He Got *EXPOSED* In Philadelphia (1993) MOVIE REACTION!!! FIRST TIME WATCHING!!!

[@davidbarnes1113]

As a BGM from that era of the AIDS epidemic, I can tell you that movie had audiences extremely emotional and crying in theaters. People were consoling each other in the lobby . It was very sad. I was dealing with my best friend who was sick at the time and we too left the theater completely bawling. For years I could not watch the movie again. Most of the friends I had in my early 20s have all died except 1 or 2. It really devastated our generation.

[@ASKMEABOUTMYGARDEN]

Bgm??.. big gay man?

[@laminage]

I just realized that by today's standards, Andy would have listened to his Music on an Airpod. When he was at The Clinic, they were checking his Blood.

[@kne0777]

I *literally* sat in the front row because it was the only option on opening night

[@83gemm]

As a middle aged person, I absolutely love watching young people discover movies from my youth. It also amazes me when young people don’t know what disease he has right from the first clues. Not at all saying it’s wrong that you don’t! I’m saying it really speaks to how much progress has been made against AIDS in my lifetime, because back then, we knew EXACTLY what he had. We also knew he was in trouble when that lesion was noticed in the meeting. EDIT: Oh, bless you for worrying it was bigoted to guess AIDS! It absolutely was not. It is far more bigoted NOT to acknowledge that there was an epidemic killing people in this time period. That’s what bigots did then: they DIDN’T talk about it because of who was most affected by it. To date over 40 million human beings have died of AIDS globally. Absolutely talk about it.

[@adrianhempfing2042]

Haha I've not really seen someone hoping for it to be AIDS so much .... but I definitely got where Cam was coming from. And your subscribers know you're not discrimination people. So all good

[@mrtim5363]

Agree 100%. A nurse was explaining COVID precautions. Replied don't worry, lived during the AIDS virus, know the drill. The NURSE did not know what I was talking about. She said "What drill? There's a pill for that." NOW there is. Wasn't one in the 80's & 90's. So gentlemen. Please... Talk about it.

[@micheletrainor1601]

I actually watched a reaction of a load of teenagers who out of all of them only one of them knew what it was which to me is terrifying as I wouldn't never want that hell again.

[@Leo-Galaxy]

​@@micheletrainor1601 Where's that reaction video?

[@micheletrainor1601]

@@Leo-Galaxy ìt was on Austrian gogglebox

[@React2This]

I’m 68 years old and seeing your reactions to AIDS and the homophobia that was so prevalent during this era has made me love your generation. ❤ People with AIDS were so often abandoned by their own families, that one of the volunteer positions I worked was visiting AIDS patients who were left alone in the hospital to die. That was their reality. ;The one unrealistic aspect of this beautiful film is that Andy had not only excellent medical care but a fully supportive family.) The Neil Young song that plays over Andy’s childhood video was written and performed just for this film, as was the title song by Springsteen.

[@debbiethompson3460]

I worked in a nursing facility in the early 90's and we had a hospice wing. Most of the patients there had AIDS. I worked in the office and would sometimes have to go to the rooms for various reasons. When I was going up to hospice, my supervisor knew I'd probably be up there for a while, because so many didn't have families/friends visiting them. I'd go in and sit with so many of them to just chat. The hardest part of my job, was every morning I would get the "expired" list. Most were names of patients who I'd gotten close to...broke my heart each day. But, it gave me solace knowing that for a few minutes, they had someone to talk to and laugh with.

[@myroselle6987]

You’re right. I had a good friend who died from complications of aids. He and his family felt like they had to tell “acquaintances” that what he had was leukemia. It was such a scary time. When, at the beginning they were calling it GRID (Gay Related Immune Deficiency) meaning that only gay people were stricken with it and they were almost counting down the number of cases. Movies like “The Normal Heart” show a semi realistic version of how it was.

[@smsudiversity]

When a spouse looses a spouse, they are a widow or a widower. When a child looses a parent they are considered an "orphan" ... There is NO word for a parent who looses a child. Bc there IS no word for that loss... Food for thought. Great reaction guys! Keep it up!

[@ASKMEABOUTMYGARDEN]

Loses

[@briansharvill1794]

Hi Guys. SOOOOOO Grateful to you for tackling this movie.. The HIV/AIDS Crisis started roughly 1981 and was immediately blamed on homosexual men. The government was very rightwing with Reagan ion ascension and allied with the moral majority. Stigma, fear, misinformation, and righteous condemnation made being a gay man very dangerous and gay bashings were the in thing. I myself was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS on February 27th, 1987 through mandatory testing while in the military. I was given seven days to get out of dodge and to the hospital where I was officially diagnosed and given 1-2 years to live. I was 21. Two weeks after my diagnosis I was disowned by my family and two weeks after that discharged and left homeless. At that time the level of fear was so high it even extended to the community and those who were diagnosed were outcasts. That didn't last very long as the community came together and pushed for change, fought back against the bashers and the government and even changed the entire medical system of testing new drugs and how they are used. The community was responsible for making experimental drugs available to those who had no other options left, and made fast tracking f new medications possible. I have been to 267 funerals of friends lost to this illness, I have literally seen the manner of my death in all its various possibilities, and sometimes the clock is indeed loud.... I was there to see the very first medications, I have survived for 37 years with this disease and still I remember all those lost and left behind, every year, on the anniversary of my diagnosis I take their pictures out and remember them. Philadelphia was one of the first movie about AIDS and certainly the first really mainstream movies and it came 6 years after my diagnosis and believe me, the discrimination was overt, Hanks became a shining hero in the fight against HIV/AIDS and did so much with this SINGLE performance to break down stigma and social barriers. I am so appreciative when a reaction channel takes on this movie as it is still so vitally important today... and it's a bonus when it's a couple of my very FAVORITE reactors. EDIT::: The Lawyer defending the legal firm was doing what was common then, blaming the victim of AIDS for having AIDS .. It was after all God's Punishment according to the bible... If either of you had been on the jury, her attitude would have seemed normal. It was the message spread by religion and government together.

