moonspinner55 Review of Lorenzo's Oil

Lorenzo's Oil (1992)

As an acting exercise, not bad--as an entertainment, a hard sell...

[6/10 · 1 January 2006]

Based on the true story of a married couple at their wits' end trying to find a cure for their young son's degenerative disease, "Lorenzo's Oil" chronicles the efforts and challenges of two people who eventually strike out on their own when the established medical profession proves to be a group of naysayers. George Miller directed, co-wrote and co-produced this heavy-going drama which strives to steer clear of wet-eyed sentiment but can't avoid a sort of hard-shelled sentimentality. The quick cuts at the beginning help to speed up the narrative, but they are off-putting and fail to involve the viewer in the proceedings (perhaps a more careful introduction to this story would've been more beneficial). Worse still is Nick Nolte's irritating, overstated performance as the child's Italian (!) father. Susan Sarandon does her usual sterling job as the mother--the film ends up being a valentine to her valiance and gritty grace--yet the plot-turns are somewhat mechanical despite George Miller's obvious heart and good intentions. **1/2 from ****