ShangLuda Admirable film.

Twilightfa Watch something else. There are very few redeeming qualities to this film.

Hattie I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

Juana what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

kosmasp This is based on true life event and has great actors in the lead. I don't know how it is I had not seen it before, but while I was looking for something else on Netflix I stumbled across this. Some people may think De Niro lost his touch once he got into comedy, but you cannot for one second doubt or critisize him in the Dramas he played in.This one in particular, was not easy to play. And I can only imagine a method actor like him, what he must have gone through. Well what he made himself endure. While there always are things that are going to be altered from reality for dramatic purposes, what happened in 1969, what the doctors and patients went through is tough to put into words. It is something that is touching, sad and uplifting at various points of the movie. At the end, you get a bit of extra information on the real people. But even without that added text, the movie was clear. The power of the mind is big ... and the power of movies tries to match it here ...

TheSheykhi had a great Idea and had aptitude to be a great movie but disaster screenplay and directing waste it! The characters were not well-developed at all. it made Inner desire to know the character's past but didn't give us any information. Their illness cured very fast and they got healthy and adapt themselves with conditions even faster! it took a few days for Leonard to be healthy(which is shorter than usual also) but for other patients, just a few hours! worse that script? it's directing. I had seen movie "big" by Penny Marshal before and I liked it so much but in this case, she sucked. the film is quite scattered and full of confusion. instead of concentrating on one or two topic, it wants to include several big topic which it isn't easily achievable. I think Marshall should focus on that part of the screenplay that was stronger and leave the weak part. I didn't like De Niro's. in fact he played healthy Leonard part well, but the ill Leonard, Disaster! although Williams was fairly good. Perhaps the script did not allow them to show more than that and director did not provide the base for them. I'm sure you know that a few years later, in the movie "Good Will Hunting" by Gus Van Sant, Robin Williams played a similar character and played it Fantastic.Now, you know what's funny? The film has three Oscars nominations for Best Film, Best Screenplay and Best Actor for De Niro!!

zkonedog When the film career of Robin Williams is in question, there are two bodies of work to be discussed: His comedy (stand-up, Mrs. Doubtfire, Good Morning Vietnam, etc.) and his serious roles (Good Will Hunting, Dead Poets Society, One Hour Photo, etc.). However, there is one film that seems to slip under the radar a bit (I had never heard of it until a friend "dug it up"), and that is a shame...as "Awakenings" is a movie that will touch your spirit.The basic plot of the film (based on the true story of the life experiences of Dr. Oliver Sacks) sees Dr. Malcolm Sayer (Williams) assigned to the neurotic ward of a mental institution, where he quickly becomes fascinated with encephalitis patients, who are literally frozen in stature and have been that way for decades. All but given up on by clinical & clerical hospital staff, Sayer instead pushes the envelope with a radical new drug therapy program that allows him to revive nearly all of the catatonic patients. One of the "awakened" in particular, named Leonard Lowe (Robert De Niro), begins to actually live a normal life, only to see that existence thrown into doubt once again when the long-term effects of the drug treatment begin to take hold.In terms of plot, this one will really suck you in and have you rooting for the protagonists all the way through. Director Penny Marshall does a remarkable job of creating characters that you will truly feel for, and thus any setback is a huge emotional blow. For the more "emotionally inclined" viewers, certain moments will have you cheering out loud, while others will leave you completely devastated.The acting in "Awakenings" is also top-notch, as Williams plays the mousy (yet fantastically drive) Dr. Sayer with aplomb, while De Niro turns in a performance unlike any previous or since as the awakened patient who must learn to live in a world that has passed him by for so many years. The auxiliary "nuthouse" cast (think "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest") also provide more humor and sincerity to the proceedings.Thus, if you have stumbled across this movie while perusing a film index or trolling through IMDb, don't let the anonymity fool you, as it is well worth your time.

darosslfc Awakenings follows the story of two men and their will to never give up. Leonard Low (Robert De Niro) fell victim to an encephalitis epidemic at a young age and has been left in a catatonic state for thirty years. His new doctor, Malcolm Sayer (Robin Williams) is determined to to find a cure that will revive his patients. A new drug, L-Dopa, offers hope to the patients. Dr. Sayer ignores the criticisms of his more pessimistic colleagues and drives forward with the drug. During the summer of 1969 the patients of Dr. Sayer awaken and come back to the present after being frozen in time. Led by Leonard the group starts to enjoy life to the fullest. Robert Di Niro and Robin Williams give one of their best performances in this film. Di Niro in particular must have done a lot of research for his role to get down the symptoms of his ailment. Steven Zaillian (Schindler's List) penned this beautiful script, his second screenplay, and director Penny Marshall (A League of Their Own) brings the story to life. Unfortunately good things don't last forever, and the L-Dopa cure fails to work over time. Leonard and Dr. Sayer both fight this fact, but they have to come to terms with the limitations. This doesn't detour Leonard in the end though and he is happy to have experienced life again. It is heartbreaking experience, but Dr. Sayer takes Leonard's words to heart and chooses to be alive.