[@adrianhempfing2042]

Congrats for your wellbeing. Sorry for the losses of so many people and discrimination

[@adrianhempfing2042]

The lady lawyer fighting Denzel played by Mary Steenburgeon - I felt like punching her in the face. Not literally I just know her as the lady from the movie - What's eating gilbert grape

[@lizturner267]

I’m so glad at 21 you were in that first miraculous wave who managed to get treatment. I was a nurse in the 80’s, it took so long even for hospital workers to see the patient and not the stigma. I’m transported back by your words to all the beautiful souls, an entire generation of Gay men lost. I’m so glad your still here to share your wisdom and that we have reactors who step outside of the norm to pick up the burden this movie rightly gives us all to do better.

[@Ivy94F]

@@adrianhempfing2042 But I loved that part of the scene when she returns to the table (with the mirror, I think) and mutters, ‘I hate this case.’ It really redeems her character as someone who’s just doing her job, but has a moral conflict with its position.

[@rbyapok9158]

I doubt people today catch it, but there is a significant moment when Hanks and Banderas are sitting with Andy's family. Andy is holding the baby. His brother and sister-in-law were perfectly comfortable having a gay man with AIDS holding their child. This was a subtle moment but a huge statement when this film came out.

[@johnriccardi8613]

Thank you guys for this reaction. As a 55 year old gay man who lives through these times brought back so many memories. It is so amazing to see 2 great young gentlemen reacting to a movie like this. Thank you, you guys are great!

[@JonS0107]

This was an almost true story in my life in 1989 when I lost my partner. At that point there had been about 70,000 deaths due to AIDS. The differences - I was laid off when my company found out, we did not have support of family, and medical appointments were not a priority by doctors or specialists (often being rescheduled or dropped). Two days after he died his family pulled up to our home and started loading whatever they wanted.

[@brianmatthews1736]

Families of lost ones treating partners of their family members that way is just so evil to me. Christian families calling themselves loving, then doing this to the person their family member loved, and lived with for years is just plain wrong....hurts my heart every time it happens.

[@LlamaLlamaMamaJamaac]

I’m so sorry 😭😭😭

[@mindime1499]

F***, man, I'm so sorry that happened to you and your beloved partner

[@CBGB_1977]

I wish I could hug you. I’m so sorry you had that experience. I certainly hope the people who behaved so terribly have learned that their actions were not OK. Sending love to you. 🤍

[@jaikens2958]

& that is my always my argument to people who throw their religion into the arguments against same sex marriage. How is it fair for people to build a life together and not be able to support one another if one is hospitalized or passes away? Then I bow my head and pray "dear Lord Jesus, please save us from your followers."

[@bernardsalvatore1929]

THE TIMING OF THIS FILM AND THE STAR QUALITY OF THE ACTORS INVOLVED MADE A HUGE, HUGE IMPACT!!! THIS WAS JUST TWO YEARS AFTER FREDDIE MERCURY DIED FROM AIDS AND THE STIGMA WAS JUST INSANE!!! THIS FILM WENT A LONG WAY TO EDUCATING THE MASSES ON THE TRUTH ABOUT AIDS!!! SUCH A MASTERPIECE OF A FILM!!!

[@BTinSF]

So do you think these guys could handle Longtime Companion?

[@MsMelyjean]

Denzel Washington + Tom Hanks = Cinematic gold. It is strange that it took so long for the realization of the illness in the movie. We are living in different times. There was a time when EVERYONE knew right away what the illness was. I like the scene in the library. I relate to Denzel's character: Overt discrimination, even towards other groups, got under his skin.

[@frederickseltzerjr2170]

I saw this movie with my mom when it came out in late 1993/early 1994. I was 22 years old and on September 30th, 1992 while serving on active duty in the Navy, I made the brave step to come out as a gay man. My mother did admit to me that one of the things she was extremely worried about was me becoming HIV+. Well, due to some not good choices in my personal life, on March 22nd, 2003, I was officially diagnosed as HIV+. Just more than two years prior to this, when I was regularly testing as HIV negative, my spleen ruptured (Thursday, January 7th, 2000) and I was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery, where according to my medical records roughly between 3:00 and 3:20 am, I was legally pronounced dead. I came back to Baltimore on Friday, April 4th, 2003 and I promised my mom if I made it through the weekend, that come Monday morning, she could literally drag me to the ER and I would not put up any kind of fight. Luckily for me, Johns Hopkins is located here in Baltimore and after I was released from the hospital, I officially became a patient at their HIV clinic. Here's another thing I can prove with my medical records. In the early summer of 2004, I was one of seven HIV+ patients at this clinic that were selected to take part in a trial for a possible new HIV drug. That drug, that was FDA approved in July 2004, turned out to be Truvada. I just turned 52 about a month ago (June 26th) and on March 22nd, 2023, I celebrated my 20th anniversary of surviving HIV. I've been undetectable since July 2004 when I was put on Truvada. This was an extremely realistic portrayal of how just the general public's personal opinions about homosexuality and HIV/AIDS. Then President Clinton came into office on January 20th, 1993 and one of the things he wanted to do was to allow gay men/women to serve openly in the US military (I was received an honorable discharge on September 15th, 1993 from the US Navy as I became one of the hundreds of thousands men/women who was kicked out of the military solely based that we said we were gay, no other reason).

