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Angels in America (miniseries)

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For the original play by Tony Kushner, see Angels in America.

Angels in America
DVD cover
Based on
Angels in America
by Tony Kushner
Written byTony Kushner
Directed byMike Nichols
Starring
Theme music composerThomas Newman
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes6
Production
ProducerCelia D. Costas
CinematographyStephen Goldblatt
Editors
Running time352 minutes
Production companies
Budget$60 million
Original release
NetworkHBO
ReleaseDecember 7 (2003-12-07) –
December 14, 2003 (2003-12-14)

Angels in America is a 2003 American 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 miniseries 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 miniseries explores a wide variety of themes, including Reagan era politics, the spreading AIDS epidemic, and a rapidly changing social and political climate.[1][2]

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 three programs in Emmy history (along with Schitt's Creek in 2020, and The Crown in 2021) 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.[3]

Plot

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Millennium Approaches

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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

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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.[4][5]

Episodes

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release dateU.S. viewers
(millions)
1"Millennium Approaches: Chapter One – Bad News"Mike NicholsTony KushnerDecember 7, 2003 (2003-12-07)N/A
In October 1985 in New York City, Louis Ironson learns that his lover, Prior Walter, has AIDS after Prior discovers a lesion on his body. Although Louis promises to stay with him, he becomes increasingly frightened by the disease and emotionally overwhelmed. Conservative Mormon lawyer Joe Pitt is offered a prestigious Justice Department position in Washington, D.C. by the influential attorney Roy Cohn, who privately learns that he has AIDS but furiously rejects being identified as homosexual. Joe’s wife Harper, addicted to Valium and suffering from paranoia and hallucinations, begins suspecting that her husband is hiding his sexuality from her. During one of her hallucinations, Harper encounters Prior in a shared dream despite never having met him. Elsewhere, tensions continue growing between Prior and Louis as Prior’s condition gradually worsens.
2"Millennium Approaches: Chapter Two – In Vitro"Mike NicholsTony KushnerDecember 7, 2003 (2003-12-07)N/A
Prior is taken to the hospital and he begins hearing mysterious voices foretelling the arrival of a supernatural messenger. Unable to emotionally cope with Prior’s illness, Louis leaves him alone in the hospital, where Belize, a former drag queen and Prior’s closest friend, helps care for him. After meeting Joe at a bar, Roy privately confesses that he is dying from AIDS, though he angrily refuses to identify himself as gay. Torn by pressure from Roy and a burgeoning infatuation with Louis, Joe drunkenly telephones his mother Hannah in Salt Lake City and indirectly confesses that he is homosexual, concerning her. Harper retreats further into hallucinations with her imaginary travel guide Mr. Lies. Louis finally abandons Prior in the hospital, unable to handle the emotional burden of watching him deteriorate from AIDS.
3"Millennium Approaches: Chapter Three – The Messenger"Mike NicholsTony KushnerDecember 7, 2003 (2003-12-07)N/A
Joe admits to Harper that he is homosexual, devastating their marriage, and Harper hallucinates traveling to Antarctica through her refrigerator alongside Mr. Lies. After Joe decides to refuse the Washington job offer, Roy flies into a furious rage before collapsing in pain and hallucinating the ghost of Ethel Rosenberg, whose execution he helped orchestrate in the 1950s. Louis and Joe grow closer after meeting again in Central Park, where they share a kiss that marks the beginning of their affair. Meanwhile, Prior suffers increasingly intense feverish visions involving his ancestors, who warn him about an approaching revelation. Then, a massive Angel crashes through the ceiling of Prior’s apartment and proclaims him a prophet chosen to deliver a message to humanity.
4"Perestroika: Chapter Four – Stop Moving!"Mike NicholsTony KushnerDecember 14, 2003 (2003-12-14)N/A
By January 1986, Prior struggles to understand the Angel’s command that humanity must stop moving and changing in order to restore Heaven’s stability. Belize continues caring for Prior while criticizing Louis for abandoning him. Louis becomes disturbed by Joe’s conservative political beliefs and Mormon worldview. Harper, now isolated and unstable, wanders through Brooklyn and contemplates escaping her unhappy life entirely. Roy ends up hospitalized as condition rapidly declines. Meanwhile, Hannah arrives in New York and struggles to adapt to the unfamiliar city while trying to reconnect with Joe.
5"Perestroika: Chapter Five – Beyond Nelly"Mike NicholsTony KushnerDecember 14, 2003 (2003-12-14)N/A
Louis and Joe’s relationship becomes increasingly strained as Louis remains consumed by guilt over leaving Prior. Prior, recovering physically but emotionally scarred, begins resisting the Angel’s demands and searches for meaning in his visions. Harper decides to leave New York and start over elsewhere, finally recognizing that her sexless marriage to Joe cannot survive. Hannah unexpectedly forms friendships with Prior and Belize after helping care for Prior at the Mormon Visitor Center. Roy desperately uses his political connections to illegally obtain AZT medication while his health deteriorates further, and Belize secretly takes some of Roy’s medication to help Prior survive.
6"Perestroika: Chapter Six – Heaven, I'm in Heaven"Mike NicholsTony KushnerDecember 14, 2003 (2003-12-14)N/A
Prior journeys to Heaven in a vision and confronts the Angel Council, rejecting their demand that humanity cease progressing and changing. He instead chooses to continue living despite pain, uncertainty, and suffering. Louis confesses his guilt to Prior and unsuccessfully attempts reconciliation, while Joe and Louis separate after realizing their relationship cannot survive their personal and political differences. In February, Roy dies in the hospital as Belize and the ghost of Ethel Rosenberg recite the Kaddish for him, granting him an unexpected moment of dignity. In January 1990, Prior, Louis, Belize, and Hannah reunite near the Bethesda Fountain in Central Park and look toward the future with cautious hope amid the AIDS crisis.

