Larry Kramer adapted his much honored play 1985 play THE NORMAL HEART, an autobiographical reenactment of the period of time from 1980 to 1984 when the mysterious scourge of AIDS decimated thousands of gay men. Ryan Murphy sensitively directs a cast of some of the finest actors in cinema and a cadre of actors form the stage in a heart-stopping reminder of a time when it seemed the world might just be ending.

The film focuses on the rise of the HIV-AIDS crisis in New York City between 1981 and 1984, as seen through the eyes of writer/activist Ned Weeks (Mark Ruffalo),the gay Jewish- American founder of a prominent HIV advocacy group. Ned prefers loud public confrontations to the calmer, more private strategies favored by his associates, friends, and closeted lover Felix Turner (Matt Bomer),none of whom are prepared to throw themselves into the media spotlight. Their differences of opinion lead to frequent arguments that threaten to undermine their mutual goal. But that is only part of the territory this film covers – from the newly post- Stonewall sexual freedom as highlighted on Fire Island, to the gradual finding of Kaposi's sarcoma as badges on dying men, to the nation's sexual politics as gay activists and their allies in the medical community fight to expose the truth about the burgeoning epidemic to a city and nation in denial. The film is more like and opera than a play, with extended monologues by the polio stricken Dr Emma Brookner (a magnificent Julia Roberts),the agonizing anger of Mickey Marcus (Joe Mantello in an unforgettable performance),the active but cautious Bruce Niles (Taylor Kitsch proving he can handle major roles in drama),the cautious reporter Felix Turner (Matt Bomer in a career making role) as he gradually succumbs to Aids in the arms of his lover Ned Weeks, the standard bearer Tommy Boatwright (Jim Parsons),and smaller but equally impressive roles played by Alfred Molina, Jonathan Groff, Denis O'Hare, Danielle Ferland and on and on.

But it is the towering performance by Mark Ruffalo who manages to bring the audience into the heart of the film. It is an Emmy worthy performance and certainly one for the finest roles Ruffalo has ever mastered. Cliff Martinez manages the musical score with aplomb. The film contains some nudity and some suggestive innuendos, but they all seem important to the story and are not just placed in the film for effect. This is a film that will stun, cause tears, and make a lot of older people weep at the trials of the period reflected and the losses of loved ones during that medical travesty.

Larry Kramer certainly showed he could write for all kinds of media, stage, screen, and the print media. I saw The Normal Heart on stage with the Original Cast and to say this screen version is different is putting it mildly.

The original play was a barebones structure where Kramer is our protagonist, a writer in the entertainment field who notices a rising number of gay men dying of this malady that strikes healthy folk without warning. The opening at Fire Island showing all the men just frolicking and having a good time gives us the proper context and setting for what is to happen,

As friends and acquaintances sicken and die Mark Ruffalo gives out Cassandra like warnings of what is to come. He's treated just about like Cassandra was by even those who enlist in the cause.

Kramer living to the age of 85 and dying earlier this year had the bitter satisfaction of being proven right. He gets the last word on critics especially in light of a new pandemic upon us now,

I don't know if Larry Kramer did have the romance Mark Ruffalo had in the film, but he should have. We should all have a Matt Bomer in our lives, but for longer than Ruffalo had him in his.

I knew the Cassandra part of the play which was the whole play. The romance part was all new and fitted nicely into the overall structure. Bomer's gradual deterioration will make a Medusa break down.

I have two memories of the era. At my job at Crime Victims Board I did a visit to a claimant who was living in an apartment stripped bare by those attending him. The sight of him and those telltale lesions was y first encounter with AIDS. People looted the apartment of this helpless bedridden man and the police in the 1st precinct in Manhattan wouldn't go to the apartment to even make a report. My first encounter with the disease.

The second memory was at the hearings in the New York City Council for the gay rights bill. The rightwing opponents who refuse to wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID back then all wore those surgical masks to the hearings to prevent them from contracting the 'gay disease'. Incredibly ironic isn't it?

Julia Roberts is in this and does a fine job on a caracter based on Dr, Mathilde Krim. She was one true heroine of the times.

My big criticism of this production is that the death of Rock Hudson from AIDS was not mentioned. A major celebrity death and the GOP government which was heavily owing the religious right for support had to finally mention the name AIDS and start doing something.

as a political tract and as drama The Normal Heart hits it out of the park. And what a bittersweet romance,

It's 1981 and gay men are enjoying their sexual freedom. Only more and more of them are dying. Nobody knows what the cause is. Ned Weeks (Mark Ruffalo) is a writer. Ben (Alfred Molina) is his brother. Dr. Emma Brookner (Julia Roberts) is advocating for gay men to stop having sex. Felix Turner (Matt Bomer) is the NY Times writer who usually does fluff pieces. Bruce Niles (Taylor Kitsch) and Tommy Boatwright (Jim Parsons) are some of the people in the gay community.

The first 30 minutes is more thrilling and more compelling than any overblown action. The scenes of people trying to figure out what to do are the best. It's exciting. It's also scary like a horror movie. The romance between Weeks and Turner is the weakest part of the movie. There is a big epidemic and the love story diminishes it. For some reason, I'm reminded of Michael Bay's Pearl Habor. The world is changing and I rather have the movie concentrate on the war, not the romance. I get more from Ned and his brother. I understand where they're going with the romance but it feels more like a waste of time. There are so many great scenes with great acting. Joe Mantello explodes on the screen. Taylor Kitsch retells an incredibly touching story. Julia Roberts overdoes it a little. Overall, there is a lot of great acting in a compelling historical drama.