Longtime Companion (1989) 7.3
The emergence and devastation of the AIDS epidemic is chronicled in the lives of several gay men living during the 1980s. Director:Norman RenéWriter:Craig Lucas |
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Longtime Companion (1989) 7.3
The emergence and devastation of the AIDS epidemic is chronicled in the lives of several gay men living during the 1980s. Director:Norman RenéWriter:Craig Lucas |
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| 0Share... |
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Campbell Scott | ... |
Willy
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| Patrick Cassidy | ... |
Howard
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| John Dossett | ... |
Paul
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| Mary-Louise Parker | ... |
Lisa
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Stephen Caffrey | ... |
Fuzzy
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Tanya Berezin | ... |
Office Manager
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| Welker White | ... |
Rochelle
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Michael Piontek | ... |
Office Worker
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Joyce Reehling | ... |
Office Worker
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| Bruce Davison | ... | ||
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Mark Lamos | ... |
Sean
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| Dermot Mulroney | ... |
John
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| Michael Schoeffling | ... |
Michael
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| Brian Cousins | ... |
Bob
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| Marceline Hugot | ... |
Soap Opera Reader
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Perhaps the first film to put a human face on the AIDS epidemic, Longtime Companion follows the lives of a small circle of friends from the first mention of the disease in the New York Times in 1981. First referred to as "Gay-Related-Immune-Disorder," we watch the effect of the disease as it devastates the lives of our protagonists. Jumping between Manhattan and Fire Island, vignettes carry us from the it-couldn't-happen-to-me mentality of the early days of the disease to the invasive effect it has had on all of our lives, today. The title of the film comes from the New York Times' refusal to acknowledge homosexual relationships in their obituary section during this period. Instead, survivors were referred to as "Longtime Companions" of the deceased. Written by Mark Fleetwood <mfleetwo@mail.coin.missouri.edu>
Following in the footsteps of AN EARLY FROST, here is yet another film with an AIDS theme to reckon with. Unlike FORST [which actually dealt with a gay couple and their parents] this deals with the gay community and several lover relationships. What I like about this film, and I did like FROST, was the honesty in telling the story of relationships. We are introduced to a group of gay friends and their mates, who spend much time together in vacationing on Fire Island, the gay resort, and in the hospital visitng each other when stricken with the unknown disease that has become a plague amongst us today. The actors brought their own individual depth to each character. I couldn't find a bad performance in the lot. Notably Bruce Davison stands out. He brings such an understanding and compassion to his work. You really believe him as he becomes his partner's companion in the last days of his life. The scene when he tells him it's okay to leave, was awesome. How can you separate the good actors from acknowledgement. Campbell Scott and Stephen Caffrey, Patrick Cassidy [and that famous kissing scene on the soap he was acting in] gave such a wonderful scene when he's in his lover's hospital room and begins to break down. The face of his lover as he listens to him cry broke my heart. John Dossett, Mark Lamos and Dermot Mulroney [and I'm not sure what actor played what role] all gave so much honesty to their work. A great ensemble of players, a delicate and honest script about a controversial disease that has by this time taken the lives of millions of young people [gay and straight], excellent direction and well photographed, I highly recommend this to everybody to see. You'll come away with a different attitude about not only gay life, but the killing disease.