[@GranFelicia]

I'm so impressed you're tackling this movie!! edit: you two are so adorable - especially when Cam tries to dig himself out of a hole and Zay LOVES it!! LOLOLOL I appreciate your honest commentary when watching

[@MicahMann]

Beautiful movie. Such a reflection of what it was like in the early 80’s when AIDS first made headlines. So much misinformation and lack of government involvement thanks to Reagan’s own prejudice. Hanks deserved this Oscar award. Gripping. Thanks boys. You guys are a breath of fresh air. Keep it up. ❤

[@garygramling5618]

I was born in 1971. AIDS started slowly when I was about 10, but obviously I knew nothing about it. I came out at 14 and had my first boyfriend at 16. At 18, I started going to gay clubs and met the love of my life, Tony. I had no care in the world and was only worried that he wouldn't be able to be faithful to me. I insisted on an AIDS test before we committed to each other. He tested positive and I, negative. I don't know how this happened, because we engaged in unprotected sex (both ways) over and over again. I watched him die a slow, horrific death (bodybuilder, healthy, etc. to what looked like an 80 year old man with his hair falling out in clumps, calling to his "mommy" to come help him change his pajamas.) The love of my life died within 2 years. I was 19 when we met. He was 21. My mom kept telling me to encourage him to tell his mom that he tested positive. He was too proud. I'm 52 years old now and still think about him often. On a side note, my older brother is also gay, as is one of my older identical twin sisters. My brother's older best friend "mentor" also died of AIDS. The mentor created an argument between he and my brother so he had an excuse to "disappear" from my brother's life. He knew he had AIDS and wanted to spare my brother the anguish. When my brother found out, right before the man died, he went to his home. His friend woke up from his delirium long enough to recoginze my brother and call out his name, but then fell back into a coma. Despite the coma, he was in such agony from the disease, that his nurses said that he screamed out in pain when they tried to move him (while in a coma). My sister and her friends will also attest that it was pretty much a "bloodbath" for their friends. (After reading this, I noticed that I mentioned my sister and brother experienced a bloodbath. I also experienced the same. I can also name at least a dozen young friends who are no longer with us because of this disease.) One of my sister's girlfriends said that she was going to funerals sometimes twice a week. These were people under 30 years old! Not the type of situation where shaming was appropriate, even by moral people. Nowadays, I fervently hope that young people don't forget the lessons that this massacre should have taught us. There's my experience, and I rarely tell it. My love for you has never changed or diminished, Tony. RIP sweetheart.

[@adrianhempfing2042]

What would you say are some of those lessons that should not be forgotten? Sorry for you loss. Your situation starred off real cute but then took an awful tragedy turn

[@pirbird14]

​@@adrianhempfing2042 I would say that one of the lessons that should be learned is that epidemics are a concern of society at large, not just some isolated community. Governments refused to put resources into the search for a cure because it was seen as a gay disease, simply because the first patients were gay. It was believed that "they" deserved their fate because of their lifestyles. Long after aids had spread to other communities, it was seen as a gay disease and ignored. A lot of people during the covid epidemic refused to learn this and went about maskless and attending superspreader events for fun.

[@adrianhempfing2042]

@pirbird14 true , diseases don't seem to discriminate . They're happy to bounce around to anyone

[@Timagoras1]

compassionate, sensitive and empathetic response and reflection. Thanks guys, you are doing great!

[@cmock810]

I was in 5th grade in the 80's. I remember my teacher had to step out because she was called to the office for a phone call. When she returned, it was obvious she had been crying. She very slowly and very deliberately spoke with us, as she fought back tears, about how you should always treat people fairly even if don't agree with their life, how you should help people that need medical help even if you hate them, that you shouldn't hate people just because they aren't like you or just because they may be sick. It was very obvious to me that although she was saying a lot, there was something very specific that she wasn't saying but I had no idea what. All I knew was that whatever was upsetting her, I never wanted to be someone that made her, or anyone else feel that way. I don't remember how old I was when I found out that she was speaking of losing someone that had died of HIV or AIDS but that day always stuck with me and I knew from a very young age not to treat people differently just because of the disease. I ended up spending a huge portion of my adult years volunteering for and serving on the Board of Directors for our local AIDS prevention organization. I have always credited her words to us on that day, and the way that I felt after watching this movie for the first time, for my motivation to serve.

[@Music-Is-Real-Love]

Beautiful!.

[@Tipper65]

I was a senior in high school (1982-83) and wrote a report on AIDS, which was still very much a taboo topic, very misunderstood, and just starting to hit headlines. This move was inspired by a real life event, and released only 10 years later (1993). There was such a stigma attached to AIDS, that people who suffered from this disease were afraid to admit they had it for fear of all sorts of discrimination and exclusion. Neil Young’s song, written for this film, is truly emotional and perfect. Incredible to reflect on how it has evolved and progressed over the past 40 years.

[@Music-Is-Real-Love]

Amen!!! Do you mean Bruce Springsteen's song, Streets Of Philadelphia?.

[@dr.k8610]

Tom Hanks taking this role was honestly quite brave for the time, and he handled it amazingly well

[@jerryb9207]

First, I want to commend you guys for watching this movie. I'm always amazed and proud that your generation just automatically sees the discrimination. I was diagnosed with AIDS the year before this movie was released. Your comments show how much society has moved forward. Young people today I don't think realize how much we fought againts discrimination of gays, women, racism and many other social injustices. And resulted in the attitudes that your generation has. Thank God! You guys are sharp young men. Thanks for reviewing this movie. I'll definitely keep watching your channel. Good luck!

[@Music-Is-Real-Love]

💯

[@tylerlucas3752]

Haven’t seen this movie in years. Very powerful film. Tom Hanks won the first of his two Oscars in a row for Best Actor for this film. Another great reaction as always guys!

[@justjasyn292]

This is a great movie,and it is based on actual events and people. Tom Hanks also won an Oscar for this. A very important time and movie for alot of people

[@2SanJunipero]

-------- yes, exactly! The ending ....man, gets me every time! 😭

[@jannathompson2262]

He won BEST ACTOR for this and then the next year won BEST ACTOR for Forrest Gump;)

[@justjasyn292]

@@2SanJunipero Yeah the home videos and the goodbye in the hospital room, ugh 🥲 this movie hits home with alot of us.

[@justjasyn292]

@@jannathompson2262 True! This is why I love Tom Hanks, yes hes an incredible actor but he isn't scared to take roles that other main stream actors avoid.

