Production Year: 2002 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Denzel Washington, Kimberly Elise, James Woods, Anne Heche, Robert Duvall, Ray Liotta, Eddie Griffin, Shawn Hatosy, Kevin Connolly, Daniel E. Smith, Troy Winbush more
John Q. Archibald (Denzel Washington) is struggling through a recession trying to provide for his son Mikey (Daniel E. Smith) and his waitress wife (Kimberly Elise). Mikey... more
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John Q DVD
A nine-year-old boy is in desperate need of a life-saving transplant. When his father ... more
John Q. Archibald (Denzel Washington) discovers that his medical insurance won’t cover the costs of the surgery and alternative government aid is unavailable ...
John Q
John Q. (Academy Award-winner Denzel Washington) is an ordinary man who works at a factory ... more
and takes care of his family. His wife Denise and young son Michael are his world. But when Michael falls seriously ill and needs an emergency heart transplant that John Q. can't afford and his health insurance won't cover, he vows to do whatever it will take to keep his son alive. With time and options running out, a desperate gamble becomes his only hope - he takes the emergency room hostage.
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Drama - Director: Kevin Smith - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler, George Carlin, Jennifer Lopez, Jason Biggs, Matt Damon
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Production Year: 1981 - Drama - Director: Franco Zeffirelli - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Brooke Shields, Martin Hewitt, Shirley Knight, Don Murray, Richard Kiley, Penelope Milford, Beatrice Straight
A review by salem_witch on John Q. (DVD) May 23rd, 2006
Author's product rating:
Did you enjoy it?
Loved it
Story
Outstanding
Characters / Performances
Outstanding
Special Effects
Standard
How does it compare to similar films?
Not applicable
Advantages:
A gripping story of a parents dilemma
Disadvantages:
It is sad . Slow moving in parts
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
John Q isn't really that well known of a film. Often when discussing films with friends and I ask if they have heard of it the answer is no. I saw it on an off chance at the cinema. I took my Gran and we decided to watch it simply because Denzel Washington was in it. I hadn't heard of it before so I didn't know what it was about or what to expect. Both of us loved it and thought it was very moving.
John Quincy Archibald (Denzel Washington) is a family orientated man who loves his family. However, they are in financial difficulty. When we first see him his bank is repossessing his car. He and his wife Denise (Kimberley Elise) argue about money issues but only for a while. John is clearly a hard working man and over the breakfast table he tries to find a second job. He works in a factory but can only get 20 hours a weeks. Their son Michael (Daniel E. Smith) is very upbeat and ignores the tension. He jokes that if it were him he'd 'kick their butt'. He has a keen interest in bodybuilding and jokes around about that.
Although they are having financial troubles they pull together as a family. John and Denise evidently love each other and they hug soon after their discussion. They are soon having a joke and a laugh when they are in the car taking Mike to school. Mike shows how grown up he is. He offers his allowance that he has saved up and says "we're a family, we guys stick together". Naturally John declines his offer and tells him he earnt it and its his.
They seem to be struggling and then their demise takes a further twist. Mike is playing baseball when he collapses. He is rushed to hospital where they discover he has a heart problem. The Archibald's are taken into a meeting with Rebecca Payne (Anne Heche), the hospital director and the Head of Cardiology, Dr Turner (James Woods). Dr Turner explains that Mike's heart is three times too big and he needs a transplant or he'll die. This sounds simple enough but because John's hours have been cut he is technically part time and his insurance doesn't cover the transplant.
Denise breaks down and John stays cool and collective trying to think of a solution. Payne coldly states that they will have to pay for the transplant before he is even in put on the organ donation list. The total sum is $250 000 and they want a down payment of $75 000. She doesn't care that it is their son's life they are talking about and comes across as a heartless bitch.
Emotions are running high and the clock is ticking. Time is against them as Mike's heart rate is getting lower. They desperately look for ways to raise funds for the transplant. It is obvious that they don't have enough time and Denise tells John to do something. This is where the film takes an interesting turn and things become fast paced and exciting.
