When “Philadelphia” first came out in 1993, it was hailed as a groundbreaking landmark film. It dealt with the subject of AIDS in an unflinchingly realistic way. It was also the film that proved to the world that Tom Hanks was more than a comedian, he was an actor. In “Philadelphia”, Hanks starred as Andrew Beckett, a lawyer with a position in a very prestigious law firm. He learns tat he is infected by the AIDS virus, and chooses to hide it from his employers for fear that he will lose his job. When his affliction is discovered, he finds that his fears were well-founded. He is shown the door. Not one to give up so easily, he joins forces with ambulance chasing lawyer Joe Miller (Denzel Washington) and takes his former employers to court. Discrimination has long been a problem in our country. Everyone is discriminated against in one form or another. As a white heterosexual male, you can bet I’ve dealt with my fair share of being discriminated against.

Throw in the fact that I don’t like sports or G.W. Bush and you can imagine how it escalates from there. As much as I claim to be non-discriminatory in my thoughts and actions, I would be lying. My one discrimination is against stupid people. (I believe that is one we can all relate to… well, at least those of us with intelligence…)

Originally when I went to see “Philadelphia”, I wasn’t sure what I was going to see. I was afraid it was going to extol all the virtues of not only giving equal rights to homosexuals (which I am for) or giving them ‘special rights’ (which I am against). Fortunately it did neither. Instead, it painted a picture of AIDS as it really is. A disease that affects us all, straight or gay and (at that time) had become an epidemic of catastrophic proportions. What the film did was wake us up to that reality and point out that we really needed to work together to find a cure. Those afflicted needed our help, not to have us turn our backs. It was, and still is, a very important message.

Hanks went on to win his first of two Oscars for his amazing performance as Beckett. Up until that time I was used to seeing him play all sorts of silly characters, but “Philadelphia” made me realize what a fine and nuanced actor he was. Since that time, he has matured even further and has continued to prove that he is one of the most talented actors working in Hollywood today.

Sony / Columbia Tristar is finally releasing a DVD that is worthy of the film. It is a 10th Anniversary, 2-disc affair complete with all manner of extra features. These features not only celebrate the film, but seek to enlighten those still in the dark. The first disc includes a commentary by director Jonathan Demme and screenwriter Ron Nyswaner. Their commentary is a very thoughtful one, and offers up a wide range of subjects from the physical making of the film and the ideals behind it to comments about the cast.

Once you get to the 2nd disc, you’ll find a very in-depth documentary about the making of the film, which include interviews from most of the cast and crew. There are also the obligatory deleted scenes, most of which are interesting but it’s easy to see why they might have been cut. They’ve also opted to include some of the staged news and ad footage that was used in the film, the most humorous being Joe Miller’s (Washington) law firm commercial. Bruce Springsteen fans will rejoice at the inclusion of the music video for the Academy Award winning song from the film, “Streets of Philadelphia.” But perhaps the most insightful addition to the DVD set is the 1994 documentary, "One Foot on a Banana Peel, the Other Foot in the Grave.” It is a lengthy film, and it takes a very hard and heartbreaking look at the subject of AIDS. We hear from real AIDS patients, and though it is difficult to watch, I highly recommend you do.

“Philadelphia” is a powerful movie that makes a powerful statement. It’s about time it receives the DVD release it deserves.

Directed by: Jonathan Demme
Starring: Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Jason Robards, Mary Steenburgen, Antonio Banderas
Extras: Filmmaker’s Audio Commentary with Director Jonathan Demme and Screenwriter Ron Nyswaner, “People Like Us: Making Philadelphia”, “One Foot on a Banana Peel, The Other Foot in the Grave”, Deleted Scenes, Music Video “Streets of Philadelphia” by Bruce Springsteen, Courthouse Protest Footage and Interviews, Joe Miller’s Macready & Shilts Legal Services TV Spot, Original Theatrical Release Featurette
Specifications: Widescreen (1.85:1), Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Studio: Sony / Columbia Tristar
Release Date: 11/2/2004
Region 1
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Some Graphic Language and Thematic Material
Website

We'll give Philadelphia: 10th Anniversary an A.