner of 20 years was not infected. We subsequently lost at least 20 more friends. Hence, I get the rolodex theme.

I noticed some marks on my best friend one winter. He said they were insect bites that never healed. Right away I knew something was wrong, seeing that they should have healed after all this time. I saw how he started to try to hide his ankles for they were covered with brown marks. My friend didn't want me to know he was sick. His death was long and drawn out. His wrists were tied to the hospital bed to prevent him from his habit of pulling the respirator tube out of his throat. HIs legs were sticking out of the blanket and were completely black for anyone to see. So he couldn't speak and couldn't use his arms or hands. A prisoner. And whenever I was there, he winked at me. He had no DNA.

I thought the film perfectly showed the horror, pain, anger and agony of AIDS to those who were not on the inside. And it perfectly exposed our government for what it was.

I agree with the poster who said Larry was portrayed too likable. That would be my only negative comment. I thought Julia Roberts nailed Emma perfectly. Maybe even an award winning portrayal. I too was pleasantly surprised with Jim Parson's ability.

Another great job by HBO. Not nearly as flawless as Angels but very good.

[PalJoey]

That was very articulate, Jane. And very moving,

[FindingNamo]

Jane, you were in the epicenter. Your experience is in many ways comparable to that of many gay men. The devastation of a family of choice. Hell on earth.

[ucjrdude902]

I missed it as I don't have HBO. Hoping it makes it way to iTunes or Netflix.

[wonkit]

I, too, thought Jim Parsons showed incredible subtlety (as he did in the revival a few years ago). I thought Julia Roberts actually underplayed the entire part a little too much. Her anger seemed very external, for a woman who was seeing her patients die without any recourse.

And I definitely agree that the revival had the benefit of seeing things "pile up" over time - and life is messy and tragic, a sense that was a little lost for me in this version.

[FindingNamo]

What was up with Ned and the Dr dancing?

[Jane2]

Thank you Namo and PJ. Having your acceptance of my story means everything.

[theaterfan862]

Jane thank you for sharing your story with us! This horrible disease affects everyone. Those that we have lost live on in the friends and family that survived them. The movie was done well and I'm just glad that The Normal Heart will reach a larger audience.

[jayinchelsea]

I was away and did not have access to HBO last night, but will see it tonight.

PalJoey, I too have mementos, my late husband's phone book/address book from the year he became ill. All the doctor appointments, reminders to call friends who were sick. As a charter member of the NYC Gay Men's Chorus, I lost my husband, most of my friends and many of my colleagues. Yes, I sang at the Showers benefit at the Paradise Garage. We owned a house in the Pines those years, sold a year before my husband died, and watched as our friends and neighbors disappeared. Yes, that is the word: disappeared. Too sick (or too sick at heart) to return your calls or let you visit them.

The original NORMAL HEART production was like grand opera without the music, it began at fortissimo and then got louder. The revival of several years ago was a revelation. I will keep my expectations low for the film, but I'm already crying at the thought of it.

Thank you, Jane and PalJoey and everyone else for sharing your memories.

[FindingNamo]

Sending love to you.

[YouWantitWhen????]

This thread is why I love this board so much. I sometimes wish some of these threads could be part of a course curriculum on how the virtual becomes very very real in the digital age.

[FindingNamo]

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