So I was laid up with a bum back this weekend, and the upside of this was that I got to lay back in the bed and wade through the three hour disc of Angels In America Part I (via Netflix - I'm ANXiously awaiting the second disc!).

I knew this mini-series was going to be amazing. I've gone years making myself NOT read synopses and breakdowns of this script, because everyone I know who's seen the play has gone absolutely MENTAL over it, and I knew that one day I'd experience it for myself, one way or another, and now I'm finally getting a chance to take it all in, with absolutely no expectations or clue as to what I'm getting myself into.

I'm not gonna talk a lot about what goes on in this miniseries, because there are a lot of mindblowing ideas and wonderful characterizations in it. I will talk about some of the performances. I think I love Jeffrey Wright. I loved him in "Basquiat", and he's just absolutely amazing in "Angels In America", playing multiple parts and kicking ass with everything he's got to work with.

Now, whenever I hear names like Meryl Streep or Emma Thompson or Al Pacino, I think of overrated superstar thespians who have made one or two amazing movies and spent the rest of their careers making bloated pap. Dingoes ate my baby, Jane Austen, gritty urban crime drama crapola. Sorry to offend the fans, but I guess I'm just that jaded.

I'm here to tell you that these three BLEW ME AWAY, just in the first half of this mini-series alone. Pacino's great as Roy Cohn - you're really interested in what happens to him because Pacino's characterization is so colorful....Emma Thompson is more versatile in her multiple roles than I ever thought she could be...but Meryl Streep: WOW. She's fantastic as the closeted Mormon gay guy's mother, she's REALLY fantastic as the ghost of Ethel Rosenberg, but she really freaked my shit out with one of her roles in this mini-series, which I ain't even gonna tell you about because you'll freak out yourself when you see the credits and realize it's her.

That's what I'm loving about this film production of "Angels In America" so far...there's just so much STUFF to take in. So many relationships and characterizations and incidents and moments and hallucinations and not-hallucinations and realism and poetry and WOW, just get out there and snag yourselves a copy and watch it as soon as you can, it's amazing stuff.

We have had the whole 6 hours on our DVR box since it was 1st aired. I can't believe we haven't watched it yet...

endorphin74 said:

OMG endorphin you gotta watch it!! it's an AMAZING miniseries and the characters, storyline and depth of the story is so touching and fantastic!!!

DEFINATELY worth watching asap

there's a boy in my living room right now talking about that show!!!

weird.

i just heard about this mini series...and was intrigued... and for the life of me i could NOT remember where i knew the name from. now i do.

i'll check it out.

i'm chomping at the bit for netflix to deliver part two....

Natisse said:

Okay, okay, okay, OKAY!

I'll watch it I say!

endorphin74 said: