Angels in America 

Playwright Tony Kushner adapts his political epic about the AIDS crisis during the mid-1980s and centers the story around a group of separate but connected individuals.

Stars:

Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, Emma Thompson

Won 5 Golden Globes. Another 57 wins & 42 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Al Pacino	...	Roy Cohn 7 episodes, 2003
Mary-Louise Parker	...	Harper Pitt 7 episodes, 2003
Jeffrey Wright	...	Mr. Lies / ... 7 episodes, 2003
Justin Kirk	...	Prior Walter / ... 7 episodes, 2003
Ben Shenkman	...	Louis Ironson 7 episodes, 2003
Meryl Streep	...	Hannah Pitt / ... 7 episodes, 2003
Patrick Wilson	...	Joe Pitt 6 episodes, 2003
Emma Thompson	...	Nurse Emily / ... 6 episodes, 2003
James Cromwell	...	Roy's Doctor 5 episodes, 2003
Brian Markinson	...	Martin Heller 5 episodes, 2003
Robin Weigert	...	Mormon Mother 4 episodes, 2003
Melissa Wilder	...	Louis's Sister 4 episodes, 2003
David Zayas	...	Super 4 episodes, 2003
Fatima Da Silva	...	Cousin Doris 4 episodes, 2003
Kevin 'Flotilla DeBarge' Joseph	...	Singer in Church 4 episodes, 2003
Sterling Brown	...	Orderly 4 episodes, 2003
Florence Kastriner	...	Louis' Mother 4 episodes, 2003
Lisa LeGuillou	...	Nurse 4 episodes, 2003
Howard Pinhasik	...	Louis' Father 4 episodes, 2003
Shawn Bartels	...	Mennonite Choir Members 4 episodes, 2003
Brian Dougherty	...	Mennonite Choir Members 4 episodes, 2003
Mary Esbjornson	...	Mennonite Choir Members 4 episodes, 2003
Barbara Fusco	...	Mennonite Choir Members 4 episodes, 2003
Serafina Martino	...	Mennonite Choir Members 4 episodes, 2003
Steven Edward Moore	...	Mennonite Choir Members 4 episodes, 2003
Christopher Schuman	...	Mennonite Choir Members 4 episodes, 2003
Reldalee Wagner	...	Mennonite Choir Members 4 episodes, 2003
Matthew Yohn	...	Mennonite Choir Members 4 episodes, 2003

Storyline

God has abandoned Heaven. It's 1985: the Reagans are in the White House and Death swings the scythe of AIDS. In Manhattan, Prior Walter tells Lou, his lover of four years, he's ill; Lou bolts. As disease and loneliness ravage Prior, guilt invades Lou. Joe Pitt, an attorney who is Mormon and Republican, is pushed by right-wing fixer Roy Cohn toward a job at the Justice Department. Both Pitt and Cohn are in the closet: Pitt out of shame and religious turmoil, Cohn to preserve his power and access. Pitt's wife Harper is strung out on Valium, aching to escape a sexless marriage. An angel invites Prior to be a prophet in death. Pitt's mother and Belize, a close friend, help Prior choose.

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Plot Keywords:

death | aids | loneliness | valium | heaven | 

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Taglines:

The messenger has arrived.

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | Romance

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Certificate:

TV-MA

Details

Official Sites:

HBO

Country:

USA Italy

Language:

English Hebrew Aramaic Yiddish French

Release Date:

7 December 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

Angels in America

Filming Locations:

Bethesda Fountain, Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$60,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Avenue Pictures, HBO Films, Panorama Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

352 min (6 parts)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Mary-Louise Parker (Harper Pitt) and Justin Kirk (Prior Walter), who appear in just one scene together in the TV adaptation, went on to co-star as Nancy and Andy Botwin in Showtime's hit series "Weeds," which began filming shortly after production for "Angels" had wrapped.

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Goofs

Prior says that "Thomas Jefferson died on his birthday". Jefferson died on 4 July 1826 but was born on 13 April 1743.

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Quotes

Prior Walter: This disease will be the end of many of us, but not nearly all. And the dead will be commemorated, and we'll struggle on with the living, and we are not going away. We won't die secret deaths anymore. The world only spins forward. We will be citizens. The time has come.

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Crazy Credits

Person Generally in Charge of Everything Aaron Geller

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Connections

Spoofed in 30 Rock: Subway Hero (2008)

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Soundtracks

Shall We Gather At The River?
(hymn written in 1864)
Music and Lyrics by Robert Lowry (1826-1899)
Performed by Meryl Streep and choir

User Reviews

This presentation touched me deeply

I wish I could put into words how deeply touched I was by this movie/ miniseries. It has haunted me since I first saw it in December. I taped it when it was shown all together on HBO Signature and purchased the playscript book. And I have the soundtrack which is so beautiful.

I loved this work. It made me think, it made me laugh, it made me mourn. The concept of God abandoning Heaven just made me weep. The utter resolve Prior displays before the Council was so uplifting...and then Hannah's desire to have them all bathe in the Fountain of Bethesda and be healed. So touching.

Each character was such an intrigal part of the delicate equation. The awards/nominations were/are all richly deserved. (SAGs are on 2/22.)

Patrick Wilson positively floored me. I'd never heard of him before and was slack jawed by his range, his depth and his delivery. His vocal inflections, modulations, etc are incredible. And, his "look" was perfect. As a straight, active (practicing) LDS woman , I can tell you that he could have been dropped into any Church meeting and he would have blended right in. Kudos to the wardrobe/hair & make-up department. Of course, though Joe's particular struggle is not representative of every man in the Church, all individuals have burdens we must handle. I could really relate to that.

The rest of the cast were equally fantastic. You know, even if the character was being despicable...you appreciated the talents and efforts of the person portraying them.

I could gush forever about this. Bravo to Tony Kushner, Mike Nichols, and the incredible cast.