Early returns from Angels in America on HBO:

Peculiar sound design. I found myself cranking up the volume in the early scenes with Roy Cohn; in other scenes, the hyperrealistic incidental sounds (cloth rustling, e.g.) and background noise (sirens, automobiles) overpowered the dialog; dubbing was at times too obvious.

The cinematic treatment improves the scenes with the prior Priors.

I cried three times: when Prior and Louis dance to "Moon River," when the angel shows up (the payoff for the whole three hours), and a scene with Joe and Harper. I believe that Harper Pitt is one of the most interesting characters in the last 25 years of American theater. But I'm not sure that the drawl that Mary-Louise Parker has given her is working for me.

What's with the product placement of a certain cola-based soft drink?

Emma Thompson is not particularly effective in her secondary roles as the homeless person and the nurse Emily. Emily's accent tends to wander over the five boroughs.

posted: 11:27:07 PM