Life Support

Life Support takes a frank and interesting look at the AIDS epidemic and its effect on African-American women and other people in the United States today. The plot moves along well and the acting is very convincing; Queen Latifah leads a fine cast and the cinematography is excellent. Life Support truly proves that Queen Latifah can not only handle a serious dramatic role--she can truly make it into a tour de force. How can ANYONE not relate to this movie ?? Awesome story , Impressive acting by Queen Latifah along with 2 of Diana Ross's children . Tried to hold back tears on this one !! A must have for your collection !!

A very good film showing the life of a former drug user who works for an outreach program for women with HIV.

Queen Latifah, a very fine actress, is well suited for the part of Annie.

What makes this film so good is that there is little violence. All the characters give meaning to this very endearing film.

Latifah is especially effective in her sessions with other women. There are marvelous supporting performances by the daughter she gave up to her mother. The latter is also quite good.

This is a very compelling story detailing the black experience with regard to home life and personal identifications and self-esteem.

The Brooklyn locations are a joy to see.

Once again HBO has produced a film for television that will doubtless be a success not only in its televised version but on theater release and/or DVD. LIFE SUPPORT as written by Nelson George, Hannah Weyer and Jim McKay and directed with power and restraint by Nelson George has the courage to delve deeply into the problem of AIDS in the black community and the result is a film that is not only informative but also a story of tremendous power about the sequelae of HIV infection on the lives of those infected and their families.

Based on the true story of a mother who as a rack cocaine addict became infected by her boyfriend's indiscriminate use of a shared needle and with the discovery of her sero-positive status turned her life around to become a powerful positive role model and AIDS activist in the black community. Ana Willis (Queen Latifah in a sterling performance) is married to Slick (Wendell Pierce), both of whom are HIV positive and both work, living with their young daughter Kim (Ravelle Parker) and trying to cope with their estranged daughter Kelly (Rachel Nicks, a true find of a young artist!) who elects to live with her grandmother, Ana's beleaguered mother (Anna Deavere Smith, once again proving she is one of the premiere actors of the day). Kelly and Ana are at odds and their strained relationship is one of the evidences of the cruelties of the aftermath of ex-addicts manner of going straight. Kelly's closest friend is Omari (Evan Ross, gifted actor son of Diana Ross!) who is gay and is very ill with AIDS. Kelly asks for Ana's help when Omari disappears and it is through this act that the story plunges forward into the self help groups of AIDS patients Ana chairs, Ana's visit to Omari's boyfriends such as MJ (Darrin Dewitt Henson) who is very much on the down low, and Ana's ultimate finding herself as a mother, a wife, a caregiver and a fine activist in doing her part to prevent the spread of the dread disease form which she suffers.

The large cast is excellent with outstanding performances by Queen Latifah, Anna Deavere Smith, and Rachel Nicks and strong work by Evan Ross et al. The beauty of the film is the avoidance of grandstanding and overacting: the message is driven home quietly and with respect. It is a fine film that should be seen by everyone. Grady Harp

Queen Latifah is truly outstanding on this biopic about a former drug addict who becomes HIV+ and now devotes her life to helping others avoid or deal with the disease.

But, it is not just the social work that is compelling, it is the fact that even social workers have real lives that intersect with and compete with their duties.

We feel Ana's pain as she tries to convince her sisters in the community to deal realistically with the AIDS epidemic that is the leading cause of death for black women between 24-35. At the same time, she is dealing with a husband that infected her when they were both crack addicts. She is also trying to raise a young daughter, while trying to reconnect with a daughter she lost during her drug-use period. It's almost more than a normal person can handle, and seemingly impossible for a reformed drug-user.

Queen Latifah is assisted by a great cast that includes Wendell Pierce (Ray, "The Wire), Gloria Reuben ("ER"), and newcomer Rachel Nicks.

This was an amazing film! Congratulations HBO, Very powerful story of a mother infected with HIV working for a New York support group called "Life Support." Ana Willis, brilliantly played by Queen Latifah, is a former drug addict who devotes her life to preventing others from traveling down the same path she did. Amazingly real and well-acted, this is a great story. Tracee Ellis Ross turns in a scene stealing performance as well as her brother, Evan Ross, who brought a vulnerability to his accurate portrayal of a young, gay street hustler infected with HIV. Please take the time to watch this, it's a wonderful story with a great cast and an important message!