I must come out of the ciao wilderness soon and write another review:-)
I must come out of the ciao wilderness soon and write another review:-)
Member since:31.03.2001
Reviews:107
Members who trust:52
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 son, Michael collapses one day and is rushed to hospital where they discover his heart is failing and he will die without a 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 their son she tries to steer them away from the idea of a heart transplant. I don’t know anything about the American health service, but surely there must be a back up plan for seriously ill children whose parents don’t have the right insurance or can’t afford it. I shall never moan about the NHS again!
John tries everything to raise the money. He goes to his work and tries to get them to admit liability because they never informed him of the insurance change, he contacts tv channels, his church raise money, he sells his possessions and his friends give him money. However his son gets sicker and sicker and he is nowhere near raising $250,000. The hospital plan to release Michael so that he can die at home. This pushes John over the edge. He takes the hospital ER room (the equivalent of an A and E department) hostage and demmands his son gets a heart transplant.
The hostages are a mixed bunch of people. There is the heart surgeon who John was talking to before he took over ER, three ER doctors, a white trash couple, a south American lady and baby, an overweight security guard, a couple who are about to have a baby and a friendly drug dealer. After some initial reservations they are sympathetic to John a bit too quickly.
Thats all I’ll say about the plot, I don’t want to give too much away. Denzil Washington is convincing and watchable as the desperate father. There are some touching scenes between both parents and their son and you do feel the injustice of their situation . However, its like it can’t just be left at touching and theres been a real effort to jerk the heart strings.
Theres just too much sentimentality in this film. Another downside is that the plot is predictable and the script quite formulaic at times especially when there are syrupy scenes. There were points in the film when I felt as if I could predict the words that would come next.I think its an original idea for a film and if I was American I’d understand the debate about health care the doctors, surgeon and John were having during the siege. To end on a good note about this film it was watchable without being particularly good.
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
Mmmmmm Denzil Washington would just make the film for me anyway! Great op. Chris x
buzios 13.03.2003 14:41
I have seen this and I agree with you that this film is watchable but that is about as far as it goes. The sugary feelgood nature of the film is just too much. Do you really think that all the hostages would just cheer him on? It's a view of the world the way Americans would like it to be, according to the great god Disney, but life isn't like this. Good op.
netstation 09.03.2003 13:57
I hadn't heard of this so thanks for the op. You haven't put me off, I've always been a sucker for those "feelgood" type movies. (think Lorenzo's Oil, etc) plus I like Denzel Washington...Steve
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)
![John Q. [DVD] [2002]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78530786.jpg "John Q. [DVD] [2002]")
Mar 8th, 2003
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