MPAA Rating: PG-13/Genre: Drama/Stars: Robert De Niro, Robin Williams, Julie Kavner, John Heard, Penelope Ann Miller, Max von Sydow, Vincent Pastore, Ruth Nelson, Alice Drummond, Judith Malina, George Martin, Anne Meara, Mary Alice, Richard Libertini, Keith Diamond, Peter Stormare, Bradley Whitford, Dexter Gordon/Runtime: 121 minutes
I would like to start this review off by asking you to do something that might be considered to be a bit on the unorthodox side, but in all fairness if you have been reading my work for the past 4 going on 5 years I think that shouldn’t really come as that much of a surprise. With that in mind, the thing I would like you to do for me is to tell me what first comes to mind when I list for you the following items: sitting down on a park bench and taking in the sights and sounds surrounding you, smiling and joking with your friends, going down to the beach with the water lapping at your feet, a loving hug between a parent and their child, going for a drive in your car through the countryside, and sneaking away a cookie from a batch that is hot and fresh out of the oven. Yes, these are all things that can be encountered in everyday life (so if you guessed that then 5 points to you and your house of choice at Hogwarts), but there’s also something else that these things have in common. That being that these are all things that, while simple, can also be among the things that we as human beings take for granted in the course of our everyday lives. A bit sad really since in all fairness it is my distinct belief that, despite all of us being guilty of doing so at one time or another, we truly mustn’t. This is because they are also part of a vast group of things that aid in giving life the powerfully uplifting meaning it genuinely is meant to possess. Not just for you or me, but for everyone. Yet what would happen if a person who had for a long time not really gone out and embraced those aforementioned simple pleasures in life despite having every opportunity possible to do so was given the chance to be reborn in a sense and really have their eyes opened back up to them again? Not by reincarnation or anything of the metaphysical variety mind you, but rather by getting the chance to interacting with someone who had, through forces outside of their control, them taken away yet was given a miraculous second chance to experience them once more? Indeed it may sound like something that you might guess was one of the fiction stories in an episode of Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction yet incredibly this actually happened. Incidentally, it is this very story that would also later become the basis for a 1990 movie, and film I am reviewing for you today actually, known as Awakenings and honestly this is one of the most powerfully bittersweet yet uplifting films I have seen in some time. No it’s not flawless, but with the aid of potently poignant work on both sides of the camera Awakenings is an beautiful tribute to not only the impact people can have on each other when it comes to reminding them of life’s meaning, but also in regards to inspiring them to make the most out of their lives each and every day as well.
The plot is as follows: Based on a true story, and following a brief yet pivotal prologue which I shan’t spoil for you here, Awakenings gets its inspirational story underway by taking us back in time to the far-off year known as 1969. It is here where we meet our hero in the shape and form of a man by the name of Malcolm Sayer. A man who, among other things worth knowing about him, is a member of that distinct group known as the medical community that has just been employed as a clinical physician at a hospital in the Bronx even though he has, up to this point, merely done research and nothing more. Now this is not because he’s a terrible person who has never refueled the coffee pot in a timely manner nor is it because he has at least a dozen malpractice lawsuits still pending trial. Rather, it’s because, for as bright as our Dr. Sayer here is, he really isn’t what you might call a people person though even that might be a bit of a stretch for how much he seemingly cherishes keeping others at arm’s length. Along with that, we also learn that the hospital he has become a new employee of really only brought onboard because they can’t find anyone with his skill set who’ll take the position and they might be in a wee bit of a state of pure grade-A desperation. It isn’t long thereafter that we, along with the good doc, learn the main reason why they have been having difficulty in filling the position is because a lot of the patients aren’t exactly ones that can tell you how they are feeling, walk to the bathroom and give you a sample, or even do much of anything if we’re being honest. Not because they are dead, but because the majority are in what is considered to be a semi-catatonic state due to being afflicted with a horrific ailment known as encephalitis back in the 20s and 30s respectively. As such, they are still capable of aging and everything associated with that, but they just can’t do 98% of the things that people much like you or I do every single day. Yet when the doc becomes aware that a few of the patients, despite this state, are actually able to interact with certain stimuli, we see that he is able to persuade some of the more skeptical senior officials on the hospital staff to permit an experiment of sorts. That being to let him administer into a patient in the hospital in the form of a 41-year-old man by the name of Leonard Lowe who has been stricken with this ailment since he was a boy with a costly and speculative drug treatment to see what results they can garner. Yet when the results of the treatment actually do more than even Sayer could have imagined, we see that the seeds for a journey have now been planted. A journey that will not only involve both doctor and patient, but also perhaps inspire both of them and others around them to see the world in a way that they might never have thought to before….