[@ASKMEABOUTMYGARDEN]

Now they condemn the movie because hanks isn't gay..he's a pedo though.

[@Adam-bp7kw]

It's interesting watching this with younger people. It is obvious they have no idea of the hatred directed towards the gay community in the past (and to a lesser degree, present). Which I guess is a good thing as it shows there has been progress. Hard film to watch but I love the reactors and the humor they bring as well as the seriousness when needed.

[@myroselle6987]

I live in Indiana and if you’re not familiar with the case of Ryan White you might look into it. He was a young kid from Kokomo Indiana who had hemophilia and got aids from a blood product used to help his bleeding. He wanted to keep going to school and the school authorities and many parents wouldn’t allow it. It was at the beginning of the aids crisis and people were scared. It became a huge huge law case and was publicized nationwide. He and his family eventually won their case wound up moving out of Kokomo and living in Cicero, Indiana attending Hamilton Heights High School there. He died at 18 in 1990. He became very close friends with Elton John and Michael Jackson among lots of other celebrities and political figures. Michael Jackson wrote “Gone Too Soon” about Ryan. They made a tv movie about the whole thing.. Anyway. Sorry for going on and on…Y’all are absolutely lovely and I’m so impressed with your openness and willingness to absorb different ideas and kinds of knowledge. Keep doing what you’re doing. You’re going to go places. Mark my words….lol!! You two will make a positive difference in this world…actually, I think you already are making a difference.

[@isabelsilva62023]

Those spots on the skin are Kaposi sarcoma everyone watching the film knew what Andrew had from the sight of them, while it is a chronic disease now it was deadly and pretty much unknown at the time. In 1987 Princess Diana shook hands with an AIDS patient with no gloves, it sent shock waves across the world. Tennis player Arthur Ashe also contracted AIDS from a blood transfusion. If you guys want to see a courtroom movie that is so much more than that do watch Joel Schumacher's 1996 "A Time to Kill", it is based on a John Grisham book. Stellar cast my favourite Samuel L. Jackson role, absolutely brilliant.

[@Arsolon618]

Tom Hanks is only the second actor to win two Oscars in a row. This was the first one, in 1993. He won Best Actor again a year later for Forrest Gump.

[@BernieLomax-g8j]

This movie hit's hard with myself as I lost a lot of great friends in the early 90's from Aids. Things you may have missed or Not known. The Hospital Scene where Tom Hanks looks at other Patients in the waiting room the one gentleman first shown is that person wearing a button up blue and purple shirt, one of the many AIDS patients who appeared in Philadelphia (1993), he was staying at his parents' home when Jonathan Demme rushed him an unedited videotape of the movie during post-production; Sorensen died the following day of AIDS. Tom Hanks paid tribute to him in his Golden Globe acceptance speech the following January. What inspired this movie to be pushed into production more than anything is because of Singer/Song writer "Freddie Mercury" of Queen passed away of Aids November 24,1991

[@christhornycroft3686]

I was raised evangelical by an abusive parent. I loved this movie when I saw it, but I had to pretend I didn’t. If I could have “chosen” to be gay just to spite him, I would have. It was one of those movies that made me think, and for most of my life, that was dangerous, especially when you’re disabled, been homeschooled all your life and for most of my life knew nothing of the real world. No gay person ever hurt me. The people who hate and fear them? Well, that’s another story. I identified with the marginalization based on things I didn’t choose. I have a disability, some people are gay. I’m not saying the prejudice is equitable, but it’s there. For most of my life, people told me I was unmotivated and didn’t care. Or that my disability meant I would never amount to anything. So far, they were right.

[@isabelsilva62023]

I hear you, raised by abusive mother also, we feel deeply for those who are different. Would not say you will never amount to anything, you did not turn out a "copy" of your abuser, we do not get closure, must learn to accept it and know you are not the same as him which is something abusive parents refuse to see. Try not to compare yourself with anyone, while others were maturing and learning who they were and where they stand in the world within a loving, healthy environment you needed all your energy to survive and stay sane. Best regards.

[@rebo2610]

You say "so far." But I don't think that's true. You are NOT your parent. You have empathy. That is definitely SOMETHING, my friend. I was abused by my spouse and lost my identity for a time. But I have made it out the other side, and you will, too. Hang in there! You have at least one invisible internet friend rooting for you. ❤

[@michaelfisher1395]

It is based on a true story that took place in 1987. It was directed by Jonathan Dehmy, who also directed The Silence Of The Lambs. The librarian was the funeral director in The Silence Of The Lambs, and also "Cookie" in City Slickers, among many other roles and movies. The judge was the guard/officer Hannibal Lecter gutted when he escaped.

[@adrianhempfing2042]

Thank you... knew I saw those guys before

[@gregall2178]

Tracey Walter and Charles Napier, to name them ;-)

[@FantasticBabblings]

Also one of the ER doctor who brushed him off was Paul Lazar, who played Dr. Pilcher (the bug specialist). The lawyer who said his work was average on the stand was Roger Corman, who played the FBI Director in Silence of the Lambs. Corman was a prolific producer of B movies (including the original versions of The Little Shop of Horrors and The Fast and the Furious) He's still alive and sharp at 99 years old. He is known for giving so many major directors and actors their start, including Jonathan Demme, who directed this and Silence. Others he gave their start were Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorcese, Jack Nicholson, Sandra Bullock, Ron Howard, Peter Bogdonavich, James Cameron, Dennis Hopper and many more. He is one of the most influential people in the history of cinema.

[@staceymitchell3086]

The person performing music at the party is Q Lazzarus, singer of Goodbye Horses, aka the song that Buffalo Bill dances to in The Silence of the Lambs (1991.) I appreciate that Jonathan Demme was so loyal to her, by featuring the artist in these films, and less notably in Married to the Mob (1988.) It's one of my absolute favorite songs, it is such a banger. Q Lazzarus was underrated and overlooked as a performer, so I'm very grateful that we have these films to remember her by.

