The Normal Heart
  • Network: HBO
  • Series Premiere Date: May 25, 2014
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 126 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 102 out of 126
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 126
  3. Negative: 14 out of 126

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User Reviews

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  1. Nerman
    Jun 5, 2014
    1
    I've never rated anything online, ever. I am a SAG and an AFTRA member. Both for over 20 years. I only took the time to create an account to be honest: this is "Diet Milk". The basis makes me want to say nicer things. But I've watched people die of AIDS. (Most of) The actors are wonderful. The story has been done, better and closer to the time of impact.
  2. brentwshelton1
    May 26, 2014
    1
    Let's be clear, the story of the inaction of the government during the AIDS crisis needs to be told. I am a gay man and I loved this play when I saw it on stage. However, the acting in this adaption is incredibly sub-par. I couldn't take it within 10 minutes of starting to watch. The supporting characters were alright but the actor that represented Larry Kramer (the male lead)Let's be clear, the story of the inaction of the government during the AIDS crisis needs to be told. I am a gay man and I loved this play when I saw it on stage. However, the acting in this adaption is incredibly sub-par. I couldn't take it within 10 minutes of starting to watch. The supporting characters were alright but the actor that represented Larry Kramer (the male lead) delivered each line in a horrible monotone. Everytime he spoke I rolled my eyes and mocked his delivery. Julia Roberts was just as bad. I gave it a 1 as I'm sure many were unaware of this history (I lived through it)… Expand
  3. marco34la
    Jun 21, 2014
    3
    Despite some good performances from Roberts, Ruffalo and Matt B... the movie falls flat. Yes - it's extremely emotional given the subject matter... and the cause in the fight against aids... so as a political and social statement for the gay community it succeeds, but as a film, it just doesn't jive. There's no real story arc here; we are too detached from some of the characters to feelDespite some good performances from Roberts, Ruffalo and Matt B... the movie falls flat. Yes - it's extremely emotional given the subject matter... and the cause in the fight against aids... so as a political and social statement for the gay community it succeeds, but as a film, it just doesn't jive. There's no real story arc here; we are too detached from some of the characters to feel anything; and ruffallo's charcter (larry kramer) is just too much of an angry fanatic to like. He alienates the members of GMHC, and he sort of alienated me from this film. Again, kudos to Murphy who did a great job with the material, to the cast (except for Taylor k) who did a great job, and to Pitt/Kramer for getting the film made! I think Philadelphia did a much better job at telling the story of the aids crisis - it gave us characters we could relate to and fall in love with... and the story had a place to go. Normal Heart fails in that respect - big time.… Expand
  4. coustoe
    May 31, 2014
    2
    Medicore movie fell asleep through half of it, it has a target audience obviously and it will get good reviews based on being a gay movie, but if you took the gay out of this, its quite amateurish and full of kitsch and cheesy acting predictable acting.

Awards & Rankings

18
#18 Best TV Season of 2014
85
#85 Most Discussed TV Season of 2014
82
#82 Most Shared TV Season of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
85

Universal acclaim - based on 33 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 33
  3. Negative: 0 out of 33
  1. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: David Hiltbrand
    May 27, 2014
    60
    Overscored and overwrought, The Normal Heart is a tough pill to swallow. The direction of Ryan Murphy (Glee) is piercingly staccato (and visually inconsistent). The tender moments don't resonate, and the fraught moments feel hysterical.
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  2. Sioux City Journal
    Reviewed by: Bruce Miller
    May 27, 2014
    90
    Like Behind the Candelabra, its action isn’t measured in car chases and explosions. It’s charted in the lives it touches.
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  3. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: Matt Zoller Seitz
    May 23, 2014
    100
    The film has poetry and vitality, too, and its greatest virtue is that it seems not to give a damn if you approve of any of its creative choices as long as you connect with it emotionally and intellectually.
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