Now right off, it should be noted that the work done by the various departments is actually pretty solid. This starts with the work done at the helm by the iconic Penny Marshall and we see that Marshall does a fantastic job of ensuring that the way this truly intriguing story being told to us is done in such a manner that is thought-provoking while also never straying too far from the abundance of heart present as well. As a result, yes this film is one that is quite intelligent in its execution, but it also makes sure that we are also able to genuinely care about the characters who are vital to the story being told as well. We also see that Marshall does a terrific job of utilizing a key element within the hospital in the form of the windows and making them into a means for our good doc and his patients to not only be enclosed by, but also to helplessly watch as the rest of the world seemingly moves on without them especially in a scene with De Niro near the end that is truly heartbreaking to watch. The film also contains a terrific job from noted cinematographer Miroslav Odricek (Amadeus, Ragtime, and Silkwood among others) and what he does here with color is very interesting as he starts the film by having everything muted as if we too are as unaware to the beauty and majesty present in the world as either the patients at the hospital or the good doc only to then, as the patients awaken and begin to rediscover the world, start to slowly but surely transform the film into one that is, from a visual perspective, nothing short of a treat for the eyes so that even by film’s end we feel like our perspective has, like that of the hospital staff, been changed for the better. The film is also the blessed recipient of a top-notch screenplay from writer Steven Zaillian. Yes, there are some elements that have been dramatized here, but overall there is no denying that this film’s script as penned by Zaillian does a masterful job at capturing the struggles faced by Oliver Sacks (the real Dr. Sayer), his team, and the patients in their care, but also the source material’s potent and quite gripping tribute to the power of the human spirit to say nothing of our innate desire to really form a deep and meaningful connection with both others and the world around us respectively. Lastly, I would definitely be amiss if I didn’t take some time in this section to praise the work done by the legendary Randy Newman in terms of this film’s musical accompaniment. Indeed Newman’s scores have always done a wonderful job at contributing emotion and pathos to a project and here is no different as we see that Newman’s score is one that is sure to leave you a bit misty-eyed to say nothing of feeling like your heart strings have just been tugged at in the finest way possible. Suffice it to say that when you also factor into the mix incredibly skilled work in the editing department by Battle Davis and Jerry Greenberg it’s clear that this slice of cinema is one that might come close to being a bit over-the-top emotional at times, but the work done behind the camera definitely does what it can to ensure the film is able to capture the senses, ensnare the mind, and even touch the heart as it so desperately wishes to do.
