Awakenings

 Awakenings (1990)

Awakenings is a heartfelt drama that has incredible, stirring work from both Robin Williams and Robert De Niro. In her previous film Big, director Penny Marshall gave us a human film on what it means to be an adult through the eyes of a child. She returns to deliver another human film but about recovering from a disease people deemed incurable and its aftermath. Her movie is based off Oliver Sack’s book which details miraculous recoveries from late-stage Parkinson’s Disease in 1969. Sack’s book used science and philosophy to ask some challenging questions- questions that Marshall effectively asked here. Not only are there possible issues about these awakenings, but what about the aftermath? If they are comatose for 20, 30 years and now they are back in the functioning world again, how can we give them the necessary help? As seen in the movie, these “awakenings” are not permanent. Is there a moral line that needs to be drawn somewhere? All hard questions that need to be asked. Steve Zaillian incorporates these questions into his screenplay and wrote some very effective characters. That said, there is an extremely fine line that he plays with because there are perhaps a few extra saccharine/melodramatic moments than needed. I also felt the supporting cast left a little to be desired. I want to say that is because they cannot hold a candle to the amazing performances of De Niro and Williams, but I also felt the characters were stretched a bit thin.

It's 1969. Dr. Malcolm Sayer (Robin Williams) is hired as a clinical physician at a local Bronx hospital. He only has research experience, and only used earthworms as subjects not human beings. Obviously, the hospital was desperate for help. He has a hard time connecting to humans which is why he shied away from human subjects. He works in the ward known as “the Garden” where most of the patients are catatonic, a result of a “sleeping sickness” from the 1920’s. 41-year-old Leonard Lowe (Robert De Niro) is one of those patients. Dr. Sayer, in a truly powerful scene, recognizes that some patients respond to certain stimuli. One woman is able to catch a ball that is thrown at her. He was able to get an experimental drug to use on Leonard…and it works. He awakens after thirty years unable to move. Now comes harder decisions. How is Leonard able to get his life back on track? Is this drug therapy permanent? How would these patients even feel about being guinea pigs (admittedly for a greater good). Leonard has always been aware of his surroundings during comatose. His elderly mother, Mrs. Lowe (Ruth Nelson in her final screen role) has taken care of him. He may have found romance with Paula (Penelope Ann Miller), the daughter of another patient. Is Leonard and the other patients aware of the long-term effects of this drug therapy?

When Robin Williams does these non-comedic roles, something special usually tends to happen. He sometimes has a habit of adding schtick (which I find endearing most of the time) to his performances, but he plays Dr. Sayer straight. I relate to his character because I find it difficult myself to connect to my fellow humans at times. But sometimes, as Dr. Sayer learns, finding that one connection will open the floodgates to other meaningful connections. Robert De Niro has made a career for himself based on the “tough guy” persona. He was anything but here. His gut-wrenching performance came out of nowhere. He really seemed like a guy in his 40’s who does not really know how to live life after a long, long time under comatose. These two actors had fantastic chemistry with each other and along with Marshall’s steady direction, is the reason why the movie works. Despite names like John Heard and Max von Sydow, the supporting cast quavers underneath the two leads. Okay, maybe Ruth Nelson delivers some meaningful work as Leonard’s mother.

Immediately when I finished Awakenings, I had the need to know more about this story, which is based off Oliver Sack’s memoir. It is a powerful human story. Sayer was legitimately overjoyed at a fellow human being alive again. He made important breakthroughs not only on a scientific level, but on a personal level for him. This film is about the powerful connections that humans make with one another. It’s a character-driven narrative that plays to Marshall’s sensibilities. Watch Big. You will see similar characterization. By the end, you may need tissues. After spending time with these two characters, you get to know them. Despite some minor issues, my soul felt awakened.

My Grade: B+