Awakenings

Theater date: 1990-12-04

Blu-ray release date: N/A

Rated: N/A

7.77 (IMDB)

Genre: Drama

Language: en

Status: Released

Length: 2h 0min

Languages:

English

Description:

Dr. Malcolm Sayer, a shy research physician, uses an experimental drug to "awaken" the catatonic victims of a rare disease. Leonard is the first patient to receive the controversial treatment. His awakening, filled with awe and enthusiasm, proves a rebirth for Sayer too, as the exuberant patient reveals life's simple but unutterably sweet pleasures to the introverted doctor.

Top Cast >

Robert De Niro

As Leonard Lowe

Robin Williams

As Malcolm Sayer

John Heard

As Dr. Kaufman

Julie Kavner

As Eleanor Costello

Penelope Ann Miller

As Paula

Ruth Nelson

As Mrs. Lowe

Max von Sydow

As Peter Ingham

Anne Meara

As Miriam

Dexter Gordon

As Rolando

George Martin

As Frank

Alice Drummond

As Lucy Fishman

Richard Libertini

As Sidney

Laura Esterman

As Lolly

Barton Heyman

As Bert

Judith Malina

As Rose

Mary Alice

As Nurse Margaret

Keith Diamond

As Anthony

Bradley Whitford

As Dr. Tyler

John Christopher Jones

As Dr. Sullivan

Mary Catherine Wright

As Nurse Beth

Jayne Haynes

As Frances

Le Clanché du Rand

As Magda

Yusef Bulos

As Joseph

Steven Randazzo

As Luis

Gloria Harper

As Dottie

Gwyllum Evans

As Desmond

Steve Vinovich

As Ray

Tiger Haynes

As Janitor

Harvey Miller

As Hospital Director

Tanya Berezin

As Psychiatrist

Peter Stormare

As Neurochemist

Shane Fistell

As Man in Hall

Waheedah Ahmad

As Hysterical Woman

Charles Keating

As Mr. Kean

Christina Huertes

As Christina

Linda Burns

As Fishsticks

Judy Jacksina

As Hospital Receptionist

Gary Tacon

As George

Rico Elias

As Orderly #1

Mel Gorham

As Nurse Sara

Chris Carolan

As EEG Technician

Debra Kovner-Zaks

As Cafeteria Nurse

Bret McCormick

As Head Ward Orderly

Gordon Joseph Weiss

As Ward #5 Patient

Byron Utley

As Ward #5 Patient #2

Anthony McGowen

As Ward #5 Patient #3

Paul Montgomery

As Ward #5 Patient #4

Leonard Tepper

As Ward #5 Patient #5

Vincent Pastore

As Ward #5 Patient #6

Howard Feller

As Ward #5 Patient #7

Libby Titus

As Club Singer

Michael Hyde

As Bus Driver

Tomislav Novakovic

As Bartender

Adam Bryant

As Librarian

Anthony J. Nici

As Young Leonard

Oliver Block

As Leonard's Friend #1

Buck Smith

As Leonard's Friend #2

Joan E. MacIntosh

As Teacher

Harry L. Seddon

As Medical Student

Jack Mulcahy

As Psych Ward Intern

Jason W. Fuchs

As Pot-Head Hippie

Vin Diesel

As Hospital Orderly (uncredited)

Top Crew >

Penny Marshall

Director, Executive Producer

Miroslav Ondříček

Director of Photography

Gerald B. Greenberg

Editor

Walter F. Parkes

Producer

Battle Davis

Editor

Lawrence Lasker

Producer

Steven Zaillian

Screenplay

Elliot Abbott

Executive Producer

Arne Schmidt

Executive Producer

Bonnie Timmermann

Casting

Cynthia Flynt

Costume Design

Anton Furst

Production Design

Mike Bedard

Cableman

Ilona Herman

Hairstylist, Makeup Artist

George DeTitta Jr.

Set Decoration

Sheila Paige

Script Supervisor

Ron Petagna Sr.

Construction Coordinator

William A. Farley

Hairstylist

Scott W. Farley

Hairstylist

Bernadette Mazur

Makeup Artist

George Potts

Assistant Costume Designer

Bill Groom

Art Direction

Alan E. Muraoka

Assistant Art Director

Timothy M. Bourne

Unit Production Manager

Jerry Ross

Supervising Sound Editor

James Flamberg

Music Editor

Linda Murphy

Boom Operator

Robert Griffon Jr.

Property Master

Bob Newlan

Sound Editor

Larry Kaplan

Unit Publicist

Jack Winter

Thanks

Hugo Weng

Sound Editor

Richard Baratta

Location Manager

Yakov Sklyansky

Thanks

Tracy Reiner

Thanks

Tony Gittelson

First Assistant Director

Debbie Goldsmith

Assistant Editor

Laura Perlman

Music Editor

Matthew Iadarola

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Tom Priestley Jr.

Camera Operator

Margaret Mitchell

Production Accountant

Louis Goldman

Still Photographer

Ed. Weinberger

Thanks

Carrie Fisher

Thanks

Hamilton Sterling

Sound Editor

David Williams

Foley Editor

John Morris

Sound Editor

Gary C. Bourgeois

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Michael Hyde

Transportation Captain

Beth Bergeron

Supervising ADR Editor

Donah Bassett

Negative Cutter

Suzanne Pillsbury

Assistant Editor

Michele Perrone

Assistant Sound Editor

Gerald DeTitta

Leadman

Glen Trotiner

Second Assistant Director

Sarah Knowles

Art Department Assistant

Richard Quinlan

Chief Lighting Technician

Amy Lemisch

Associate Producer

Les Lazarowitz

Production Sound Mixer

Lynn Nigro

Art Department Assistant

Joe Dorn

ADR Editor

Kathryn Camp

First Assistant Editor

Michelle Pleis

Assistant Sound Editor

Mark Pappas

Foley Editor

Jere Huggins

Additional Editing

Linda Yeaney

Assistant Sound Editor

Patricia Birch

Thanks

Oliver Sacks

Book

Randy Newman

Original Music Composer

Reviews:

Wuchak (5/10)

A ‘hospital film’ with Robin Williams and Robert De Niro, based on a true story

A shy doctor (Robin Williams) gets a job at a Bronx hospital in 1969 where he attends to several patients in a catatonic state after the encephalitis epidemic of 1917–28. He experiments with a new drug that offers the hope of reviving them. Robert De Niro plays his key patient, Julie Kavner his nurse and John Heard his supervisor. Penelope Ann Miller is also on hand as a potential romantic interest.

"Awakenings” (1990) is based on Oliver Sacks' 1973 memoir of the same name, which chronicled the true event that occurred the summer of ’69. Being a hospital movie about ailing people trying to recover puts it in the same camp as “One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest” (1975) and “Instinct” (1999), but it’s not as compelling.

There’s just not enough human interest beyond the viewer being sympathetic toward the patients’ plight and wanting them to get well. It’s also marred by some blatant predictableness, like Leonard’s name on the bench and the “cup of coffee” aspect. Still, this is a tale that needed to be told and I’m not sorry I watched it. It’s just overrated.

The film runs 2 hours and was shot in Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens, New York City.

GRADE: C+

2020-01-01