so many 1 votes...

It's being trolled. Look at this: 100 fresh on Rotten Tomatoes and a low 5 rating on IMDb? Someone is rigging the vote and I place the blame squarely on the right-wing, homophobic, prejudiced, sociopathic ignoramuses.

Being passionate and dedicated enough enough about a cause to protest (angrily) against a government that is seemingly indifferent to the needs of it's citizens (even the gay ones) in a time of crisis is often the ONLY way of getting that government to address or even acknowledge that the problem exists, which is exactly what happened. The researchers, scientists and medical professionals (mostly, but not exclusively) became involved well after the crisis began and largely at the behest of pharmaceutical companies and the FDA who, as well know, can and will speed the development of any drug if the market demands it and there are profits to be made. The film's title is "how to SURVIVE a plague" and imo the true heroes were and continue to be those trying to SURVIVE. Additionally, although some credit is due to the above mentioned professionals, the harsh reality is that even though some advances have been made in extending life expectancy of those living with HIV, there still is no cure and most of the drugs being used to achieve that extended life expectancy come with a laundry list of sometimes horrific side effects. ACT-UP and other protest groups imo should continue to yell loudly, angrily and yes, heroically until there is a cure.