Philadelphia Movie Analysis

Philadelphia This film portrays the story of Andrew Beckett, a lawyer that suffering from AIDS and is a homosexual, is fired from his law firm in retaliation against him for concealing his illness. Andrew decides to sue for wrongful termination and begins inquiring with several attorneys to represent him. After being turned down several times he turns to Joe Miller, a prejudiced lawyer. Over the course of the movie, Miller finally realizes that Beckett is a regular person and is only trying to survive and overcomes his phobia of homosexuals and helps Beckett with his case.
This film displays social psychology from the direct influence of others to treat individuals with AIDS and being a homosexual as regular people. However, that does not
The first act that comes to mind is when it is publicly known that Miller is working on Beckett’s case and Joe is at a drug store picking up formula and diapers for his baby and is approached by a young man who also happens to attending law school. The young man praises him for his excellent work so far on the case and that this case is really important to him. I believe he is meaning how important this case is to the gay community. He then proceeds to ask Joe out for a drink, Joe declines saying that he has to get home to his wife. The student leans over the isle and says, “I don’t normally pick up people in drug stores.” There was a middle-aged woman standing behind Joe at the time who has now overheard the comment, she gives him a look of oh God get away from me. Joe grabs the young man’s shirt, knocking some items off of the shelf and asks him, “Do I look gay to you?” The student responds with the same question. Joe did not have the intentions of inflicting pain on the young man; he just wanted to make a point. Another scene is when Andy is working on his case; Miguel is making dinner and trying to give Andy a treatment. Andy is refusing treatment; Miguel is getting agitated and wants to speak with Andy. Andy is saying that he’s busy working on this case and while he’s writing, Miguel rips that notebook away from Andy and throws it across the room and starts speaking in a harsh tone. A scene that describes the catharsis on aggression is when Miller badgers his own witness when he asks him if he was gay. The witness was taken by surprised and wasn’t sure why this question was being asked of him. Miller then proceeds to let out numerous derogatory terms towards gays, which seems to upset others in the courtroom. I believe Miller is “blowing off steam” towards his hatred and anger for