Guest EXPAT Posted January 5, 2013 Posted January 5, 2013 Great news for fans of Larry Kramer's groundbreaking 1985 play The Normal Heart! It's finally heading to the (small) screen. Ryan Murphy will direct, Larry Kramer himself is adapting the screenplay and Julia Roberts, Mark Ruffalo, and Matt Bomer are attached to star. Production starts later this year in NYC. The Normal Heart is about the terrifying and tragic early days of HIV-AIDS crisis in New York City. Ruffalo will play Ned Weeks, a gay New Yorker who watches while the mysterious new disease claims so many around him. Roberts plays the paraplegic physician who treats several of the earliest victims. Matt Bomer plays the reporter who becomes Ned’s lover. We can't wait for this one. Are you as excited as we are? Here's the full HBO press release... JULIA ROBERTS AND MARK RUFFALO TO STAR IN HBO FILMS’ THE NORMAL HEART, DIRECTED BY RYAN MURPHY; LARRY KRAMER ADAPTS HIS TONY AWARD-WINNING PLAY; MATT BOMER CO-STARS; RYAN MURPHY, JASON BLUM, DEDE GARDNER AND DANTE DI LORETO EXECUTIVE PRODUCE -------- Film Goes Into Production Later This Year For 2014 Debut -------- LOS ANGELES, Jan. 4, 2013 – Academy Award® winner Julia Roberts and Academy Award® nominee Mark Ruffalo will star in the HBO Films drama THE NORMAL HEART, directed by Emmy® winner Ryan Murphy (“Eat Pray Love,” “Glee”), it was announced today by Michael Lombardo, president, HBO Programming. Slated to begin production in New York City later this year for 2014 debut on HBO, the film is written by Larry Kramer, adapting his groundbreaking Tony Award-winning play of the same name. “We are so proud to be involved with this monumental project,” said Lombardo. “Ryan has assembled an extraordinary cast to bring Larry Kramer’s landmark theatrical achievement to the screen for the first time, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to bring this important film to HBO.” Executive produced by Ryan Murphy, Jason Blum (the “Paranormal Activity” series, “The Reader”), Dede Gardner (“The Tree of Life,” “Eat Pray Love”) and Dante Di Loreto (“Glee,” HBO’s “Temple Grandin”), THE NORMAL HEART tells the story of the onset of the HIV-AIDS crisis in New York City in the early 1980s, taking an unflinching look at the nation’s sexual politics as gay activists and their allies in the medical community fought to expose the truth about the burgeoning epidemic to a city in denial. Roberts plays Dr. Emma Brookner, the paraplegic physician who treats several of the earliest victims of the disease. Ruffalo portrays Ned Weeks, who witnesses first-hand the mysterious disease that has begun to claim the lives of many in his gay community and starts to seek answers. Matt Bomer (“White Collar,” “Magic Mike”) plays Felix Turner, a reporter who becomes Ned’s lover. In 1981, writer Larry Kramer hosted a gathering of six gay men and their friends to discuss the “gay cancer,” and to talk about fundraising for research. This informal meeting in Kramer’s home would lead to the formation of Gay Men’s Health Crisis, one of the first advocacy groups for HIV prevention and care. Kramer’s play debuted at New York’s Public Theatre in 1985 and was revived in Los Angeles and London and off-Broadway. The 2011 Broadway revival garnered five Tony nominations, winning for Best Revival, Best Featured Actor and Best Featured Actress. Quote
Guest EXPAT Posted March 2, 2013 Posted March 2, 2013 Speaking of Ryan Murphy (the other post I just posted about Kathy Bates joining AHS next season), Jim Parsons and Taylor Kitsch have joined Julia Roberts, Mark Ruffalo and Matt Bomer in the HBO adaptation of The Normal Heart. Quote
Guest EXPAT Posted March 10, 2014 Posted March 10, 2014 The Normal Heart will premiere on May 25. Here is the trailer for it that was just released today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaaTQLMEETw Quote
Guest EXPAT Posted May 26, 2014 Posted May 26, 2014 I watched "The Normal Heart" tonight on HBO. It was overwhelming, alarmingly good and disturbing all at once. The acting was excellent as was the directing. It was almost too much to watch. Mark Ruffalo was incredible in the lead and deserves every award coming to him for that role. It is a must see if you haven't seen it yet. Quote
