I never watched this film at the cinema mainly because it was only out for about 2 weeks, but when a friend lent me the US version of the DVD last month I could not stop myself from watching it because he told me it was good.
Director Nick Cassauetes
Cast: Denzel Washington (Training Day, The bone collector) Robert Duval (The Godfather, Apocalypse Now) James Wood (Any Given Sunday, Riding in cars with boys)
Cert: 15 Number of disks: 1 Run time: 1hr 57 min price: R2 £14.99 www.play.com ,free p&p
The Story:
John Q is the story of an ordinary family with a steady job and all he is interested in is providing the best for his wife and son. So when he is told that his son is terminally ill with a heart defect and he needs a transplant now he asks for the operation believing that his medical insurance (USA has no NHS) will cover him but he finds out that his insurance is not valid he is faced with a desperate challenge to find the money for the transplant but because he does not have a high paying job he cant. So to get the operation done in the end he has to resort to taking the ER and its staff hostage and demands that they perform the life saving operation.
In my view Denzel Washington is one of the best actors around and deserved his best actor academy award this year for his role as Alonzo 'bent cop' Harris in Training Day, which is another film I urge you to watch. As usual in this film he performs his role flawlessly.
This film was a big hit in America making over $65m and totalling $100m worldwide its hard to think it only made £800.000 in UK because of its limited release.
If you fancy a good night in with friends or just on your own, you should go out and rent this, its not the best film out at the moment but is quite entertaining and is out now to buy and rent. Overall this film is not everyone's cup of tea but with a good storyline and great acting this film is worth a look.
The only let down is like most entertainment in video DVD's (not LOTR) there are not many extras but don't let that put you of because the main reason for buying a DVD is the film not how many extras or deleted scenes it has in because remember most scenes are deleted because they are not good enough to be in the film.
DVD extras: commentary by director Nick Cassavetes and producer Mark Burg 9/10 3 deleted scenes 7/10 2 documentaries 8/10 one of the documentaries is very good it's called 'fighting for care'(30 mins) which is about the organ shortage and the cost medical care in the US, the other is 'behind the scenes of 'John Q'(17 min) which is worth a look. Production notes 5/10 Trailer 6/10
After reading this op you might think the film is like a episode of ER gone wrong but it is much more than that, just give it a chance, its will not be everyone's cup of tea but is not as bad as some films out.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
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: 2002 - Drama - Director: Michael Caton-Jones - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Robert De Niro, Frances McDormand, James Franco, Eliza Dushku, William Forsythe, George Dzundza, Patti Lupone
Good rating edeas for the extras but could do with knowing a little bit more about them. However, its well constructed and worthy of its mark!!! Sounds like a DVD to investigate?
Ophelia 05.12.2002 10:30
Sounds good and I love Denzil W!
royray 05.12.2002 01:15
this sounds worth waching,excellent op,take care,pat.
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 ...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
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 t...
Advantages: Denzel Washington is his usual brilliant self. Thought provoking, and exciting, movie, about a highly contentious and controversial topic. Disadvantages: Not a lot
the_mad_cabbie 28.12.2002 (28.12.2002)
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Review of John Q. (DVD)
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