Awakenings
There is no such thing as a simple miracle.
Williams plays Dr. Malcolm Sayer, a shy research physician who uses an experimental drug to "awaken" the catatonic victims of a rare disease. DeNiro co-stars as Leonard, the first patient to receive the controversial treatment. His awakening, filled with awe and enthusiasm, proves a rebirth for Sayer, too, as the exuberant patient reveals life's simple--but unutterably sweet--pleasures to the introverted doctor. Encouraged by Leonard's stunning recovery, Sayer administers the drug to other patients. The story of their friendship during this emotional journey is a testament to both the tenderness of the human heart and the strength of the human soul.
Member Reviews
Awake your senses - movie_goer
Awakening to the world after thirty years, lost youth, the incomprehensible loss of who you were in contrast to who you could be in the future, is a heavy subject matter. Luckily we have the extraordinary efforts of actors Robin Williams and Robert De Niro to encapsulate the spectrum of human behavioral of science.
Directed by Penny Marshall, you learn quickly that Laverne & Shirley is a faze of the past. Awakenings is One of De Niro's award-worthy Oscar nominations for best actor. Definitely one of his most moving performances. He was doing this at the same time as Goodfellas. What a range. Julie Kavner is outstanding as well. I wonder why she didn't get a best supporting actress nod for this.Learning What's Important In Life - revsdd
I first saw this movie several years ago (shortly after its release) and remember at the time not being particularly enthusiastic about it. The passage of time must have done something to my sensibilities because I've just had the opportunity to see it again and this time I was quite taken with the film.
The movie is a true story based on the work of Dr. Malcolm Sayer, a New York neurologist who discovers a potential treatment for patients who have lived in a catatonic state due to encephalitis and succeeds in "awakening" several of them during the summer of 1969. The story is emotional and tugs at the heart as we deal with the joy of the patients at being awakened, but also at their grief in discovering the passage of time (some have been in this state for almost 40 years), their own aging and the deaths of those they loved. Finally, there is the fear they feel as the experimental drug begins to lose its effect on them and they face losing the lives they have just begun to rediscover.
There are good performances in this movie. Robert Deniro was excellent as Leonard Lowe, the first patient treated and reawakened by Sayer, and around whom the movie revolves. Robin Williams put on an effective performance as Dr. Sayer, a shy man who would be happier in a lab than dealing with flesh and blood patients, who learns much from these special patients about the value of life and how to live it. There's also a strong supporting cast including the likes of John Heard (Dr. Kaufman) and Julie Kavner (Nurse Eleanor.)
This certainly isn't an "action pic," and if you're looking for edge of your seat excitement you should look elsewhere. But if you're looking for a movie with a strong emotional pull and a solid life lesson, "Awakenings" might well be the one.What if you were trapped in your own body? - cathyottawa
Watching the world go by around you, unable to speak or move - for years and years.
This movie, directed by Penny Marshal, tells the story of a group of catatonic patients in a bronx hospital in 1969, who were "awakened" by an experimental treatment.
Based on the true story of Dr. Oliver Sacks (Robin Williams' character is based on Sacks), this is the story of the discovery of "locked in" syndome, a type of extreme Parkinsons, where the muscles, all wanting to move simultaneously, collapse in on each other, resulting in complete paralysis.
Robert De Niro gives a heartwrenching performance as a patient awakened after 30 years. He was nominated for an Oscar, and he is brilliant here, but Robin Williams should have been nominated as well. His performance is devoid of any of the schtick you may expect from him. It's heartfelt and sincere.
He's the heart of the film, as the only doctor who hasn't given up on these patients. We delight in his victories, and comiserate in his failures. We care about him every bit as much as we care about his patients.
The supporting cast is also excellent, from the other patients, to the nurses, to the family members.
It would have been easy to make this nothing more than a tear jerker. This film will make you cry, and cry often, but Marshal never lets it fall into syrupy pap. I think this is probably her best film, well deserving of it's best picture nomination.
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Awake your senses - movie_goer
Awakening to the world after thirty years, lost youth, the incomprehensible loss of who you were in contrast to who you could be in the future, is a heavy subject matter. Luckily we have the extraordinary efforts of actors Robin Williams and Robert De Niro ...Learning What's Important In Life - revsdd
I first saw this movie several years ago (shortly after its release) and remember at the time not being particularly enthusiastic about it. The passage of time must have done something to my sensibilities because I've just had the opportunity to see it again ...What if you were trapped in your own body? - cathyottawa
Watching the world go by around you, unable to speak or move - for years and years.
This movie, directed by Penny Marshal, tells the story of a group of catatonic patients in a bronx hospital in 1969, who were "awakened" by an experimental treatment. ...