Guest fourjogran Posted May 26, 2014 Posted May 26, 2014 Just saw it. Powerful. Excellent acting. Disturbing tragic story. We have come a long way. Quote
Guest Paragon Posted May 26, 2014 Posted May 26, 2014 I think Mark Ruffalo is a great actor, but wish they had found a gay guy to play his role in The Normal Heart. But thanks for letting me know how good the HBO show is. I saw it at the Public when it was revived a few years ago. Quote
Guest Paragon Posted May 27, 2014 Posted May 27, 2014 Last night I spoke to two veterans of the AIDS crisis in San Francisco, and they hated this production. Since I didn't see it, I could only mention that several guys here liked it a lot. Quote
Members Ojibear Posted May 28, 2014 Members Posted May 28, 2014 I watched it and I liked it. I hit the gay scene in 1981 in Toronto. I still remember the panic. I think the movie capture that feeling very well. That panic scared me into being extremely cautious about hook ups. I was a virtual nun for a time. I'm now in my 50s and one of the few of my circle friends to still be alive. So it was hard to watch and I shed a few tears. But I'm an advocate of letting out the sadness now and again. After all, I am a sissy! Quote
TotallyOz Posted May 28, 2014 Posted May 28, 2014 Did anyone else watch this? It was very moving for me to watch as I had friends that lived through that in the 1980's. Also, the scene with Matt Bomer's ass was delightful. However, his transformation at the end was chilling. I was in tears more than once. Some great performances in this. Theolover 1 Quote
caeron Posted May 28, 2014 Posted May 28, 2014 This history is, even after all those years, still too close to watch. I saw it back in the 80s, but I just don't want to go back to those dark days, even through a film. Quote
Guest EXPAT Posted May 28, 2014 Posted May 28, 2014 Did anyone else watch this? It was very moving for me to watch as I had friends that lived through that in the 1980's. Also, the scene with Matt Bomer's ass was delightful. However, his transformation at the end was chilling. I was in tears more than once. Some great performances in this. Oz, there is a thread about this in the gay movie section. Check it out. Quote
Members axiom2001 Posted May 28, 2014 Members Posted May 28, 2014 I watched and liked tremendously but wish it had been longer! Quote
Guest PasadenaCA Posted May 29, 2014 Posted May 29, 2014 I watched and liked tremendously but wish it had been longer! That's what she said. Sorry. Quote
TotallyOz Posted May 29, 2014 Posted May 29, 2014 Oz, there is a thread about this in the gay movie section. Check it out. Thanks. I thought there was a thread but could not find it when I posted. I did a search but I guess I spelled normal wrong as zero results came up. Is that normal? Anyway, thanks for pointing this out. I am glad others saw this and liked it. Quote
Guest EXPAT Posted May 29, 2014 Posted May 29, 2014 So far everyone I know that has seen has loved it. I was skeptical at first because there seems to be an endless supply of AIDS related movies and they all are mediocre at best. But this one was the best by far. Quote
Guest Paragon Posted May 29, 2014 Posted May 29, 2014 It's good to know that so many liked the show. I don't really know why my friends in SF did not- they wouldn't say. Some still have AIDS fatigue, and that could be the reason, but I hope not as there is still work to do. Quote
Guest EXPAT Posted May 30, 2014 Posted May 30, 2014 Matt Bomer explains THE NORMAL HEART on Ellen Quote
Guest PasadenaCA Posted May 30, 2014 Posted May 30, 2014 Is this movie eligible for consideration in the Oscars, or would have to have had a theatrical release? Quote
Guest EXPAT Posted May 30, 2014 Posted May 30, 2014 Is this movie eligible for consideration in the Oscars, or would have to have had a theatrical release? No. But it has already been sent to the Academy for EMMY consideration. they are advertising for it in the LA Times ENVELOPE Every Thursday. Quote
Guest Paragon Posted May 31, 2014 Posted May 31, 2014 The show will be released Aug. 26 on Blu-Ray and DVD. Quote
Members Theolover Posted June 1, 2014 Members Posted June 1, 2014 I saw this and it was sad but very good. Quote
Guest EXPAT Posted June 11, 2014 Posted June 11, 2014 My favorite still from "the Normal Heart". . . anything with Matt Bomer's butt. . . Quote