Cast

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Soundtrack

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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.[6]

Production

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Bethesda Fountain at the Bethesda Terrace in New York City's Central Park, where many scenes were shot
Below Bethesda Terrace, Central Park, where the 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.[7]

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),[8] 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.[9] 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 several pivotal scenes being shot on the streets of the city and 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".[7] Costumer Martin Izquierdo was hired to design functioning wings for Thompson's Angel.[10]

Reception

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Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gave the series a 92% 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."[11] The New York Times wrote that "Mike Nichols's television version is a work of art in itself."[12] 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...".[13]

IndieWire ranked the series first on its list of best LGBTQ TV shows of the 21st century.[14]

Awards and nominations

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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.[15] Angels in America became the first of only three programs (following by Schitt's Creek in comedy at the 72nd Emmy Awards and The Crown in drama at the 73rd Emmy Awards) to sweep every major category 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.

Along with television miniseries Eleanor and Franklin, the series became one of the two most-honored programs in television history.[16] The record was broken four years later by John Adams at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards, which won 13 trophies from 23 nominations.[17]

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2003 Costume Designers Guild Awards Outstanding Period/Fantasy Television Series Ann Roth Nominated [18]
National Board of Review Awards Best Film Made for Cable TV Angels in America Won [19]
[20]
2004 AARP Movies for Grownups Awards Best TV Movie Won [21]
American Film Institute Awards Top 10 TV Programs of the Year Won [22]
American Society of Cinematographers Awards Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Movies of the Week,
Mini-Series or Pilot (Cable) 		Stephen Goldblatt Nominated [23]
[24]
Art Directors Guild Awards Excellence in Production Design Award – Television Movie or Mini-Series Stuart Wurtzel, John Kasarda,
Stefano Maria Ortolani, Hinju Kim,
David Stein, and Tom Warren 		Won [25]
Critics' Choice Awards Best Picture Made for Television Angels in America Won [26]
Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television Mike Nichols Won [27]
GLAAD Media Awards Outstanding Television Movie or Mini-Series Angels in America Won [28]
Golden Globe Awards Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Won [29]
[30]
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 Actor – Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Ben Shenkman Nominated
Patrick Wilson Nominated
Jeffrey Wright Won
Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Mary-Louise Parker Won
Humanitas Prize 90 Minute or Longer Network or Syndicated Television Tony Kushner Won [31]
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Miniseries Cary Brokaw, Celia D. Costas,
Mike Haley, and Mike Nichols 		Won [32]
[33]
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie Al Pacino Won
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie Meryl Streep Won
Emma Thompson Nominated
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie Justin Kirk Nominated
Ben Shenkman Nominated
Patrick Wilson Nominated
Jeffrey Wright Won
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie Mary-Louise Parker Won
Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special Mike Nichols Won
Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special Tony Kushner Won
Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries or Movie Stuart Wurtzel, John Kasarda, and
George DeTitta Jr. (for "Millennium Approaches", "Perestroika"). 		Won
Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special Juliet Taylor and Ellen Lewis Won
Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries or Movie Stephen Goldblatt (for "Perestroika") Nominated
Outstanding Costumes for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special Ann Roth, Michelle Matland, and
Donna Maloney (for "Perestroika") 		Nominated
Outstanding Hairstyling for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special David Brian Brown, Jasen Joseph Sica, and
Angel De Angelis (for Millennium Approaches", "Perestroika") 		Nominated
Outstanding Main Title Design Randall Balsmeyer, J. John Corbett,
Jim Rider, and Amit Sethi 		Nominated
Outstanding Makeup for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special (Non-Prosthetic) J. Roy Helland, Joseph A. Campayno,
John Caglione Jr., and Kelly Gleason (for "Millennium Approaches", "Perestroika") 		Won
Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special John Bloom and Antonia Van Drimmelen
(for "Millennium Approaches") 		Nominated
Outstanding Single-Camera Sound Mixing for a Miniseries or a Movie Lee Dichter, Ron Bochar, and James Sabat
(for "Perestroika") 		Won
Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special Richard Edlund, Ron Simonson,
Liz Ralston, Stefano Trivelli,
Don Greenberg, Lawrence Littleton,
Michele Moen, Steven Kirshoff, and
