No one would take on his case... until one man was willing to take on the system.

Starring: Denzel Washington, Tom Hanks, Jason Robarbs, Mary Steenburgen, Antonio Banderas, Joanne Woodward

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #27 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Philadelphia

"Every now and again - not often, but occasionally - you get to be a part of justice being done. That really is quite a thrill when that happens." - Andrew Beckett

Why watch this? ... are all men created equal? Apparently not all men.

Plot Summary: Andrew Beckett is a gifted lawyer at a prestigious firm who is unjustly fired after his firm discovers he has AIDS. Beckett decides to sue the firm for wrongful termination, but struggles to find legal representation due to his illness and sexual orientation. He eventually hires Joe Miller, a initially homophobic lawyer played by Denzel Washington, who is the only attorney willing to take on the difficult case.

Dad's Preview: I've always been a fan of courtroom dramas. Philadelphia is that, and much more. An attorney, Andrew Beckett, is fired from a prestigious firm. The stated reason? - bad performance. The real reason: He is a gay man with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Andrew hires Joe Miller, one of the few lawyers willing to take his case. Together they take on the firm's corrupt practices, fueled by society's fear and hatred towards the community most impacted by the deadly disease. This amazing film should serve as a gut-punch regarding false fears and bigotry. Please have the courage to watch it.

Clinica Estetico Productions; TriStar Pictures