The Normal Heart (2014)

A gay activist attempts to raise H.I.V. and A.I.D.S. awareness during the early 1980s.

Director:

Ryan Murphy

Writers:

Larry Kramer (screenplay), Larry Kramer (play)

Stars:

Mark Ruffalo, Jonathan Groff, Frank De Julio

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 27 wins & 54 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mark Ruffalo	...	Ned Weeks
Jonathan Groff	...	Craig
Frank De Julio	...	Nick
William DeMeritt	...	Nino
Taylor Kitsch	...	Bruce Niles
Joe Mantello	...	Mickey Marcus
Sean Meehan	...	Morton
Stephen Spinella	...	Sanford
Jill Melanie Wirth	...	Receptionist
BD Wong	...	Buzzy
Julia Roberts	...	Dr. Emma Brookner
Jim Parsons	...	Tommy Boatwright
Adam B. Shapiro	...	Bella (as Adam Shapiro)
John Mainieri	...	John
Matt Bomer	...	Felix Turner

Storyline

The story of the onset of the HIV-AIDS crisis in New York City in the early 1980s, taking an unflinching look at the nation's sexual politics as gay activists and their allies in the medical community fight to expose the truth about the burgeoning epidemic to a city and nation in denial.

---

Plot Keywords:

new york city | gay | gay writer | fear of weakness | playwright | 

---

Taglines:

To win a war, you have to start one.

---

Genres:

Drama | History | Romance

---

Certificate:

TV-MA

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 May 2014 (USA)

Also Known As:

Det normala hjärtat

Filming Locations:

New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

HBO Films,Plan B Entertainment,Blumhouse Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

132 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Black and White (archive material) Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The title of the play and the movie comes from a line in W.H. Auden's poem "September 1, 1939".

---

Goofs

When Felix is riding the subway while observing a rider with lesions, the subway car is immaculately clean and graffiti free. During the early-1980s (the time this film takes place), New York City subway cars were notoriously gritty looking with graffiti covering the inside and outside of the cars. Police officers were also a common sight as crime on the subway was at an all time high. During the late 1980s, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) which oversaw the city's subway services purchased a newer model from Canadian manufacturer Bombardier that was made of graffiti-proof alloys and had a different seat layout from previous trains. This model is the one used in this film.

---

Quotes

Ned Weeks: Welcome to gay politics.

---

Connections

Featured in The 21st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2015)

---

Soundtracks

Forget Me Nots
Written by Patrice Rushen, Freddie Washington, Terry McFaddin
Performed by Patrice Rushen
Courtesy of Elektra Entertainment Group
By arrrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

User Reviews

Touching, Heartwarming and Truly Devastating

I am struggling to find the right words to use. This movie was/is one of the most brilliantly written, brilliantly directed and acted that I have seen in years. The pain and struggles were balanced with just the right amount of laughter as to not completely destroy the watcher. Make no mistake, you will be destroyed at the end but somehow you don't mind. This is a MUST watch for anyone under 40 especially. For those of us that are old enough to remember what those early days were like, it is a reminder that is painful to watch, but makes us joyful that we have come so far. We still have so much farther to go. Mark Ruffalo's performance was extraordinary! His grief, his anger and his passion were palpable. The performance by Jim Parsons blew me out of the water. Good lord it make actually make me watch his TV comedy now that I've seen this!