# Angels in America - worth my time? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 24, 2004, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/angels-in-america-worth-my-time/230877 "2004-02-24T13:24:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/angels-in-america-worth-my-time/230877/1 "2004-02-24T13:24:02Z")
It’s starts here tonight, and they’ve broken it up in six episodes. I searched the archive, but not a single thread to be found. So, should I park myself in fronty of the tv at 9 tonight? ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/angels-in-america-worth-my-time/230877/2 "2004-02-24T14:39:29Z")
There were at least two previous threads on the show but I can’t get the PIECE OF SHIT free so I have no right to complain search engine to locate them. My opinion is yes, it’s worth your time to watch the first episode and decide for yourself if you want to invest the rest of the time. ---
**Author:** ![MrVisible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@MrVisible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrVisible)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/angels-in-america-worth-my-time/230877/3 "2004-02-24T15:31:42Z")
Personally, I found it overblown, pretentious, and shallow. It’s more interesting as a historical piece, the one which brought AIDS to the forefront of the national conscience, than as an actual dramatic work. Your mileage, as always, may vary. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/angels-in-america-worth-my-time/230877/4 "2004-02-24T15:43:03Z")
I agree with both of the above: it’s overblown and pretention and it’s also worth your time. Al Pacino is at his scenery chewing best as Cohn and Meryl Streep is amazingly non-annoying in both of her roles (Ethel Rosenberg and Mormon-mama Hannah), while Jeffrey Wright steals every scene he’s in as Belize. The main problems are that what works on stage doesn’t always work in film (especially the lengthy dialogue scenes and the multiple roles played by the main actors). ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/angels-in-america-worth-my-time/230877/5 "2004-02-24T15:51:50Z")
I found it to be way too preachy and pretentious. The performances were outstanding, however. I watched it using OnDemand because it allowed me to watch it in six chunks. This is definitely a film I don’t need to watch again. Ever. ---
**Author:** ![Moe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moe/32/2972_2.png) [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/angels-in-america-worth-my-time/230877/6 "2004-02-24T17:14:17Z")
Personally, I loved it from start to finish and I can’t wait till I have the time again to invest in seeing it a second time. Just remember, it’s a play. It’s written as a play and thus the dialogue works like a play. It’s not a great piece of cinema. It does come off preachy and pretentious on screen because the writing is big the way a play has to be to work on stage. But if you can get around that and expect a play and not a movie, I think you’ll enjoy it. As had been said the performances were just wonderful. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/angels-in-america-worth-my-time/230877/7 "2004-02-24T21:44:25Z")
I’ve just seen the first ep and I agree with the sentiments here: Filmed stage play. I had no idea the Rabbi was Meryl Streep, until I read the credits. Strong performances, apart from Pacino, who seems to go in and repeat his performance from ‘Scent of a Woman’ in everything I see him in, these days. Long speeches that I’m sure works on stage, but not on the screen. I kinda liked it, but was not overly entertained. Maybe they should’ve gotten someone else to do the screenplay and not the guy that wrote the original play. If I have nothing better to do next Tuesday night, I see the next episode. Thanks guys.