He takes the ER department hostage. This part of the film becomes very tense and a series of events happen. I won't say anymore on this, as it would be giving far too much away.
Denzel Washington excels in his role and I can't think of another actor that would have suited the part better. He is a pleasure to watch and although his character takes matters into his own hands and is technically 'the baddie' he is doing it to save his sons life. Kimberley Elise doesn't really play a huge role after things kick off. However, she does play an important part and it is in fact her shouting at John that spurs him into action. She does have a few great lines and one in particular that she says to Payne makes me smile "I would tell you what I think of you, but I am a Christian woman." Daniel E. Smith is a delight to watch and is a talented young actor. The scene where he collapses is very believable and not over the top in anyway. Throughout the film he is endearing and loveable.
Anne Heche is also very good in this even though she plays a tough cookie. I think that she portrayed her character well as those who work in these positions would have to make tough decisions and stick to them. This isn't to say that I liked her though. I didn't like her from the moment she came on screen and she keeps up being a hardened bitch throughout most of the film. I've never seen James Woods in anything else before. He plays Dr Turner very well although in some places I disliked him. Dr Turner is more sympathetic towards the Archibald's predicament than Miss Payne is so he isn't entirely unlikable.
Robert Duvall and Ray Liotta feature in the latter part of the film. Duvall plays a diplomatic Lieutenant who is trying to help resolve the situation. I haven't really seen Duvall in anything else other than Deep Impact so I can't compare his performance. He plays a no nonsense guy who really wants to get to the matter of things and to do it in a peaceful manner. He is very likeable and a contrast to Liotta's character who isn't very endearing at all. He plays the Police Chief who is there simply to look good and get more votes in the next election. I found his performance very disappointing compared to other films I have seen him in.
The Director, Nick Cassavetes was moved when he read the script. As his daughter had congenital heart disease he had an interest in this subject. This could explain why John Q comes across in a good way rather than someone who is in the wrong. It could have been easy to portray John Q in a more negative way.
The whole film makes you wonder about the health service in America. I don't really know how it does work but it is evident that you need sufficient insurance for circumstances like this. I did find myself wondering if this could really happen or whether it was exaggerated for the film. Then you start to wonder how it is dealt with here. It's one of those things that you never really consider unless it was to happen to you. It provokes so many thoughts and 'what ifs' What if they had discovered the problem earlier? What if the factory hadn't reduced John's hours? I found myself feeling sorry for John Q and my disgust grew towards the attitude of the hospital staff in particular Miss Payne. I don't have any children but it made me wonder how far parents would go for their children.
The music in the film isn't really that noticeable. The film opens with a woman driving a BMW and weaving in and out of the traffic. This results in a crash. This is shot in a tasteful way and 'Ave Maria' is playing and the sounds of the cars beeping and the actual crash aren't clear. This scene isn't really apparent until later on and the choice in song also makes sense as well. There are tracks by Thom Bell and Pete Yorn whom I have never heard of before. There is also a track by Stevie Wonder (Justice of the Heart) but I didn't realise it was him until I looked up the soundtrack listing on IMDb. Pattie LaBelle's "The Voice Inside My Heart" plays when the credits start to roll.
As you can tell by now I enjoyed this film and I would recommend it. There were parts of the film that I found slow moving and felt they were unnecessary. Once John Q takes matters into his own hands things seem to take pick up and the second half of the film flies by. What will happen? Will Mike live? What happens to John Q? You'll have to watch it and see for yourself.
Advantages: Denzel Washington is his usual brilliant self. Thought provoking, and exciting, movie, about a highly contentious and controversial topic. Disadvantages: Not a lot
...Nick Cassavetes.
~ ~ John Quincy Archibald (John Q) is everyman’s idea of the average American. A blue-collar worker in a local metal foundry, he is happily married to his wife Denise, (well played by Kimberley Elise) and they have a cracker of a ten-year-old son called Mikey. (Daniel E. Smith)
Money’s too tight to mention, due to the downturn in the US economy, but the family are struggling along as best they can, and are a strong, ... ...of Little League baseball, and John Q rushes him to the Emergency Room of his local hospital. Mikey’s heart is found to diseased and three times the normal size, and could give up entirely at any time, the only favourable prognosis being a heart transplant.
