And the Band Played On (1993)
Almost as dramatic as Angels in America and just as difficult to watch, And the Band Played On is an HBO tv-movie chronicling the outbreak of the AIDS virus around the world. As is the case with many HBO flicks, this does not feel like a tv-movie, but instead something you’d pay good money to see in the theaters. The main players are Mathew Modine, Glenne Headly, Alan Alda, Ian McKellan, Richard Masur, and Saul Rubinek, as doctors and researchers trying to identify the causes of the disease, spread awareness, and prevent the epidemic before it’s too late. If while watching the movie, audiences were comforted by knowing that this was a fictional problem, it would be a very interesting movie, well-written, and fast-paced to carry viewers through every step of the process. However, every time there’s an AIDS movie, audiences are reminded that this terrible thing did happen and that hundreds of thousands of beautiful lives were lost before the medical establishment got a handle on the cocktail. I understand why Hollywood continues to make these movies, as it’s a very personal issue for nearly everyone in the entertainment industry. However, I don’t know why regular people continue to watch them, since if done well, they’re extremely upsetting and if done poorly, they’re cheap exploitations.
And the Band Played On is done well, so if you decide to watch it, expect to be upset. You’ll see a host of stars taking smaller roles to show their support for the issue, including Richard Gere, Lily Tomlin, Richard Jenkins, Steve Martin, Phil Collins, Jeffrey Nordling, Anjelica Huston, Swoosie Kurtz, B.D. Wong, Tchéky Karyo, and countless others. Real people and real footage of politicians are spliced in, making it almost feel like a documentary. While there is a huge personal feel to the film, there’s also an educational tone, showing audience members how difficult it was to cut through the red tape and start saving lives.
Over the end credits, there’s a ridiculously tear-inducing reel played of AIDS victims and activists, blending regular Joes, babies, movie stars and entertainers, mourners, and posters and artwork from earlier years, all over Elton John’s “The Last Song.” If you don’t use up at least three Kleenexes during the end credits, go get a checkup and make sure your heart’s in the right place, literally and figuratively. As this movie was made in 1993, it was before the introduction of the cocktail. This is not a feel-good movie that speaks of optimism and a love of mankind. This movie shows the dirty side of people, how scientists and governments think of themselves instead of human lives. For that reason alone, it’s very hard to watch.
More Steve Martin movies here!
And the Band Played On is done well, so if you decide to watch it, expect to be upset. You’ll see a host of stars taking smaller roles to show their support for the issue, including Richard Gere, Lily Tomlin, Richard Jenkins, Steve Martin, Phil Collins, Jeffrey Nordling, Anjelica Huston, Swoosie Kurtz, B.D. Wong, Tchéky Karyo, and countless others. Real people and real footage of politicians are spliced in, making it almost feel like a documentary. While there is a huge personal feel to the film, there’s also an educational tone, showing audience members how difficult it was to cut through the red tape and start saving lives.
Over the end credits, there’s a ridiculously tear-inducing reel played of AIDS victims and activists, blending regular Joes, babies, movie stars and entertainers, mourners, and posters and artwork from earlier years, all over Elton John’s “The Last Song.” If you don’t use up at least three Kleenexes during the end credits, go get a checkup and make sure your heart’s in the right place, literally and figuratively. As this movie was made in 1993, it was before the introduction of the cocktail. This is not a feel-good movie that speaks of optimism and a love of mankind. This movie shows the dirty side of people, how scientists and governments think of themselves instead of human lives. For that reason alone, it’s very hard to watch.
More Steve Martin movies here!