Awakenings
by Penny Marshall
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Product details
Actor: John Heard, Julie Kavner, Robert De Niro, Robin Williams, Ruth NelsonDirector: Penny Marshall
Edition: VHS Tape
Audio: English (Original Language), Analog
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
Running Time: 120 minutes
Release Date: 1994-06-21
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Publisher: Sony Pictures
Studio: Sony Pictures
VHS Movie Reviews of Awakenings
Movie Review: Open your eyes to this beautifully touching film...
Summary: 5 Stars
If ever I feel like I need a good cry (my wife is always saying I am such a girl, but I appreciate the need for emotional release) then this is one of the four or five films I readily reach for (the others being `The Elephant Man', `Million Dollar Baby', `Of Mice and Men' and the mediocre yet emotionally draining `I Am Sam'). If Ron Howard is the king of schmaltz then Penny Marshall is the queen, for she understands, like Howard, how to create a heavy-handed manipulative film feel natural and inviting. This film slides down smooth as can be, despite the fact that each and every frame is designed to antagonize our emotions.
`Awakenings' is based on the book written by neurologist Oliver Sacks. The book is based on the true story of neurologist Malcolm Sayer who discovers that a drug called L-Dopa has the ability to release patients suffering from encephalitis (a sleeplike sickness), unlocking their minds and allowing them to interact with loved ones for the first time in years. One such patient is Leonard Lowe, who has been suffering from encephalitis for thirty-some years.
The film would have been less effective if acting giants Robert De Niro and Robin Williams hadn't been cast as the two leads. Many have made claims that Williams was unfairly overlooked come awards season for his tamed and controlled portrayal of Malcolm Sayer, and while I loved him I have to agree with the Academy for choosing De Niro's heartbreaking performance over Williams'. Williams and De Niro are perfect compliments, but De Niro is the more memorable revelation if you ask me. As Lowe, De Niro is able to attach himself to our hearts, cycling through his newfound emotions as the drugs begin to work and he rediscovers everything he had feared he's lost. This is such a marvelously constructed performance and De Niro, when you consider the competition, really should have walked away with that Oscar.
The supporting cast is also at the top of their game; everyone from John Heard, Ruth Nelson and Penelope Ann Miller delivering memorable performances.
The film is beautifully shot and directed, allowing the audience to really feel invested in all that is going on. Marshall has a tight grip on the story and on our emotional response and she reins us in when needed and lets us loose when necessary. The film has flow, a flow that compliments each scene marvelously.
Be forewarned; while this film has its heartwarming and uplifting moments it is also tragically depressing and heartbreaking. If you are not a crier, or do not like to cry then you may want to stay away from this movie; but if you appreciate a movie that can move you then this is a beautiful example of emotional purity at its finest. The final frames may wreck you, but it may be just what the doctor ordered. It's movies like this that validate our humanity, for if they didn't move us then it may be time to check our pulses.
Movie Review: Penny Marshall's finest film.
Summary: 3 Stars
Awakenings is a depressing film but an important one to watch. Directed by Penny Marshall, Awakenings is based on a true story of patients who have come out of mental illness unscathed, well temporarily of course. Robert De Niro gives the performance of a lifetime and Robin Williams proves he is more than a funny, goofy actor. Penelope Ann Miller is stunning in this film as well, very under-rated actress. Give this '90s tearjerker a viewing, enjoy!Movie Review: L Dopa Really Fixed Me Up!
