THE NORMAL HEART (2014) Ryan Murphy

Hey folks, we're crying here. And a lot.

A television film ( the second time, after Behind the Candelabra , that a gay-themed film with prominent actors fails to be released in American theaters ) that deals with the very early years of the spread of the HIV virus and the first deaths from AIDS: a theme that has been widely covered in contemporary cinema ( see Dallas Buyers Club and Test ).

Being an American film and not a niche one, the two biggest risks are that of falling into fiction or melodrama and, in this sense, the director is very good at touching on both genres while maintaining a narrative line that is at times even a little uncomfortable.

The film is beautiful. Political, certainly, very biased and partisan. Worthy of note is the skill of the actors (all Emmy Award nominees ) who, through the intimacy of their daily lives, draw us into a balance of struggles and defeats, within the epic framework of the film's overarching story.

The cast is almost blockbuster- caliber , with strong actors who perform very well and with restraint. Mark Ruffalo and Matt Bomer are excellent, beautiful, and an intense couple. Julia Roberts — who is increasingly playing the part of the interesting, plain girl, perhaps aiming for Oscar-winning roles —is nevertheless very credible and talented.

It is certainly a film that strikes the most emotional side of the viewer in a brazen, honest way, and sincerely moves.

Gay audiences are more involved, also due to the historical contextualization of the story (the first part is beautiful, with the accurate description of summers on Fire Island, a gay holiday destination par excellence.