Angels in America (miniseries)

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Angels in America
Angels In America, 2003 TV mini series, DVD cover.jpg
DVD cover
Written byTony Kushner
Directed byMike Nichols
StarringAl Pacino
Meryl Streep
Patrick Wilson
Mary-Louise Parker
Emma Thompson
Justin Kirk
Jeffrey Wright
Ben Shenkman
Theme music composerThomas Newman
Country of originUnited States
Original languagesEnglish
Hebrew
Aramaic
Yiddish
No. of episodes6
Production
ProducerCelia D. Costas
CinematographyStephen Goldblatt
EditorsJohn Bloom
Antonia Van Drimmelen
Running time352 minutes
Production companiesAvenue Pictures
HBO Films
Budget$60 million
Release
Original networkHBO
Original releaseDecember 7 (2003-12-07) –
December 14, 2003 (2003-12-14)
External links
Website

Angels in America is a 2003 American HBO miniseries directed by Mike Nichols and based on the Pulitzer Prize–winning 1991 play of the same name by Tony Kushner. Set in 1985, the film revolves around six New Yorkers whose lives intersect. At its core, it is the fantastical story of Prior Walter, a gay man living with AIDS who is visited by an angel. The film explores a wide variety of themes, including Reagan era politics, the spreading AIDS epidemic, and a rapidly changing social and political climate.[1]

HBO broadcast the film in various formats: two three-hour chunks that correspond to Millennium Approaches and Perestroika, further divided into six one-hour "chapters" that roughly correspond to an act or two of each of these plays; the first three chapters ("Bad News", "In Vitro", and "The Messenger") were initially broadcast on December 7, 2003, to international acclaim, with the final three chapters ("Stop Moving!", "Beyond Nelly", and "Heaven, I'm in Heaven") following.

Angels in America was the most-watched made-for-cable film in 2003, and earned much critical acclaim and numerous accolades: at the 56th Primetime Emmy Awards, it became the first of only two programs in Emmy history (along with Schitt's Creek in 2020) to sweep every major eligible category, and won all four acting categories. It also won in all five eligible categories at the 61st Golden Globe Awards. In 2006, The Seattle Times listed the series among "Best of the filmed AIDS portrayals" on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of AIDS.[2]

Plot[]

Millennium Approaches[]

It is 1985, Ronald Reagan is in the White House, and AIDS is causing mass death in the Americas. In Manhattan, Prior Walter tells Louis, his lover of four years, that he has AIDS; Louis, unable to handle it, leaves him. As disease and loneliness ravage Prior, guilt invades Louis. Joe Pitt, a Mormon and Republican attorney, is pushed by right-wing fixer Roy Cohn toward a job at the US Department of Justice. Both Pitt and Cohn are in the closet: Pitt out of shame and religious turmoil, Cohn to preserve his power and image. Pitt's wife Harper is strung out on Valium, causing her to hallucinate constantly (sometimes jointly with Prior during his fever dreams) and she longs to escape from her sexless marriage. An angel with ulterior motives commands Prior to become a prophet.

Perestroika[]

Prior is helped in his decision by Joe's mother, Hannah, and Belize, a close friend and drag queen. Joe leaves his wife and goes to live with Louis, but the relationship does not work out because of ideological differences. Roy is diagnosed with AIDS early on, and as his life comes to a close, he is haunted by the ghost of Ethel Rosenberg. As the film continues, the lost souls come together to create bonds of love, loss, and loneliness and, in the end, discover forgiveness and overcome abandonment.[3][4]

Cast[]

  • Al Pacino as Roy Cohn
  • Meryl Streep as Hannah Pitt / Ethel Rosenberg / The Rabbi / The Angel Australia
  • Patrick Wilson as Joe Pitt
  • Mary-Louise Parker as Harper Pitt
  • Emma Thompson as Nurse Emily / Homeless woman / The Angel America
  • Justin Kirk as Prior Walter / Leatherman in park
  • Jeffrey Wright as Mr. Lies / Norman "Belize" Arriaga / Homeless man / The Angel Europa
  • Ben Shenkman as Louis Ironson / The Angel Oceania
  • Brian Markinson as Martin Heller
  • James Cromwell as Henry, Roy's doctor
  • Michael Gambon as Prior Walter Ancestor No. 1
  • Simon Callow as Prior Walter Ancestor No. 2