[@mrtim5363]

One big difference: opening night, 'minimum' 25% of audience was dying of AIDS & would be dead w/in the next 6 months. & Close to 90% already lost someone they knew. This movie hit HARD! Many people couldn't handle it... Bonus: Before it was AIDS it was "Gay Cancer", being both AIDS & Cancer means technically, you were both correct.

[@cambriatevis6907]

Also interesting is that he really does have both AIDS and cancer. With AIDS, you can get Kaposi sarcoma which is a cancer: the lesions that you see on his body/face.

[@kenpaden]

Brilliant reaction guys! Tom won the Oscar for best actor for this film, please check out his beautiful acceptance speech, easily found on youtube. As someone who lived through the Aids hysteria, I can tell you it was very real and intense, I sat in my local red cross after giving blood and listened to the other blood donors say, all "those people" should be rounded up and shot". Movie stars like Meryl Streep were enlisted to do public service announcements assuring people you could not get HIV from mosquito bites. Even so called Innocent victims of AIDS faced discrimination, please check out Ryan White and his story, he got HIV through a blood transfusion when he was a young teenager and was banned from attending school, he became famous and he and his Mother helped change laws. There was even a tv-movie made in 1989,called The Ryan White Story. Thanks so much for doing this reaction!!!

[@skinnyjax]

Wow. I'm glad you guys got to experience this movie. As a gay man in my 50's I can tell you, real life stories were a thousand times worse than the story told in this movie. We were dropping dead by the thousands, nobody had any idea. All we knew is that we were dying and the government (Reagan presidency) refused to do anything, not even mention the word AIDS. Actually, that's not true. Reagan's Press Secretary openly mocked AIDS patients in front of reporters. Nobody cared. It took thousands and thousands and thousands of deaths for the gov. to take action. Activist groups like ACT UP demonstrated and protested and rioted in order to bring awareness. Andy's character was "lucky". AIDS patients were fired, kicked out of their homes and schools, Good "christian" families rejected their kids. We were demonized by religious leaders, who called AIDS God's punishment for our "depraved" lifestyle. We deserved it because we were sinners. We, queer folk, had to take care of our own. We HAD to form groups and organizations and volunteer groups to advocate for ourselves because nobody else did. I'm sure you've heard about The Sisters of The Perpetual Indulgence. (the whole Dodgers team ceremony drama), They were one of those groups. They fundraised, and mobilized the community. They helped clothe, feed and house those who had lost everything. The Sisters held their hands as they died alone, abandoned by their families, betrayed by the government and ostracized by society. Sorry, I didn't mean for this to get so dark. But that's history. We lost a generation of gay men to this plague. Nowadays people don't even think about it anymore, new drug treatments makes the disease manageable. But we must never forget what happened. ps: yes, the government eventually came around, pushed by LGBTQ+ activists and mainstream celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson.

[@Music-Is-Real-Love]

Unfortunately, now, the Sisters Of Perpetual Indulgence openly mocked Catholic Nuns and the Roman Catholic Faith, with their behavior, at said Dodger Stadium. Not respectful or needed. So much for progression on both sides and becoming a better society as a whole. Works both ways. I agree 100% with everything else you've stated.

[@skinnyjax]

Where have you been? All this sudden outrage over an organization that has been around for decades. It's obvious you're being reactionary and have no idea what the Sisters are or what they do. Since you people are so offended by the Sisters, I'm sure you're putting as much effort in stopping "Sexy Nun" costume from Party City or the Halloween Store. Right? You people are a bunch of hypocrites and bigots and use religion as a cover for your hate. Spare me the fake outrage. @@Music-Is-Real-Love

[@lindabell6638]

What a gut-wrenching, beautiful film. Tom deserved that Oscar win. I believe the movie was based on the many aids discrimination cases from the 80's. Thanks for sharing, guys!!

[@AntonioTC416]

Loved that you guys watched this movie. I am queer and took a course in University on "Queer Culture" and learned so much. We watched this movie in class and there wasn't a dry eye. I couldn't stop crying when they showed the footage of Andrew as a kid. I feel like we need to have more conversations with our elders. We as a society have all these social media platforms, the most connected generation and still we are the least informed on the things that matter. We are not teaching the history of our human experiences. And we have politicians banning books and re-writing history. This movie shows the power of great storytelling and film. When we are able to see each others humanity it's harder to hate. Great reaction guys! p.s. I think there is no greater pain than parents losing a child, especially for a mother.

[@Zane1962]

Technically speaking...if you will never give out a zero, or a ten...then you're rating system isn't from 0 -10. LOL. But great job on this review! It kind of made me happy to see you didn't think "AIDS" right off the start. That shows that we've made progress in fighting this! I lost SO many friends due to AIDS. I think the only way I can handle this movie, even now, is via a reaction like yours. It destroys me each time. But you two have earned my trust and you did not let me down. Thank you.

[@clash5j]

At the time this came out, there was some criticism that you don't really see all that much physical affection between Hanks and Antonio. However, without this film, it's possible that Brokeback Mountain never gets made 12 years later

[@laurakali6522]

Baby steps back in the day. This is still a major breakthrough.

[@clash5j]

@@laurakali6522 I totally agree with you and I think my point that without this film it's very possible that Brokeback Mountain doesn't exist, or exists in a less explicit form shows that

[@laurakali6522]

@@clash5j for sure. I saw this in the theatre when it came out. I truly believe it changed a lot of people’s thinking.

[@Adam-bp7kw]

At the time the movie was made it was super important to show a gay couple as "normal" and that gay people loved like everyone else. That is why Banderis role was important. There were no positive examples of gay people being put forth.

[@hennakettunen8755]

That's how I thought too. They wanted to portrait a gay couple as just any other couple, going about their day to day lives like all of us do.