No problem there, as the hospital has one of the country’s foremost transplant surgeons, Dr. Raymond Turner, (John Woods) on its books. No problem, that is, until it transpires that ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Great story, great performances, Denzel Washington Disadvantages: Slightly idealistic
John Q. Archibald (Denzel Washington) is a blue collar factory worker, who, although is going through a hard time, still has the love of his wife Denise (Kimberly Elise) and their young son Mikey (Daniel E. Smith). When the factory cuts John's hours down by half, his financial problems start to mount up and he is forced to look for extra work before he loses everything. When Mikey collapses whilst playing baseball, they discover that he has a serious ... ...is sure to die. When John and Denise discover that their medical insurance won't cover the cost of the transplant, they plead to the hospitals administrator, Rebecca Payne (Anne Heche) and chief heart surgeon Dr. Turner (James Woods) to put Mikey at the top of the transfer list, but get little sympathy. With time running out, John does everything possible to raise the money for the transplant.
With Mikey's condition rapidly deteriorating, John knows ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: The message should be heard and things should change Disadvantages: It won't be and the movie is pants
...Your premise is this. John Archibald's (aka John Q - Denzyl Washington) son is diagnosed with a heart defect which makes it three times normal size...he'll die unless he has a transplant which is going to cost $250,000 as a minimum, with a $75,000 down payment. John works, has insurance, but it's worthless as his company has 'downgraded' him to a lower level which doesn't cover it. No one else will help either, there are no safety nets and despite ... ...refuse to give any leeway. John snaps, storms the hospital and takes hostages, vowing to kill them unless his son is put on the organ donor register straight away... The single more unsatisfying thing about John Q is that it is so divorced from reality that it's impossible to take seriously. We are meant to believe that one man, who has no military training etc. can take over a hospital wing and hold it without any kind of resistance from the amassed ...
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Advantages: watchable, denzil washington is good in it Disadvantages: syrupy and predictible
John Q is so syrupy in places that I could almost taste the cloying sweetness. Thats not to say that I hated it and stopped the video recorder, it was watchable but it suffered from being predictable and sickly.
John Archibald (Denzel Washington) is a hard working family man who is devoted to his wife and son. However, his is not a rich family, he works in a factory and his wife works in a grocery store, but they are a happy loving family.
His ... ...heart transplant. To their horror John and his wife Denise discover that John’s work have recently changed his health insurance to a cheaper version that will cover him for only $20,000 worth of medical treatment Michael’s transplant will cost $250,000.
This is where I started to have some problems with the film. The Archibalds are told by (Ann Heche) the person in charge of hospital finances that they should be thinking about quality of life for ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: The majority of the work behind and in front of camera Disadvantages: Some misplaced casting and elements of disappointment
...an expert. Far from it. John Q is a 2002 film that focuses on the disadvantages of not being medically covered for something, over in the States, as Denzel Washington's John Q Archibald fights with every fibre of his being to save his son's life against all odds.
Director Nick Cassavetes gives us a powerful film that focuses on health care, corruption, pen-pushers and the power of love. When Mike Archibald (Daniel E Smith) collapses from near heart ... ...and Mike's health deteriorates rapidly, John takes the ER and its patients and staff hostage, demanding that Mike be put on the list and the heart be replaced.
In many ways, the film doesn't do anything special. The emergence of Ray Liotta and Robert Duvall as the police bigwigs assigned to negotiate with John are curiously placed, seeming to be a strange pair of actors to be cast. I wasn't impressed. Anne Heche plays hospital administrator Rebecca ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
...Directed by: Len Wiseman
Written by: Mark Bomback
Genre: Action - Crime - Adventure - Thriller
Country: UK/USA
Certification: 15+
Language: English/French
Released: 29th October, 2007 (DVD)
MAIN CAST:
Bruce Willis (Det. John McClane)
Timothy Olyphant (Thomas Gabriel)
Justin Long (Matthew Farrell)
Maggie Q (Mai Lihn)
Cliff Curtis (De. Dir. Miguel Bowman)
Kevin Smith (Freddie - 'Warlock')
Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Lucy McClane)
In the midst of family problems, Detective McClane is asked to pick up a computer hacker wanted by the FBI, and to deliver him to their offices in Washington for questioning. Simple enough, unfortunately, he shows up at Matthew Farrell's door just as internet-based terrorists are attempting to get rid of the last link that can lead the FBI back to them, and McClane just barely manages...