Soundtrack[]

Main article: Music from the HBO Film: Angels in America

The soundtrack of the series by Thomas Newman was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media.[5]

Production[]

Bethesda Fountain at the Bethesda Terrace in New York City's Central Park, where many scenes were shot
Below Bethesda Terrace, Central Park, where final scene was shot

Cary Brokaw, executive producer of the series, worked for over ten years to bring the 1991 stage production to television, having first read it in 1989, before its first production. In 1993, Al Pacino committed to playing the role of Roy Cohn. In the meantime, a number of directors, including Robert Altman, were part of the project. Altman worked on the project in 1993 and 1994, before budget constraints forced him to move out, as few studios could risk producing two successive 150-minute movies at the cost of $40 million. Subsequently, Kushner tried squeezing the play into a feature film, at which he eventually failed, realizing there was "literally too much plot," and settling for the TV miniseries format. While Kushner continued adapting the play until the late 1990s, HBO Films stepped in as producer, allocating a budget of $60 million.[6]

Canopus of Hadrian's Villa, where the heaven sequence was shot

Brokaw gave Mike Nichols the script while he was working with him on Wit (2001) starring Emma Thompson, who also co-adapted the play of the same title. The principal cast, including Meryl Streep, Pacino, and Thompson, having recently worked with Nichols, was immediately assembled by him. Though Ben Shenkman had previously portrayed Louis in the San Francisco A.C.T.'s production (as well as portraying Roy Cohn in the NYU graduate acting program's workshop of Perestroika prior to its Broadway opening),[7] Jeffrey Wright was the only original cast member to appear in the Broadway version, having won the 1994 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor for his stage performance.[8] The shooting started in May 2002, and after a 137-day schedule, ended in January 2003. Filming was done primarily at Kaufman Astoria Studios, New York City, with important scenes at Bethesda Fountain in Central Park. The Heaven sequence was shot at Hadrian's Villa, the Roman archaeological complex at Tivoli, Italy, dating early 2nd century.

Special effects in the series were by Richard Edlund (Star Wars trilogy), who created the two important Angel visitation sequences, as well as the opening sequence wherein the angel at the Bethesda Fountain opens its eyes in the end, signifying her "coming to life".[6] Costumer Martin Izquierdo was hired to design functioning wings for Thompson's Angel.[9]

Reception[]

Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gave the series a 92% "Certified Fresh" rating based on 24 reviews, with an average rating of 9.5/10. The critical consensus reads "In Angels of America, writer Tony Kushner and director Mike Nichols imaginatively and artistically deliver heavy, vital subject matter, colorfully imparted by a stellar cast."[10] The New York Times wrote that "Mike Nichols's television version is a work of art in itself."[11] According to a Boston Globe review, "director Mike Nichols, and a magnificent cast led by Meryl Streep have pulled a spellbinding and revelatory TV movie out of the Tony- and Pulitzer Prize-winning work" and that he "managed to make "Angels in America" thrive onscreen..."[12]

Awards and nominations[]

In 2004, Angels in America broke the record previously held by Roots for the most Emmys awarded to a miniseries in a single year by winning 11 awards from 21 nominations.[13] 'Angels' along with television movie Eleanor and Franklin became one of the two most honored programs in television history.[14] The record was broken four years later by John Adams at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards when it won 13 trophies from 23 nominations.[15] Also miniseries became the first of only two programs (along with Schitt's Creek in 2020) to sweep every major category, going 7/7, in Emmy history. It also joined Caesar's Hour, in 1957, as the only series to win all four main acting categories in one night.