[@penlynn5036]

Did you recognize all the actors? Joanne Woodward was the mother, Antonio Banderas was the boyfriend. The head jury man was Fred Thompson, actor, former Tennessee senator and presidential candidate. Mary Steenburgen, the defense atty, is a well known actress and wife of Ted Danson. Jason Robards is HUGE in movies and on the stage. Actors were lining up to contribute to this project.

[@PSPguy2]

Thank you for doing this one! You're guys are my favorite movie reactioneers. Bravo on this one! 👏👍

[@laurab68707]

A really great older trial movie from 1960, "Inherit The Wind" is fantastic. If you ever get the chance to see it, please do. Movie based on a town who fires a teacher because the teacher was teaching evolution in a highly religious town. Spencer Tracy (iconic actor) is phenomenal in this. He's phenomenal in all his movies though. Spencer Tracy nominated for Best Actor for this role.

[@bryanCJC2105]

I remember when this movie came out. My best friend had passed from AIDS a few years before this movie. The stigma was so great, he didn't even tell me or his family. He told me he had leukemia even as I sat in his hospital room to visit and read to him several times a week. After he died, when I learned that he had died of AIDS, I was sad that he couldn't even trust me with that, but I understood. People were calling for us to be quarantined in camps. Many gay people abandoned their friends. In retrospect, I should have known but he had gone with the leukemia story for a few years before that. It wouldn't have mattered to me. I already knew some people who had AIDS or HIV. I didn't abandon them, but I understood. The fear was so strong. In the year of this movie, I had become ill and lost a lot of weight. I was 6' and weighed 120 lbs. I appeared gaunt and unwell. Everyone at work thought I had AIDS despite that it could have been any number of things. Nobody would come near me. I decided not to tell them what I had because it wasn't their business anyways. I had to take a medical leave for a month and was "laid off" the day that I came back. I didn't have HIV but it didn't matter. Nobody would have believed me. While I acknowledge the huge step forward this movie tried to make, there was still so much it left out. The reality of those with AIDS was so much uglier and savage than this movie could portray. I noticed and it did trouble me that, like most movies about gay men, this one implied that we were all wealthy and have a vast network of talented artistic friends to rally around us. That couldn't be farther from the truth. However, this movie was the biggest mainstream movie to address the topic and we were grateful for that and accepted the friendly stereotyping. I suppose a successful lawyer was a more sympathetic figure than what most of us were. That was the double edged sword many gay people, particularly those of color, felt about this movie. Most AIDS victims were abandoned by their families and friends. Most couldn't even afford medical care. People would "disappear" and we never heard from them again. Gay people were just as afraid as straight people of AIDS. The incredible number of gay men who died alone and abandoned, even turned away by their so-called Christian churches, is too great to even imagine. It was the lesbians who really banded together to help gay men. I will never forget that brave act of compassion. Up until then, gays and lesbians were two separate groups of people doing their own separate things. It's in the darkest of times, that your true friends show up.

[@LlamaLlamaMamaJamaac]

My ex husband died of a stroke at age 50… we had five children ages 8-20 at the time. As devastating as it was telling my kids that their father wasn’t going to make it…. Seeing his mother and the anguish on her face and the sound of her sobs… I have no words.

[@mrprez74]

If you’re interested, there’s another movie that goes through the early days of the AIDS pandemic called “And the Band Played On”. Very well done.

[@adamhatcher9361]

Great reaction guys. Now you've done this one and broken into court case movies you should check out A Time To Kill. Samuel L Jackson is great but Matthew McConnahey gives his best performance (other than maybe interstellar). Its an incredible performance that is iconic.

[@msllsm1]

As a 38 year old gay man who grew up in a time of much greater intolerance/homophobia, it's utterly heartwarming to watch 2 young straight men feel empathy about such a polarizing subject. I'm happy for your generation.

[@Music-Is-Real-Love]

🙏 🙏

[@nininoona]

As someone who lived during the AIDS crisis, this movie hurts me on a level that is nearly unfathomable. We lost so many due to ignorance, fear, and governmental apathy. If you like this movie, I would recommend "The Normal Heart" Its about the early days of the AIDS crisis in the 80's.

[@sethamtsberg2609]

Ignorance that jumping from dick to dick could be a bad thing? Fear or not having hundreds of sexual partners in a short period of time? Government apathy of encouraging people to use safe sex practices, at least until the medical community could figure out how it could be treated...but they wouldn't listen? But yeah, why put the responsibility of our own health on ourselves? You absolutely suck as a human.

[@actualkarenokboomer3158]

It was in the 80s and is based on a true story. My brother had friends dying every week and his friends would want him to do their memorial.

[@stephenochosiete9869]

37:25 I think that scene emphasizes how society wouldn’t let men show love and affection to each other, without being called gay or other slurs. Denzel felt love and affection towards Andy, and wanted to show it, but couldn’t. He retreated to his macho persona. Very common.

[@richardm2069]

I love all your movie reactions, but this was probably your best discussion ever. And it’s great to see that younger generations attitudes have changed. The AIDS epidemic started in the early 1980s and continued through the 1990s. It was a death sentence back then. Around 2005 they finally developed drugs that controlled the condition; with 1 one pill once a day makes the virus undetectable and almost impossible to spread to others. The movie won best picture and best actor for Tom Hanks.

[@librarianists]

"We Were Here" is one of many wonderful films about the history and experience of living with HIV and AIDS as well as surviving (or not) the epidemic. It makes a wonderful companion piece to Philadelphia.

[@christopherlundgren3499]

Simply, thank you both. You are good guys

[@OSMARI]

My workplace discrimination lawsuit isn’t about AIDS but dealt with bigotry against gay men, assumptions, and unconscious bias. So many parallels between my case and this movie!!! One of the few movies that makes me tear up.

[@johnmoreland6089]

Another great reaction, guys. Thanks for taking on this beautifully done film.

[@paintsplattered17]

Very refreshing to see people who had clearly no idea what this movie was before they sat down to watch it. Great reaction, thank you!