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Advantages: Three disks, special features Disadvantages: Disks are packaged the same as originals
...I've always been a big fan of John Thaw since seeing an Inspector Morse episode as a young teenager.
His amazing ability to bring a character to life and suck you into the role grabbed me from the offset and I followed his TV work ever since.
John was born in Manchester on 3rd January 1942 and always wanted to be an actor. He was encouraged by his teachers and at the age of 16 he joined RADA and trained as an actor.
John Thaw had parts in many television shows, films and stage shows including: Redcap, The Sweeney, Dead Man's Chest, Thick as thieves and more recently Inspector Morse and Kavanagh Q.C.
After his death in 2002 from cancer it was decided to release a tribute to John in the form of a DVD box set.
In November of the same year this set was released.
To be honest it was a bit of a let down.
Contained in the set are...
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Advantages: Belter of an action movie Disadvantages: Disadvantages? In a Bond movie. Never!
...Art Malik - Kamran Shah
Andreas Wisniewski - Necros
Thomas Wheatley - Saunders
Desmond Llewelyn - Q
Robert Brown - M
Geoffrey Keen - Minister of Defence
Walter Gotell - General Anatol Gogol
Caroline Bliss - Miss Moneypenny
John Terry - Felix Leiter
~~~~~~~~~~~~
DVD Released By MGM Home Entertainment
Certificate: 12
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Living Daylights DVD is generally available at all sites selling DVD's, and in most high street outlets. My advice is to shop around for the best price. (As I did)
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Copyright KenJ January 2004
~~~~~~~~~~~~...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Plot: A man who finds that his medical insurance will not pay for his son's heart operation decides to take positive action. Taking the hospital's emergency room hostage he refuses to walk out until the doctors agree to operate...
Release details
DVD Region: DVD
Studio(s): ENTERTAINMENT IN VIDEO; CINRAM LOGISTICS
John Q. Archibald (Denzel Washington) is struggling through a recession trying to provide for his son Mikey (Daniel E. Smith) and his waitress wife (Kimberly Elise). Mikey collapses at a Little League game and is rushed to a hospital. The situation is bleak. Only a heart transplant will save Mikey's life. John's HMO refuses to cover the expensive surgery. With the hospital and his insurance provider unwilling to help and his wife pleading with John to act, he takes matters into his own hands, holding the hospital's renowned heart surgeon (James Woods) and several others hostage in an emergency care wing until the surgery will be performed. Nick Cassavetes directed this attack on the American health care system. Like his previous feature, SHE'S SO LOVELY, Cassavetes proves adept at mining the political ramifications out of human drama. The film criticizes hospitals and health care providers for working in collusion against the working class. This moving drama is propelled by the intense lead performance by Washington as one man against an unjust system.
Technical information
Special Features: Audio Commentary, Trailer - 1. Original Theatrical Trailer, Documentaries, Deleted Scenes, Alternate Scenes, Theatrical Press Kit
Aspect Ratio: 1.85 Anamorphic Wide Screen
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Dubbing Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo English
Professional reviews
Review: "...[The film] raises genuine, sobering questions....Washington performs with a tearful, righteous anger..." (Entertainment Weekly, p.55, 01/03/2002)
"...JOHN Q. is unafraid to speak the plain truth..." (Los Angeles Times, p.C11, 15/02/2002)
"...Mr. Washington manages to be fittingly morose without losing his powerhouse quality..." (New York Times, p.E19, 15/02/2002)
"...[Washington] puts in another strong performance..." (USA Today, p.13B, 15/02/2002)
![John Q. [DVD] [2002]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78530786.jpg)
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06.12.2007
19.01.2004
