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Awakenings (1990)
    
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Directed
by:
Penny Marshall |
COUNTRY
USA |
GENRE
Biographical drama |
NORWEGIAN TITLE
Oppvåkningen |
RUNNING
TIME
121 minutes |
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Produced
by:
Walter F. Parkes
Lawrence Lasker |
Written by
(based on the book by Oliver Sacks):
Steven Zaillian |
Review
A remarkable medical case and an almost
equally remarkable physical performance from Robert De Niro form the
basis for this admittedly Hollywoodised but nevertheless gripping
drama. Robin Williams plays the shy and impervious Dr. Malcolm
Sayer, who takes a position at a New York City hospital for
catatonic patients and discovers that there is a peculiar link
between their cases that might just make them receptive to a new,
experimental drug. Leonard Lowe (De Niro) becomes the doctor's
guinea pig, and the results of the treatment seem miraculous. Penny
Marshall (Big)
directs with a penchant for sentimental payoffs – but also with a
profound respect for her characters and their situations. So once
you get past the planted antagonists (John Heard) and the mandatory
romantic interests (Penelope Ann Miller), the story's humanity and
resonance rise above the film's genre tropes, making this a
stirring, mostly untainted viewing experience. The two Swedish
character actors Max von Sydow and Peter Stormare appear in fun,
miniscule roles. Randy Newman delivered the admittedly very 1990s
musical score, which is nevertheless highly effective.
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