Alongside the more than capable work behind the camera, this slice of cinema is also the blessed recipient of some truly extraordinary work in front of the camera by an extremely well-chosen cast of talent. Without a doubt in my mind, this starts with the legendary Robin Williams in the role of Dr. Malcolm Sayers and honestly this is one of the 10 best performances of the man’s career point blank. Yes, the man was a brilliant comedian, but here we see that he turns off that side of himself and give us a genuinely kind guy who has sadly let his shy and introverted nature all but dictate how he has chosen to live his life both personally and professionally. As the film goes on however, we see that Williams does a terrific job of permitting the character to begin opening himself up and, in an effective parallel to his patients, re-discover the simple joys present in the world. Indeed it’s a beautiful performance and one that brings a smile and a tear to my eye whenever I watch it. As soul stirring and heartfelt as the performance given by Williams is, it is matched beautifully by the performance given by Robert DeNiro as Leonard Lowe. Indeed DeNiro does a phenomenal job here at not only capturing the various physical aspects of someone afflicted with this disease, but also at playing someone who still carries within him the innocence, awe, and wonder at life that is present in a young person despite having physically aged over 3 decades before being awoken. More than that, we see that DeNiro also is able to nail with a beautiful degree of perception and awareness the intricacies in the emotional journey faced by Leonard as not only must he come to grips with being a part of a world that seems to have all but passed him by, but he also is tasked with creating for us a character that is meant to inspire Sayers, and by extension all of us, into really starting to appreciate just how beautiful life is right down to those teeny tiny things we might not think have any meaning yet which have all the meaning in the world for someone like him. Suffice it to say then that is Williams’ performance is the heart the film requires then DeNiro’s is the soul and it is easily one of the more underrated efforts in the man’s career. Now backing up our dynamic duo in this is a stellar collection of support efforts starting with none other than Julie Kavner in the role of nurse Eleanor Costello. Indeed Kavner has always been a delight and here we see that she does a terrific job at bringing a mix of quirky, kindhearted, encouraging, and warmth to a character that could easily have been one note. We are also treated to a delightful turn here from John Heard in the role of Dr. Kaufman. Yes, in most slices of cinema this character would without question be a very one-dimensional antagonist for the main character to butt heads with consistently throughout the film and to be fair there are moments like that for this character here. At the same time though, we also see that this film wisely does a great job at not only providing him moments of subtle humanity, but also in giving him instances where his counter-arguments are actually genuinely valid points. Suffice it to say that when you also incorporate solid turns from Penelope Ann Miller, Vincent Pastore, Ruth Nelson, Alice Drummond, Peter Stormare, Bradley Whitford, Mary Alice, and a brief yet pivotal role for screen legend Max von Sydow it’s clear that this film might have a few issues, but the work done by this cast is not one of them.
All in all and at the end of the day is Awakenings a perfect film by any stretch of the imagination? Sadly no though certainly not for lack of effort on the part of either cast or crew. With that being said, is this the worst cinematic effort for anyone involved since Penny Marshall directed 1986’s Jumpin’ Jack Flash, Robin Williams made The Big Wedding in 2013, or Robert DeNiro’s darn near close to entire filmography that he was a part of back in the 2000s? Thankfully, I can say that is most assuredly not the case though in all fairness in the case of the latter there are definitely some entries in that group that are better than people usually give them credit for. All wry and sarcastic observations aside, I must admit that I really do love this movie dear reader. Yes, there are a few hiccups here and there that do detract from things a wee bit. Even with those in mind, there is no denying that the work at the helm is solid, the film’s musical accompaniment is beautiful with a hint of heartstring tugging wistfulness about it, the rest of the work done behind the camera is nothing short of special, and the performances given by the truly remarkable cast of talent in front of the camera (with particular regard to the performances given by both Williams and DeNiro) are all truly brilliant no matter how much or how little screentime they are given. Suffice it to say then that if you are looking for comedic material about a physician trying to change the lives of their patients for the better every single day then might I suggest that you check out the movie (or even the first 6 seasons of) M*A*S*H. On the other hand, if you are looking for a gripping and emotional story about how the courage of a group of patients and the tenacity of the lead doctor in charge of their care led to more than just a breakthrough of the medical variety, but rather a rediscovery and reappreciation for what it means to truly be alive then this film is for you. Suffice it to say then that Awakenings is a film that does more than touch the heart and impact the soul. Rather, it is also a film that is designed to inspire you. Not just to accept the gift of life, but to also embrace and cherish every experience that gift has and will provide to you as a human being as well no matter how big or small. Make of that what thou will. On a scale of 1-5 I give Awakenings “90” a solid 4 out of 5.
