This is clearly a film that has it's heart on it's sleeve and wants us
to get outraged about the injustice and 'red tape' that is holding up
our VA system. Made before the glut of hospital shows such as ER or
Chicago Hope, it features many of the same ideas and stories, but shot
in a better way. The camera work is fine in this film, much better than
either of those tv shows. The acting is too, for the most part. I felt
the film was stolen by the great Eli Wallach, who walks away with every
scene he's in. I ended up feeling sorry for Kiefer Sutherland who had to
share the screen with Wallach- it was like watching a kid play
basketball with Michael Jordan. Ray Liotta does a fine intense job, and
the supporting roles are all wonderful. The great Kathy Baker is all but
wasted, but does a great job. Lynn Thigpen has a small role, but does
it with her usual dignity and grace. Kieth David, John Mahoney and
Jeffrey Tambor all bless us with their talents, and I ended up wishing
the movie focused more on them than on the 'pretty young things'. If
anything does not work with this film I'd have to say it was the
directing or the editing- for some reason it doesn't come together in a
satisfying way, despite some fine performances. Also, I'd just recently
seen M*A*S*H*, which sets the bar pretty high for this kind of movie.
And not to compare apples and oranges, but if you're looking for a
'things are screwy in the medical profession' film, M*A*S*H* would be
the best way to go.
to get outraged about the injustice and 'red tape' that is holding up
our VA system. Made before the glut of hospital shows such as ER or
Chicago Hope, it features many of the same ideas and stories, but shot
in a better way. The camera work is fine in this film, much better than
either of those tv shows. The acting is too, for the most part. I felt
the film was stolen by the great Eli Wallach, who walks away with every
scene he's in. I ended up feeling sorry for Kiefer Sutherland who had to
share the screen with Wallach- it was like watching a kid play
basketball with Michael Jordan. Ray Liotta does a fine intense job, and
the supporting roles are all wonderful. The great Kathy Baker is all but
wasted, but does a great job. Lynn Thigpen has a small role, but does
it with her usual dignity and grace. Kieth David, John Mahoney and
Jeffrey Tambor all bless us with their talents, and I ended up wishing
the movie focused more on them than on the 'pretty young things'. If
anything does not work with this film I'd have to say it was the
directing or the editing- for some reason it doesn't come together in a
satisfying way, despite some fine performances. Also, I'd just recently
seen M*A*S*H*, which sets the bar pretty high for this kind of movie.
And not to compare apples and oranges, but if you're looking for a
'things are screwy in the medical profession' film, M*A*S*H* would be
the best way to go.