A real tear-jerker, professionally done, with strong, emotinally charged performances from the stars.

Tom Hanks won a deserved Oscar as a gay lawyer who believes he has been sacked by his plush leather firm because they found out he has AIDS, and gets wheeler-dealer counsel Denzel Washington to bring suit against them.

Though the issues are dealt with decently, at heart it's a courtroom drama - and a rousing one.

Bruce Springsteen won the film's second Oscar for best song - Streets of Philadelphia.