Accolades for Angels in America
Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2003 National Board of Review Awards Best Film Made for Cable TV Angels in America Won [16]
[17]
2004
American Film Institute Awards Top 10 TV Programs of the Year Angels in America Won [18]
American Society of Cinematographers Awards Movie of the Week or Pilot (Basic or Pay) Stephen Goldblatt Nominated [19]
[20]
ADG Excellence in Production Design Award Television Movie or Mini-Series Stuart Wurtzel - production designer; John Kasarda, Stefano Maria Ortolani - art directors; Hinju Kim, David Stein, Tom Warren - assistant art directors Won [21]
Broadcast Film Critics Awards Best Picture Made for Television Angels in America Won [22]
Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television Mike Nichols Won [23]
[24]
GLAAD Media Awards Best Miniseries or Film Made for TV Angels in America Won [25]
Golden Globe Awards Best Miniseries or Motion Picture – Television Angels in America Won [26]
[27]
Best Actor – Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Al Pacino Won
Best Actress – Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Meryl Streep Won
Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Mary-Louise Parker Won
Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Jeffrey Wright Won
Ben Shenkman Nominated
Patrick Wilson Nominated
Humanitas Prize 90 Minute or Longer Network or Syndicated Television Tony Kushner Won [28]
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Limited Series Cary Brokaw and Mike Nichols, executive producers; Mike Haley, co-executive producer; Celia D. Costas, produced by Won [29]
[30]
Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Television Movie or Dramatic Special Mike Nichols Won
Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Television Movie or Dramatic Special Tony Kushner Won
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Television Movie Al Pacino Won
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Television Movie Meryl Streep Won
Emma Thompson Nominated
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Television Movie Mary-Louise Parker Won
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Television Movie Jeffrey Wright Won
Justin Kirk Nominated
Ben Shenkman Nominated
Patrick Wilson Nominated
Outstanding Art Direction for a Limited Series, Television Movie or Special Stuart Wurtzel, John Kasarda, George DeTitta Jr. Won
Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited Series or Television Movie Stephen Goldblatt (for "Perestroika") Nominated
Outstanding Main Title Design Randall Balsmeyer, J. John Corbett, Jim Rider, Amit Sethi Nominated
Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Limited Series, Television Movie or Special John Bloom and Antonia Van Drimmelen (for "Millennium Approaches") Nominated
Outstanding Single-Camera Sound Mixing for a Limited Series or Television Movie Lee Dichter, Ron Bochar and James Sabat (for "Perestroika") Won
Outstanding Casting for a Limited Series, Television Movie or Special Juliet Taylor and Ellen Lewis Won
Outstanding Costumes for a Limited Series, Television Movie or Special Ann Roth, Michelle Matland and Donna Maloney (for "Perestroika") Nominated
Outstanding Makeup for a Limited Series, Television Movie or Special (Non-Prosthetic) J. Roy Helland, Joseph A. Campayno, John Caglione Jr., Kelly Gleason Won
Outstanding Hairstyling for a Limited Series or Television Movie David Brian Brown, Jasen Joseph Sica and Angel De Angelis Nominated
Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Limited Series or Television Movie Richard Edlund, Ron Simonson, Liz Ralston, Stefano Trivelli, Don Greenberg, Lawrence Littleton, Michele Moen, Steven Kirshoff, Gregory Jein Nominated
Producers Guild of America Awards Visionary Award Mike Nichols and Cary Brokaw Won [31]
Satellite Awards Best Miniseries Angels in America Won [32]
Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film Al Pacino Nominated
Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film Meryl Streep Won
Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Justin Kirk Won
Patrick Wilson Nominated
Jeffrey Wright Nominated
Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Mary-Louise Parker Nominated
Emma Thompson Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie Al Pacino Won [33]
Justin Kirk Nominated
Jeffrey Wright Nominated
Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Movie Meryl Streep Won
Mary-Louise Parker Nominated
Emma Thompson Nominated
TCA Awards Program of the Year Angels in America Won [34]
[35]
Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials Won
Individual Achievement in Drama Al Pacino Nominated
2005 Gracie Awards Outstanding Entertainment Program - Drama Special Angels in America Won [36]
Individual Achievement Award – Outstanding Female Lead in a Drama Special Meryl Streep Won
Grammy Awards Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media Thomas Newman Nominated [5]
Producers Guild of America Awards David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television Mike Nichols, Cary Brokaw, Celia D. Costas, Michael Haley Won [37]
[38]
Writers Guild of America Awards Long Form - Adapted Tony Kushner Won [39]

References[]