Gregory Jein (for "Perestroika") 		Nominated
Producers Guild of America Awards Visionary Award Mike Nichols and Cary Brokaw Won [34]
Satellite Awards Best Miniseries Angels in America Won [35]
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
Actors Awards Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie Al Pacino Won [36]
Justin Kirk Nominated
Jeffrey Wright Nominated
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie Meryl Streep Won
Mary-Louise Parker Nominated
Emma Thompson Nominated
Television Critics Association Awards Program of the Year Angels in America Won [37]
[38]
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 [39]
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 Music from the HBO Film: Angels in America –
Thomas Newman 		Nominated [40]
Producers Guild of America Awards David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television Mike Nichols, Cary Brokaw,
Celia D. Costas, and Michael Haley 		Won [41]
Writers Guild of America Awards Long Form – Adapted Tony Kushner – Based on his play Won [42]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Angels in America:Overview. The New York Times.
  2. ^ Bell, Chris (2006). "American AIDS Film". In Gerstner, David A. (ed.). Routledge International Encyclopedia of Queer Culture (1 ed.). Routledge. pp. 28–29. ISBN 9780415306515. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  3. ^ An AIDS anniversary: 25 years in the arts Archived June 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine The Seattle Times, June 25, 2006.
  4. ^ Part one Film4
  5. ^ Part two Film4.
  6. ^ "Thomas Newman". Grammy Awards. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Buckley, Michael (November 26, 2003). "STAGE TO SCREENS: HBO's "Angels in America" Plus a Chat with "Angels" Co-star Ben Shenkman". Playbill. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  9. ^ Trivia IMDb
  10. ^ Swerdloff, Alexis (October 30, 2013). "Martin Izquierdo, Costumer". New York Magazine. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  11. ^ "Angels in America". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  12. ^ Critics Choice:Movies by Anita Gates, The New York Times, April 17, 2005.
  13. ^ TELEVISION REVIEW: HBO infuses `Angels' with new life Nichols, cast triumph in inspiring production By Matthew Gilbert, Boston Globe staff, 12/5/2003.
  14. ^ Chapman, Wilson (June 11, 2024). "The 25 Most Essential LGBTQ TV Shows of the 21st Century". IndieWire. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ "Nominees/Winners". Costume Designers Guild. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  19. ^ "2003 Award Winners". National Board of Review. Archived from the original on April 29, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2010.
  20. ^ "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.
  21. ^ "Movies for Grownups Awards 2004 with Bill Newcott".
  22. ^ "AFI AWARDS 2003". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on May 28, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  23. ^ "18th Annual ASC Awards — 2003". American Society of Cinematographers. Archived from the original on November 9, 2018.
  24. ^ "The ASC Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography". American Society of Cinematographers. Archived from the original on August 2, 2011.
  25. ^ "2004 / 8TH WINNERS & NOMINEES". Art Directors Guild. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  26. ^ "The BFCA Critics' Choice Awards 2003". Broadcast Film Critics Association. January 10, 2004. Archived from the original on July 30, 2011. Retrieved March 16, 2011.
  27. ^ "56th DGA Awards". Directors Guild of America Awards. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  28. ^ "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.
  29. ^ "Angels in America". Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA). Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  30. ^ "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.
  31. ^ "Past Winners & Nominees". Humanitas Prize. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  32. ^ "Angels in America". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on May 6, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  33. ^ "56th Emmy Awards Nominees and Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on September 4, 2019. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  34. ^ "Producers Guild Awards 2004". Producers Guild of America. Archived from the original on December 15, 2008. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  35. ^ "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.
  36. ^ "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.
  37. ^ "2004 TCA Awards nominees". Television Critics Association. June 3, 2004. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
  38. ^ "2004 TCA Awards winners". Television Critics Association. July 17, 2004. Archived from the original on July 29, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
  39. ^ "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.
  40. ^ "2004 Grammy Award Winners". Grammy.com. Retrieved May 1, 2011.
  41. ^ "Producers Guild Awards 2005". Producers Guild of America. Archived from the original on December 15, 2008. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  42. ^ "Writers Guild Awards Winners: 2005-1996". Writers Guild of America. Archived from the original on May 17, 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2012.

Further reading

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[edit]
Wikiquote has quotations related to Angels in America.
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