[@WhitePhoenixCrown]

Philadelphia, The Normal Heart, & And the Band Played On will give you a better understanding of how AIDS was being handled (POORLY!!!). I was born in 1981 when things were starting to spiral. It wasn't until 1985 before our then president mentioned it (only after the death of Rock Hudson). In the present day I feel like I'm once again growing up in the 80s as a queer Louisiana Creole. Continue the reactions y'all are doing great.

[@callieluna2459]

Excellent reaction - thank you! This film not only has a heart-wrenching story and superb screenplay, but also an extraordinary cast of Oscar-winning actors. These actors include: Tom Hanks won for Philadelphia (1994) and Forrest Gump (1995), Denzel Washington won for Glory (1990) and Training Day (2002), Mary Steenburgen won for Melvin and Howard (1981), Jason Robards (he played the head of the law firm) won for All the President’s Men (1977) and Julia (1978), Joanne Woodward (she played Tom Hanks’ mother) won for The Three Faces of Eve (1958). Bruce Springsteen also won an Oscar for the song he wrote for this film - "Streets of Philadelphia".

[@Noxofspades-lh7bj]

I really appreciate this film. It may not have aged well, there are flaws. However this is the first major film that tackled the issue of gay ppl dealing AIDS. It was so important to a lot of ppl back in the day. Thanks for reacting to this film. And i felt Cam's stress and relief when he worried about being incorrect about the m.c having AIDS. 🤣🤣

[@rickardroach9075]

50:54 The home movies! Water works now turned on full. 😭

[@ezelldaniels6064]

This movie is still a tear jerker, very intense, emotional and powerful. I feel like losing a sibling and a parent is the worse pain ever but a parent losing their child is most definitely the worst pain and heartbreak you could ever feel. Kids aren't suppose to die before their parents. 😢😢

[@rodbacote8607]

If you ever can find Tom Hanks interview on Inside the Actors Studio where he talks about this movie and how he talked about how one guy he with AIDS told his story of how his company took care of him and made sure he had what he needed, it'll have you in tears.

[@johnloony68]

My favourite bit is in the library: “Would it make YOU feel more comfortable?”

[@johnmaynardable]

The great thing about really good actors, like Mary Steeneburgen and Jason Robards, is that these people who are probably really sweet are capable of playing such hateful people.

[@MissTeeFy]

Outwith the movie, I have to say how impressed I am with you two. Both very compassionate, erudite and empathetic young men. I remember the start of AIDS and there was a lot of misinformation and scaremongering.

[@Arsolon618]

I think when this movie came out everybody knew that this was a movie about AIDS, but seeing the movie from a younger generation's perspective, it actually shows how well structured the movie is, the slow way its reavealed what Andy is suffering from.

[@aagc1988]

its interesting to see how life was in the 90`s while now there are pride month's in like 30 years society has turn itself over. i am happy to see the difference and this movie inmortalized it. like one with the actress of T2 that plays sarah connor, where she is a single mom that gets aids by a transfusion and before she dies needs to find a decent home for her daughter. same discrimination issues since its from the same time period the movie.

[@WhitePhoenixCrown]

A Mother's Prayer, is the film with Linda Hamilton (Sarah Conner).

[@adrianhempfing2042]

I don't think I saw that film ... but I can't imagine Sarah Connor lady being ill coz she's kick ass awesome

[@montist1]

But I do love what this movie represents. Thanks for watching it. I’m always thrilled when you guys choose movies of real value

[@overdrive7349]

There was no treatment for HIV at that time so what you said was a little edgy lol

[@tomkruze1304]

"Justice is a sweet flavor." That's a good superhero motto lol

[@myfriendisaac]

11:51 Yup, I’ll see myself out 🚫🤷🏾‍♂️😂

[@Stardust_7273]

He technically has AIDS and cancer. The lesions on his face are called Kaposi sarcoma, which is a kind of cancer that people with AIDS and other immune deficiencies are prone to.

[@stephenochosiete9869]

Losing a child has to be the worst. It definitely isn’t natural, and the not having a term for it is wild. Missing all the years of them growing up.

[@BTinSF]

The aria Tom Hanks loves: "That aria was “La mamma morta” from Umberto Giordano's opera Andrea Chénier, performed in the film by the legendary Maria Callas . . . as she laments the loss of her mother. As Maddalena sings, she remembers her mother’s love and selflessness and how she sacrificed herself to save Maddalena's father from execution. Maddalena’s emotions pour out in a powerful melody that expresses her grief, pain, and love. The aria's significance to life lies in its depiction of the universal human experience of loss, and Maddalena (and Andrew Beckett) remind us that even in the darkest moments of life, love can provide a source of strength and comfort."

[@denisebennettahrentzen8340]

Phenomenal reaction! Thank you so very much for this. You just earned a new subscriber.

[@carolynmaynard3694]

And the Band Played On is a long movie but it is about AIDS. I grew up during this era. It was scary. You are correct in that a child should never die before a parent. It is a heartbreak you cannot fix.

[@frederickseltzerjr2170]

This gave Tom Hanks his first Best Actor Oscar (he would win the very next year for "Forrest Gump"). I highly advise you guys to watch his acceptance speech at the Oscars when he won for "Philadelphia." It's powerful and emotional.

[@Music-Is-Real-Love]

💯

[@Gavrev]

Media such as "Philadelphia" and "American Beauty", any films which tap into the heart of humanity, should be required viewing in education as hallmarks of compassion and perspective. With every passing year the world is in ever greater need of such reflection.

[@lynnshulman]

A couple courtroom movies you may like are an older one The Verdict with Paul Neumann and Erin Brockovic with Julia Roberts based on a true story. Dallas Buyers Club with Matthew McConaughey is a great movie from a different perspective on AIDS

[@iangrant3615]

Great that you reacted to this. The importance of showing their romantic relationship and home life as a couple was that this was the first mainstream Hollywood drama that featured a gay male character as the lead, and so given the stigma and media view still lingering in the early 90s of gay men with AIDS as deviants who live a decadent and abnormal lifestyle, it was important to evoke the normal routines and relatable essence of their love and their suffering as a couple, as this would have been the first time many in the audience ever saw or considered gay men in a relationship as human beings worthy of their time, at least for the duration of this movie starring one of their favourite all-American everyman actors, Tom Hanks.

