This bio doc should have concentrated more on the convergence of its subject with the AIDS crisis since that is the sole part that is powerful or, indeed, even all that interesting. The first half attempts to paint a portrait of an unhappily closeted actor but, try as hard as he might, director Stephen Kijak cannot quite conceal the exact opposite, namely that Hudson gladly made the decision to hide his homosexuality from the public in exchange for stardom. A better film would have examined the question of why Hudson was so untroubled by living this double life as opposed to, say, Tab Hunter, who clearly was not ok with it. I also agree with previous reviewers who have criticized this film's lack of attention on Hudson's under rated work as an actor as well as finding the use of gay subtext film clips clumsy and over done.
Once we enter the 1980s, however, and the AIDS shroud falls upon America, Kijak has a subject worthy of our attention. I agree with the film's thesis that the death of Hudson, the first real celebrity victim of this scourge, marked a dividing line between the moralistic voyeurism that went before and the beginnings of real efforts to find a cure that followed. I also commend Kijack's forceful condemnation of Ronald and Nancy Reagan, on both a personal and policy level, for their disgraceful cold shouldering of a good friend, an attitude that mirrored their indifference to the epidemic, in general. Give it a B minus.
Top 10 Rock Hudson movies:
10) Ice Station Zebra 9) Lover Come Back 8) Pillow Talk 7) Something Of Value 6) Magnificent Obsession 5) Written On The Wind 4) Tarnished Angels 3) Seconds 2) Giant 1) All That Heaven Allows.
Once we enter the 1980s, however, and the AIDS shroud falls upon America, Kijak has a subject worthy of our attention. I agree with the film's thesis that the death of Hudson, the first real celebrity victim of this scourge, marked a dividing line between the moralistic voyeurism that went before and the beginnings of real efforts to find a cure that followed. I also commend Kijack's forceful condemnation of Ronald and Nancy Reagan, on both a personal and policy level, for their disgraceful cold shouldering of a good friend, an attitude that mirrored their indifference to the epidemic, in general. Give it a B minus.
Top 10 Rock Hudson movies:
10) Ice Station Zebra 9) Lover Come Back 8) Pillow Talk 7) Something Of Value 6) Magnificent Obsession 5) Written On The Wind 4) Tarnished Angels 3) Seconds 2) Giant 1) All That Heaven Allows.