Angels In America

The Story

In transferring Tony Kushner's Pulitzer Prize-winning play to the small screen, director Mike Nichols has crafted a profound, ambitious masterpiece. The film follows a sprawling group of characters as they navigate their way through the cutthroat New York City of the 1980s, when AIDS began to rear its ugly head. Getting sicker by the minute, Prior Walter is abandoned by his tormented lover, Louis (Ben Shenkman); deluded lawyer Roy Cohn (Al Pacino) is visited by Ethel Rosenberg (Meryl Streep), a woman he helped to condemn; and the pill-popping Harper (Mary-Louis Parker) is on the verge of losing her sanity when she realizes that her husband, Joe (Patrick Wilson), is a closet homosexual.

Like the best works of art, Nichols' production doesn't merely reflect a particular chapter in America's history. It floats deeper, into a world where everyday feelings are elevated to a spiritual realm. Already hailed as a modern classic, ANGELS IN AMERICA is one of the medium's crowning achievements.

Cast

Al Pacino .... Roy Marcus Cohn
Meryl Streep .... Rabbi Isidor Chemelwitz/Hannah Porter Pitt/Ethel Greenglass Rosenberg/The Angel Australia
Emma Thompson .... The Angel of America/Nurse Emily/Homeless Woman
Justin Kirk .... Prior Walter/The Man in the Park
Ben Shenkman .... Louis Ironson/The Angel Oceania
Mary-Louise Parker .... Harper Amaty Pitt
Jeffrey Wright .... Norman 'Belize' Arriaga/Mr. Lies/The Angel Europe
Patrick Wilson .... Joseph Porter 'Joe' Pitt
James Cromwell .... Henry
Michael Gambon .... Prior Walter Ancestor #1
Simon Callow .... Prior Walter Ancestor #2

Golden Globe - 2003

Best Actor - Miniseries or TV Movie
Al Pacino Win

Best Actress - Miniseries or TV Movie
Meryl Streep Win

Best Miniseries or TV Movie
Win

Best Supporting Actor (TV)
Ben Shenkman, Jeffrey Wright, Patrick Wilson Nominated

Best Supporting Actress (TV)
Mary-Louise Parker Win

National Board of Review - 2003

Category Nominee Win/Nominated
Best Cable TV Movie or Miniseries
Win