If These Walls Could Talk
by Matt Kuruc
In a country as polarized as ours, it has become nearly impossible for people to come together to discuss controversial issues.
This seems to be the prevailing theme of If These Walls Could Talk. Three women in three different decades are all faced with unwanted pregnancies, and though times and laws change, man's stubbornness does not.
In one story, a mother of four (Sissy Spacek) with an unwanted pregnancy is counseled by both her conservative husband, who suggests they keep the baby, and her liberal daughter, who encourages her to get an abortion.
Both are so equally set in their views of what's right that they are unwilling to consider what's best for Spacek's character, only their own set view of morality.
Some glimmer of hope is provided in the last story when an abortion doctor routinely greets a group of protestors as she leaves the clinic.
While they both stand for opposite sides of an issue, they do not let their personal views overcome their civilty, a quality this country is severely lacking.
Angels in America
by Lisa Tauber
Everything about this two-part miniseries kicks ass. From the all-star cast (Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, Emma Thompson) to Mike Nichols' (The Graduate) wonderful direction, this adaptation of Tony Kushner's Pulitzer-winning play deservedly won five Golden Globes last year.
Set in the Reagan era during the height of the AIDS epidemic, Angels centers around five people living in New York City. Al Pacino gives a stellar performance as Roy Cohn, an anti-Communist who helped ensure Ethel Rosenberg's execution in the '50s, but also a homosexual refusing to admit that he is dying of AIDS.
The series tackles the heavy-hitting issues of race, AIDS, religion, homophobia and much more. It has been accused of unnecessary lengthiness, but stick around and watch the entire six hours and you will undoubtedly be moved.
The DVD itself has no extras beyond French and Spanish dubbing options, and since the series is broken only into six chapters, it is somewhat difficult to find specific scenes. However, Angels holds its own despite the DVD annoyances, and the magnificence of the work shines through.
Iron Jawed Angels by Abby Natelson
Hilary Swank (Boys Don't Cry) plays a girl this time in an HBO dramatic recreation of the women's suffrage movement. Iron Jawed Angels traces the lives of Alice Paul and Lucy Burns, whose efforts helped women finally obtain the right to vote.
Paul and Burns lead a fervent struggle, risking their lives and paying for their rebellion with prison time.
Yet they never lose their femininity, and continue to enjoy sex, shopping and bitchiness as much as women today.
And since voting is clearly the cool thing to do these days, this tribute has been released at the perfect time.
Contemporary touches like hip hop and rock music spruce up the otherwise familiar story.
Highlights include classic Helen Keller jokes and girl-on-girl action (there's a kiss and plenty of catfights).
Not quite as exciting as some of the other recent HBO releases, but nonetheless, an entertaining take on women's history, and proof that our right to vote is more than just a fad.
