rating:
(out of
4 stars)United States; 1990
Directed by Penny Marshall; produced by Lawrence Lasker ,Walter F. Parkes; screenplay by Steve Zaillian
Starring Robert De Niro, Robin Williams, Julie Kavner, Ruth Nelson, John Heard, Penelope Ann Miller
Below you will find a temporary review for this film. The real (better, more complete) review will be online very soon.
Funny about 'Awakenings' is that the first half of the movie the Robert De
Niro performance is distracting and the second half it is very effective. It
is not that his performance is bad at first, but we see De Niro instead of a
catatonic patient. May be a less known actor would have been better since
the movie seems to be more about Dr. Sayer (Robin Williams) anyway.
De Niro plays Leonard Lowe who is the first subject of Dr. Sayer's drug,
normally used on Parkinson patients. He becomes human again, speaks with the
world, wants to explore. He even meets a girl (Penelope Ann Miller) in the
institution, although she is a visitor. Other catatonic patients are
awakened but then the drug shows side effects on Leonard. We see how Dr.
Sayer struggles to help Leonard, trying the best he can. He is helped by a
friendly nurse named Eleanor (Julie Kavner).
Like I said the movie seems to be more about Dr. Sayer than about the
patients. Of course we see how they react to the drugs, but it is the way
Dr. Sayer handles things that is most important. The movie chooses a
sentimental approach even in scenes that do not ask for that, but it pretty
much gets away with it, mainly due performances. De Niro shows once again
how terrific an actor he is, Williams is even better in my opinion. If you
compare his roles from 'Good Morning Vietnam', 'The Fisher King', 'Mrs.
Doubtfire', 'Good Will Hunting' and later movies like 'One Hour Photo' and
'Insomnia' you see the range he is able to play. Here he is a sober man, not
good with people, but good in his heart. We believe him and his persistence
to help Leonard the entire time.