The film’s 26 million budget, 206.7 million gross and ninth-place 1993 ranking contradict Kramer’s prediction of commercial failure.
Research: the story draws on two attorneys’ discrimination cases; Hanks lost 30 pounds; Steenburgen’s personal dislike of the role became a line; Ron Vawter’s HIV status caused insurance difficulty; the party’s military costume references the service ban; a friend’s AIDS diagnosis motivated Demme.

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 00:54:30Read transcript

Ebert awarded three-and-a-half stars, praising Hanks and the film’s importance in breaking Hollywood’s silence.

Day-Lewis; Keaton; Murray; Williams; Leguizamo; Woods

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Approx. transcript time · 01:24:19Read transcript

Casting what-ifs: Daniel Day-Lewis and Michael Keaton reportedly declined Andy; Bill Murray and Robin Williams were considered for a more comic Joe before Denzel.
Casting what-ifs: John Leguizamo reportedly chose Super Mario Bros.over Miguel; James Woods was considered for Wheeler. Springsteen initially offered existing Tunnel of Love before writing a new song.

Keep the major cast

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:27:30Read transcript

Rejected case; theater evidence; thin relationship; perfect family; secretary

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Approx. transcript time · 01:30:57Read transcript

Nitpicks: why would so many lawyers reject a strong discrimination case, and how did investigators discover Andy’s specific theater visits?
Nitpicks: Andy and Miguel lack individual relationship detail; the film seeks tolerance rather than their self-defined humanity. Wesley compares the mechanism with Green Book while distinguishing Philadelphia’s contemporary purpose. The uniformly supportive family lacks tension.
Nitpick: Andy’s secretary reacts too casually to locating a crucial document.

November 18, 1992 Sixers–Magic game; Dr. J’s script awareness

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Approx. transcript time · 01:36:43Read transcript

Unanswerable answered: Bill identifies the filmed Sixers–Magic game as November 18, 1992 by Tim Perry, Greg Kite’s appearances and the halftime scoreboard. Barkley-trade and team-history tangents support his detective work; Wheeler’s enthusiasm for a weak Sixers team remains puzzling.
Next day: Joe may become a major Philadelphia lawyer or represent Dr.J. The cameo raises an unanswerable question about whether Erving understood he was seated with villains; Rendell is another local cameo.

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:39:48Read transcript

Double feature: And the Band Played On, Angels in America’s HBO adaptation and the experimental musical Zero Patience. Canadian avant-garde month is a joke, future theme rather than current format.