[@Music-Is-Real-Love]

Well stated.

[@notabritperse]

The doctor who earned 50/50 "know her from somewhere" is performance artist Karen Finley, a VERY interesting person.

[@fabien.boussat]

I'm not sure I like everything in this movie, but that Neil Young song at the end is enough to bring floods of tears....

[@kimberlywilmoth9184]

Jonathan Demme is a masterful filmmaker. He also directed The Silence of the Lambs, which has a lot of the same people in it. But yeah, Demme is famous for using great lighting and close up facial shots...

[@byronbonsall]

Great movie. The home movie at the end gets me in the feels every time. Thanks for watching this. Things were a LOT different 30 years ago, your reaction shows that attitudes have changed for the better since then.

[@gmunden1]

Paul Newman's wife (Oscar winner Joanne Woodward plays the lawyer's mother. Another big Hollywood actor in this film is Jason Robards (2-time Oscar winner).

[@BuddyAkin478]

I saw this movie at Century City in L.A. when it was first released. Throughout the showing there was a young woman behind me sobbing, uncontrollably at times. When the credits rolled and the lights came up, I couldn't help but turn around and ask her if she was alright. She blurted out that her brother had just died of AIDS., and began weeping again, harder this time. A man who was with her helped her up and out of the theater, while I just stood there, unable to think of what to say. Jonathan Demme has said in interviews that he made this film specifically to play in the malls of America; to spread science-based prevention education, and to help break down the walls of stigma (AIDS-phobia and homophobia) that had so much to do with propagating the disease...and still do. Things are better now. But AIDS is still with us. Great job guys, I just subscribed.

[@element18ar]

I'm still watching your reaction, and still catching up on past vids. I'd love to see you guys react to A Few Good Men, if you guys like courtroom movies.

[@adrianhempfing2042]

You can't handle the truth ... I always thought that Colonel kinda had a point. Protecting countries , wars etc is ugly business. Bit I guess they were saying there are lines between "necessary" crap and unnecessary crap I prefer no wars etc

[@TheSmokey999]

So great to see younger people, with a good good heads on their shoulders ❤. With the world how it is today filled with hate . I agree in the 9 th grade this should be shown in social studies.( today you should have a permission slip signed by parents, back in the day that was not necessary. But today they raise soft kids ) but they should show it . . It’s great to see people with empathy. Just remember to vote .

[@Music-Is-Real-Love]

Couldn't agree more. it should be mandatory.

[@albeefinejr518]

Hey Cam and Zay. Thank you for doing this reaction. I was in High School when this movie was released and had barely come out of the closet. Back then AIDS was still a huge stigma and still killing so many gay men of all ages. I wept in the theater when I saw this movie, as did so many others. It's so refreshing and awesome to see two young men like yourselves react so positively to this film.

[@WhitePhoenixCrown]

Thanks!

[@howrued1500]

When my Mother passed at an all too early age, the only person I felt more sorry for than myself was my Grandmother😔 It is simply not the natural order of things- at least not as we perceive them🥺 Costumes?? Y’all need to come down to Mardi Gras!!😊💜💛💚 Nice reaction; appreciate y’all! Stay safe & love big💖

[@TheSmokey999]

Tom Hanks lost a ton of weight for this role . Great reaction ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️!!!!!

[@Sd3cinema]

The goal in life is to approach it with the mindset of soaking in every moment even without an estimated death sentence. I imagine that is the key to living without regret. Not waiting until it’s almost over to appreciate it.

[@tdali8347]

Around the time this film came out, there was a lawyer in the news suing his former firm for wrongful termination...for having AIDS...in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Noting the blockbuster box office receipts and swooning critical praise for Tom Hanks, the real-life Philly law firm settled with the gay attorney for (probably) a mountain of money.

[@Krampus676]

37:00 You've captured the one true message; Love is Love. Thanks C & Z, well done, kisses from A' dam

[@actorattila]

Earvin Johnson's cameo in this film, Magic Johnson for people who don't know, is possibly one of the best cameos ever. Only because of course how much Magic Johnson changed the world when he came out and told the world that he was positive for HIV. And if you liked hard-hitting Court dramas, you should watch Sam Jackson in "A Time to Kill".

[@adrianhempfing2042]

Cigar smoking - sometimes in films the good guys have one after birth of a baby or celebration. But true does seem more common for villains to be smoking it more often

[@oakpkdude]

Yes, This was based on a true story. Thank you for reacting to this movie.

[@auntvesuvi3872]

Thanks, Cameron! Thanks, Isaiah! ⚖ I saw this one in the cinema... and cried and cried and cried. #CamAndZay #JonathanDemme #Philadelphia #Philadelphia1993

[@kathylivedinthe80s14]

I’ve lost a child and it’s something you never get over it’s so hard you would rather give up your own life then watch them die.

[@marthaz]

Thank you guys for reviewing this important film. I also lived through the epidemic and lost many friends and family members. My cousin was actually buried with a closed casket because his family was ashamed of his being gay and didn't want others to see what he died of. I would just note that the importance of his relationship with his partner in the film was to give a glimpse into the social life of gay couples in the 80s . If you'll remember, in the hospital, the doctor would not allow his partner to participate in the conversation because, he "wasn't family." We actually had to consider adopting our partners back then so that legally we would have the same Privileges and legal status as other married couples. Also, marriage was not an option at the time. Fortunately Times have changed for the better, but not as much as they need to. 🌈❤

[@isabelleger2815]

For court drama , please watch 12 ANGRY MEN it’s a cinema Masterpiece!!!!!!!!!! Love to see ur rating on this it’s a 9.5 !!!!please watch it!!!