4.5/5

At the time of Longtime Companion's release in 1990, the devastating disease of AIDS was seen as a mysterious and deadly scourge, replete with rumors, lies, and panic. As the first narrative film to examine the AIDS epidemic, screenwriter Craig Lucas and director Norman Renà (C) place the disease in an historical context, dramatizing the impact of the disease through time in a series of vignettes involving seven gay men. AIDS first made its presence felt surreptitiously, as an article in The New York Times reported on a rare cancer attacking gay men called Karposi's syndrome. Then the Village Voice began a series of in-depth articles concerning a "gay plague" which later became known as AIDS. The film follows the AIDS crisis through the lives of the seven main characters so that they are only aware of AIDS in the historical framework of each episode. The characters include former gay couple Willy (Campbell Scott) and John (Dermot Mulroney), first seen partying at a Fire Island club, who don't pay much attention to the mysterious article in The New York Times but become intimately effected by the disease. There is also Sean (Mark Lamos), a soap opera writer whose mind is slowly deteriorating because of the disease, and his supportive friend David (Bruce Davison).

Starring, Bruce Davison, Campbell Scott, Stephen Caffrey, Mark Lamos, Patrick Cassidy , Mary-Louise Parker , John Dossett , Brian Cousins , Dermot Mulroney.

Directed by Norman René.

Nominated for 1 Oscar, Best Supporting Actor for Bruce Davison along with winning others.

well i unexpectedly stumbled upon this movie while changing channels on TV, i was free so decided to watch this movie. i found it just another movie in the beginning not knowing what this movie was all about or whatever. it had some pretty recognizable faces, some actors who i know. i thought this might be one of those movies of them that they did in the beginning of their careers just to get into the industry, you know bad movies. but i was seriously wrong. as the movie continued, i was shocked that this movie was based upon lives of several Homosexual men. movie looked old and i was surprised that Hollywood had a movie on this topic at that time considering everything.

so this movie is considered to be the first wide released Theatrical movie dealing with the subject of AIDS. and the interesting fact i found about the title of this movie is that they used this term, i mean THE NEW YORK TIMES used this term to describe the surviving Homosexual partner of a man who died because of AIDS during the 80's. movie is very sad and sometime difficult to watch. you see people suffering from the disease and many deaths occur among this group. you will at the beginning see this whole group of friends chilling, relaxing on beaches and beach houses but than troubles arises due to the disease but moreover that i was really touched by how well and accurate they showed what effect all of this had on everyone, their family as one of them has a sister been shown in the movie.

there is a big cast in this movie but i thought Bruce Davison was outstanding. he delivered a superb performance that earned him many awards. he is a brilliant and natural performer and he was someone i really loved in this movie. everyone else did a good performance too like Campbell Scott, Stephen Caffrey and Dermot Mulroney. direction was reallt good and so was screenplay, this subject was handled with the uttermost honest way. i liked that very much.

the movie is sad and emotional and at times your eyes teared up but it is one of the most honest portrayal of Homosexual people/AIDS outbreak among Homosexual community in the 80's and early 90's. a movie that should be watched and appreciated. brilliant.