adonis98-743-186503
The victims of an encephalitis epidemic many years ago have been catatonic ever since, but now a new drug offers the prospect of reviving them. Awakenings benefits from the excellent work from both Robert De Niro and the late Robin Williams but also a story that is very dramatic and optimistic at the same time. The direction was superb and De Niro's perfomance was just fascinating, Penelope Ann Miller most known for her work in films like Kindergarten Cop, The Messengers and Carlito's Way also does a very good job. I think alot of people will appreciate what this film was going for and will definitely feel sorry and inspired from it's main characters. (10/10)
rt-ingram
There are some films you watch that leave you cold and never want to see again, and some grow on you and become favourites. There are certain films though, that make an instant, and lasting, impression on you; Awakenings is one such film that did that to me.The film is very moving, and it's remarkable to think that this genuinely happened. Whenever I've seen the film, I always get emotional. It just had that effect on me.Robin Williams gives an excellent performance as Malcolm Sayer, and shows how good a dramatic actor he was for another reason altogether; Sayer is quite a shy character, and Williams was well known for playing outgoing and loud characters. There are moments of humour in his performance, but Williams plays the role completely straight and succeeds admirably. Robert De Niro was Oscar nominated for his role as Leonard, and it's no surprise; he goes through every emotion and gets so into the role that it's hard to think of another actor in the part. The rest of the cast, although not as well known, give excellent performancesAn excellent film and one of the best true story films I've ever seen.
allyatherton
A doctor discovers a drug to wake up catatonic patients.Starring Robin Williams and Robert De Niro.Written by Oliver Sacks ( Novel) and Steven Zaillian ( Screenplay )Directed by Penny Marshall.This is superb!It ticks all of the boxes as to what a movie should be. To be honest I've had it on my Sky box for a few weeks and never really fancied watching it for some reason. But it really is worthy of as many accolades as it's been given.The story sucks you in right from the beginning and two two main actors are brilliant. I've seen a few De Niro films now and this is the best I've seen him by far. His portrayal of the first catatonic patient to wake up is worthy of an Oscar. I knew he was a great actor but this performance is top drawer. Robin Williams is brilliantly understated and together they are perfect castings.Awakenings is tearjerker and the plot won't have you on the edge of your seat, it will have you reaching for the tissues. It's an incredibly moving film. Well acted, well directed and with a great soundtrack. Brilliant!This could be an early favourite to be my favourite movie watched this year.10/10
tilloscfc
A very very slow movie based on a true story, which is remembered particularly for the outstanding performance of Robert de Niro. How on earth did he not win the 1990/91 Oscar hands down after his portrayal of Leonard Lowe? Every time I watch this movie I have tears in my eyes from the scene where he tells the girl he loves he can't see her again, and watches her leaving from the window until the end. Robin Williams is...well, you know what you're gonna get from Robin Williams - for me the best actor of all time (DeNiro is second, in my opinion the two best actors star in 'Awakenings'.) Robin Williams plays a brilliant, yet incredibly shy and nervous doctor who joins a Psychiatric Hospital in New York where many of the patients are in a coma and dead to the World. Thanks to Dr. Sayer brilliance, a number of the patients including DeNiro 'awaken' from their state - some after decades - for a brief period in the summer of '69. There's a sad scene at the end where Dr. Sachs tells his nurse how Leonard had told him what a kind man he was...only for him to effectively give someone their life back, then take it away again and not be able to do anything about it. That's a sad scene played brilliantly by Robin Williams. Incidentally, the leading female is Julie Kavner who plays Nurse Eleanor Costello - she is world famous for the voice of Marge in The Simpsons!
AD
