And the Band Played On

:

Season 1
  • Network: HBO
  • Series Premiere Date: Sep 11, 1993
Metascore
69

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 15
  3. Negative: 2 out of 15

Critic Reviews

  1. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Howard Rosenberg
    Jun 17, 2015
    50
    What And the Band Played On needs more of are not good actors, obviously, but characters who have depth and texture as well as sheen, for, at its worst, And the Band Played On appears to congeal disparate elements into a single gelatin. The AIDS-fighting good guys are so uniformly good and rigidly conventional that they present a sort of monolithically pastel image that undermines their believability.
  2. Boston Herald
    Reviewed by: Monica Collins
    Jun 17, 2015
    50
    The most discouraging aspect of the film is the fact that we can never latch onto these characters in any warm, intimate or sympathetic way. They stand as ciphers in the larger steely drama. [10 Sept 1993, p.]
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  3. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    Jun 16, 2015
    40
    The storytelling is too diffuse. At times, it's a medical mystery, with Matthew Modine the outspoken lead researcher manning an obstacle course of financial and bureaucratic Catch-22s. Other times, it's obvious agitprop targeting an uncaring Reagan administration and, in a devastating character assassination, self-promoting Dr. Robert Gallo (Alan Alda).[10 Sept 1993, p.1D]
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User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 4 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. Compi24
    Oct 31, 2018
    8
    This may be a TV movie, sure. But don't let the format fool you -- as far as exhaustive, blow-by-blow docudramas are concerned, this isThis may be a TV movie, sure. But don't let the format fool you -- as far as exhaustive, blow-by-blow docudramas are concerned, this is amongst the better margin. And as far as docudramas concerning the origin, discovery, and discussion surrounding AIDS are concerned, there really isn't any other that comes to mind that's as emotionally resonant as it is journalistically adept. It's simply a must-watch for anyone with questions or skepticism regarding any element of the AIDS epidemic, and a compelling film altogether.… Full Review »
  2. alwaysme
    May 15, 2017
    8
    A great docudrama, especially because of the year it was made, soon after the period in which the AIDS epidemic stroke. The accurate portraitA great docudrama, especially because of the year it was made, soon after the period in which the AIDS epidemic stroke. The accurate portrait of the scientific diatribe between French and Gallo are shameful to watch. The political and social contests are well represented and arise questions and observations I haven't thought about before, and I'm a med student. So much of all of this isn't known to the general audience but it should be, because the shame that accompanied the HIV crisis is still affecting us today in our daily life.… Full Review »
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