This drama coldly and strikingly reminds us of how the disease was, in the early 90's, still very unknown to the public. The nature of the premise is inevitably appealing but unfortunately the script is very academic : statement of the facts, trial, verdict, done deal. Scenes follow each other very linearly, without much tension, and despite high stakes you never really get carried away by story whose mise-en-scène is sometimes too melodramatic. Hanks first major performance, though awarded an Academy Award, feels quite insipid, as is the whole cast in fact and the movie in general, necessary but far from being a top drama.
Review of Philadelphia
