The Normal Heart

Adapted from Larry Kramer's semi-autobiographical tony award winning play, The Normal Heart is a 2014 TV movie aired on HBO and directed by Ryan Murphy. The film centers on the early days of the AIDS crisis, and follows Ned Weeks, an activist attempting to generate support for the gay community from public offices. The film takes place over a long time period, from the very early days of the disease when it was referred to simply as a gay cancer, when no one knew of it's cause or method of transmission, to the mid eighties when its causes and effects were well known, when gay men were continuing to drop like flies and the government was content to let them die rather than fund AIDS research.

The features a large ensemble cast, starring Mark Ruffalo as Ned Weeks, and activist intent on generating support, whilst trying to care for his boyfriend Felix, played by Matt Bomer, a writer ravished by the effects of AIDS. Taylor Kitsch stars as Bruce, a closeted investment banker afraid to make too many waves for fear of losing his job and respect. Julia Roberts features as one of the few docters in New York who would treat AIDS patients who previously suffered from polio. Additionally Jim Parsons reprises his role from the Broadway revival as Tommy and Alfred Molina stars as Ned's brother.

The Normal Heart is a highly important film, particularly for those in the gay community, AIDS now seems like distant memory, HIV is a virus that can be combated by simply popping one pill a day, what this fails to mention is that although HIV can be far more effectively combated that in the 80's, it is still a debilitating disease, and we should still use protection. Although it is clearly good that we live in an age where AIDS is seen as less of a threat, that is no excuse for complacency, and HIV levels are slowly starting to rise. The film effectively shows the hysteria of the era, and the sheer numbers of people who died, the film also shows the stigmatization that occurred, people didn't need another reason to discriminate against the gay community, and AIDS gave them a reason, there was an excuse.

The film is interesting in that it is the only film about the AIDS epidemic that put's gay people exclusively at the center, both Dallas Buyers Club and Philadelphia all feel the need to feature the heterosexual ally who swoops in to save the day, aside from the inclusion of Julia Robert's character in a relatively small role, the lead characters in this film are almost exclusively gay, and this is a good reflection on the film, the fact that this film was written and directed by two gay men is also notable, many of the actors featured in the film are also gay, this is notable because for years the gay community has been forced to watch while straight people told our stories, and particularly for a story as important as The Normal Heart, it is hugely gratifying to see it told by a member of the community.

The film is superbly acted, Mark Ruffalo is excellent as Weeks, a dedicated and aggressive activist who finds himself sidelined due to his extreme and often vocal opinions. Also great is Matt Bomer as Felix, Weeks' lover and partner, whose body is being ravished by the effects of AIDS, and who is fighting to stay alive. Taylor Kitsch is surprisingly good, playing a man full of contradictions, a closeted activist trying to do the right thing whilst also protecting his own privacy. Julia Roberts plays Dr Emma Brookner, one of the few straight characters in the film, a woman who understands the crisis due to her own struggle with polio as a child, a doctor who tries to force action in the New York government, ultimately without success. Finally Jim Parsons plays Tommy, a young naive man from Texas, who is shy and childlike, struggling to come to terms with the crisis unwravelling around him, it is fascinating to see Parsons in a drama, and he successfully breaks free of the mantle of playing such an iconic character as Sheldon Cooper, and it's a testament to his ability as an actor that i wasn't thrown by his presence.

The film is certainly a weeper, and Murphy successfully juggles all the disparate elements creating a film which is emotional without veering into melodrama, a film which challenges it's audience to think about the effects of the AIDS crisis today and in the 1980's, and a film which successfully analyzes the different ways we approach change. Mark Ruffalo leads a superb cast of thespians at the top of their game, playing a hugely diverse cast of characters with wit, humor and emotion. Rating: A+

Ned: You can't stop fighting for the ones you love