  1. ^ Angels in America:Overview. The New York Times.
  2. ^ An AIDS anniversary: 25 years in the arts Archived June 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine The Seattle Times, June 25, 2006.
  3. ^ Part one Film4
  4. ^ Part two Film4.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b "Thomas Newman". The Recording Academy. Archived from the original on March 8, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b Edgerton, Gary Richard; Jeffrey P. Jones (2008). "10. Angels in America". The essential HBO reader. University Press of Kentucky. p. 136. ISBN 978-0-8131-2452-0.
  7. ^ Buckley, Michael (26 Nov 2003). "STAGE TO SCREENS: HBO's "Angels in America" Plus a Chat with "Angels" Co-star Ben Shenkman". Playbill. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  8. ^ Trivia IMDb
  9. ^ Swerdloff, Alexis (30 Oct 2013). "Martin Izquierdo, Costumer". New York Magazine. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  10. ^ "Angels in America". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  11. ^ Critics Choice:Movies by Anita Gates, The New York Times, April 17, 2005.
  12. ^ TELEVISION REVIEW: HBO infuses `Angels' with new life Nichols, cast triumph in inspiring production By Matthew Gilbert, Boston Globe staff, 12/5/2003.
  13. ^ Hernandez, Ernio (September 20, 2004). ""Angels in America" Soars to New Emmy Record with 11 Wins; Stritch, Parker, Nixon Also Honored". Playbill. Archived from the original on June 17, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2005.
  14. ^ Zurawik, David (September 20, 2004). "In winning 11 Emmys, 'Angels' is part of history". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on May 29, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2005.
  15. ^ Zurawik, David (September 22, 2008). "HBO's 'John Adams' makes history". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on May 29, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2010.
  16. ^ "2003 Award Winners". National Board of Review. Archived from the original on April 29, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2010.
  17. ^ "Best Film or Mini-Series Made for Cable TV". National Board of Review. Archived from the original on May 25, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  18. ^ "AFI AWARDS 2003". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on May 28, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  19. ^ "18th Annual ASC Awards — 2003". American Society of Cinematographers. Archived from the original on November 9, 2018.
  20. ^ "The ASC Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography". American Society of Cinematographers. Archived from the original on 2011-08-08.
  21. ^ "2004 / 8TH WINNERS & NOMINEES". Art Directors Guild. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  22. ^ "The BFCA Critics' Choice Awards 2003". Broadcast Film Critics Association. 10 January 2004. Archived from the original on 6 August 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
  23. ^ "DGA Announces Winners of 2003 Outstanding Directorial Achievement Awards and Recipients of DGA 2004 Achievement Awards". Directors Guild of America. February 8, 2004. Archived from the original on January 1, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  24. ^ "Nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television". Directors Guild of America. January 8, 2004. Archived from the original on January 1, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  25. ^ "Antonio Banderas, John Waters, "Bend it Like Beckham," "Angels in America," Honored at 15th Annual GLAAD Media Awards Presented by ABSOLUT VODKA in Los Angeles". GLAAD. Archived from the original on November 19, 2005. Retrieved January 12, 2007.
  26. ^ "Angels in America". Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA). Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  27. ^ "The 61st Golden Globe Awards (2004) Nominees and Winners". Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA). Archived from the original on May 29, 2018. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  28. ^ "90 MINUTE WINNERS". HUMANITAS. Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  29. ^ "Angels in America". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on May 6, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  30. ^ "56th Emmy Awards Nominees and Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on September 4, 2019. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  31. ^ "Producers Guild Awards 2004". Producers Guild of America. Archived from the original on December 15, 2008. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  32. ^ "Nominees & Winners – Satellite™ Awards 2004 (8th Annual Satellite™ Awards)". International Press Academy. Satellite Awards. Archived from the original on February 2, 2008. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
  33. ^ "Nominees & Recipients – The 10th Screen Actors Guild Awards (2004)". Screen Actors Guild Award. Archived from the original on November 1, 2011. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  34. ^ "2004 TCA Awards nominees". Television Critics Association. June 3, 2004. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
  35. ^ "2004 TCA Awards winners". Television Critics Association. July 17, 2004. Archived from the original on July 29, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
  36. ^ "American Women in Radio & Television Announces 30th Annual Gracie Award® Winners" (PDF) (Press release). McLean, VA: American Women in Radio and Television (AWRT). Gracie Awards. March 9, 2005. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  37. ^ "PGA AWARD WINNERS 1990-2010". Producers Guild of America. Archived from the original on June 28, 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  38. ^ "Producers Guild Awards 2005". Producers Guild of America. Archived from the original on December 15, 2008. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  39. ^ "Writers Guild Awards Winners: 2005-1996". Writers Guild of America. Archived from the original on May 17, 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2012.

Further reading[]

External links[]

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