Summary: 4 Stars
I think "Awakenings" is a good dramatization of the real life scientific study as presented in the book. But I'm more interested in the scientific story than a dramatazation of it that creates a love interest and basically has Robin Williams playing the role he'd redo in Patch Adams (albeit of course much better in "Awakenings") than actually relive the life of the renowned neurologist Oliver Sacks who is of course fictionalized here and wrote the book. And the portrayal of people with disabilities takes the usual Hollywood stereotypes, they are shuffling zombies who lack humanity, their humanity is restored by a "miracle" (hate that word) drug L-Dopa and then lose it again but there is a hint they were human all along. Well to tell you the truth I know this may blow your mind but having a disability is something we all will experience or may already and all people should be considered human. However, it is true this was a clinical study and its accurate that that is how people are seen in a study or certainly by medical science at the time but as a survivor of tardive dyskinesia and tardive psychosis (a condition still in study), both Parkinsonian conditions although in this case enduced by neuraleptics who has had it treated by new medications in study (as well as study anti-psychotics that can't create these conditions) and began to recover, in experiencing this kind of recovery first hand (the movement disorders depicted in "Awakenings" are startingly similar to those I have and are well depicted)I found the original book and enlightening and did find the film moving I must admit but it got a bit maudlin and took liberties with the book. However, more importantly, it seemed out of the scope of this movie and much Hollywood fare that a person with this form of disability could not only be a part of society but could advocate for treatment and to recover. And I would hope that that could be changed. But as in the movie "hope" didn't get people anywhere. Scientific research in a humanistic fashion of which I am an active participant in and advocate did and when I look at "Awakenings" in this light yes there is something moving about but more in the spirit of the original research, not at at all as a "failed" experiment but one to build on so more people can recover as I did. And there is no time for "miracles" as with the original research it only gets in the way of what is ahead.Movie Review: From the author of Tales of Ancient Xenar
Summary: 5 Stars
Yes, I saw this movie after it was released on VHS back in 1991. This movie wasn't one of Robin Williams' usual fare since comedy films are more his norm. But in this film, he performed well. This film was also different for its other actor, Robert DeNiro. Action films and Tough Guy films were more his norm. But in this film, he played a brain-disorder patient and played him very well.
I once read a chapter in a text book and the events in this film are pretty accurately described in that text book chapter although the film leaves out a couple of fact. The disease suffered by the patients in this film is called Encephalitus Lethargica. And the name of the drug that was used to treat them was called L-dopa, but the text book calls it Levodopa. Of course now if you were to look up encephalitus lethargica on webmd, you'd get only articles about Parkinson's.
But all in all, this was a good film. I would only give it 4 and a half stars, but since half stars cannot be given here, I'm foerced to give it a full 5.
Movie Review: Der Panther
Summary: 5 Stars
Based on a true story by the brilliant neurologist and writer, Oliver Sacks, "Awakenings" portrays lives of people who are rendered inert for decades from an earlier brain inflammation, encephalitis, and of the doctor who wouldn't give up on them. Dr. Sacks' books are filled with fascinating accounts of people who live with incredible brain aberrations, and "Awakenings" is no exception. Our own lives are enriched by this glimpse into the lives of human beings such those in this story/film. For human they are, despite their being frozen like statues in a wax museum. Dr. Sayers, played by Robin Williams, works tirelessly (well, actually he works so late that he falls asleep, so I guess he does get tired!) championing the cause of his patients and their treatment with the drug L-dopa, the new "cure" which he has discovered. Leonard, played masterfully by Robert Di Nero, struggles to live a full life again, enabled by the medication. In the process he not only demonstrates the human courage and drive to be truly alive, but he also teaches Sayers about the effects of the treatment over time. "Learn from me", he begs. The diligent but shy doctor also learns to express his awakening feelings by finally forming a relationship with his devoted nurse, Eleanor, played by Julie (Marge Simpson) Kavener. Kudos to all, including director, Penny Marshall!
That's all I'm going to say--no "spoilers"--enjoy the film!
Oh, and watch for Leonard's (De Niro's character) apt reference to the poem, "The Panther" (Der Panther), written by turn-of-the-century (19th) German poet, Rainer Maria Rilke. The panther becomes so weary and dulled from the vision of the bars of the cage he is in that he can't "think" or feel anymore. This insightful poem is a favorite of mine, and I think that it captures quite well the situation of these people, held captive by the "bars" of their illness.
Summary of Awakenings
Based on the acclaimed book by neurologist Oliver Sacks, director Penny Marshall's hit 1990 drama stars Robin Williams as Dr. Malcolm Sayer. Sayer is a neurologist who discovers that the drug L-Dopa can be used to "unlock" patients in a mental hospital from the mysterious sleeping sickness that has left them utterly immobilized. Leonard (Robert De Niro) is one such patient who awakens after being in a comatose state for 30 years, leaving Sayer to guide Leonard in adjusting to the world around him. Penelope Ann Miller costars as the daughter of another patient, with whom Leonard falls tenuously in love. Earning Oscar nominations for best picture, actor, and screenplay, this moving fact-based drama was a hit with critics and audiences alike. --Jeff ShannonDoctors & Patients Video
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