Angels in America was a groundbreaking work of social commentary when it first hit Broadway in the early 1990s. So when the decision was made to adapt the Pulitzer Prize winning play into a television miniseries, everyone knew how important it was to get it right. Playwright Tony Kushner was brought in to adapt his own work into a screenplay, and famed director of the stage and screen Mike Nichols was placed at the helm. The miniseries, it seemed, was in remarkably safe hands. But we don't know if anyone was expecting Angels in America to be the phenomenal success that it was. Far from being just a good made-for-TV movie, Angels in America redefined what the medium was capable of achieving. It was the most-watched made for cable film of 2003, and broke the Emmy record previously held by Roots for the most awards given to a program in a single year. To this day, it is considered one of the most poignant and significant pieces about the AIDS crisis in America.
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
