Plot
Based on a true story as related by neurologist Oliver Sacks, Awakenings stars Robin Williams as the Sacks counterpart, here named Dr. Malcolm Sayer. Something of a klutz and naif, Dr. Sayer takes a job at a Bronx psychiatric hospital in 1969. Here he's put in charge of several seemingly catatonic patients who, under Sayer's painstaking guidance, begin responding to certain stimulati. Apprised of the efficacy of a new drug called L-DOPA in treating degenerative-disease victims, Sayer is given permission to test the drug on one of his patients: Leonard Lowe (Robert De Niro), who has not communicated with anyone since lapsing into catatonia as a child. Gradually, Lowe comes out of his shell, encouraging Sayers to administer L-DOPA to the other patients under his care. Julie Kavner and John Heard also star. ~ Hal Erickson, RoviReview
Loosely based on a book by real-life neurologist Oliver Sacks, Awakenings (1990) marked the high point of a successful side career for Sacks as a chronicler of unusual medical case histories. Although the film too often displays the easy sentimentality typical of director Penny Marshall, and the plot pitted its heroes against mindless hospital bureaucrats in a tired effort to force an antagonist into the proceedings, the career-high performances of stars Robin Williams and Robert De Niro make it a must-see film. Cast against type, the two pros sink their teeth into their roles as, respectively, a shy genius and a man with a teenager's mind betrayed by a collection of physical tics and twitches. The actors were rewarded for their efforts with a rare tie as Best Actor from the National Board of Review, and the film was nominated for three Oscars. So memorable was Williams in the doctor role that he repeatedly returned to the well and played healers in numerous later films, including Dead Again (1991), Nine Months (1995), Good Will Hunting (1997), What Dreams May Come (1998), and Patch Adams (1998). ~ Karl Williams, RoviCast
- Robin Williams - Dr. Malcolm Sayer
- Robert De Niro - Leonard Lowe
- Julie Kavner - Eleanor Costello
- Ruth Nelson - Mrs. Lowe
- John Heard - Dr. Kaufman
- Penelope Ann Miller - Paula
Credit
Bill Groom - Art Director, Amy Lemisch - Associate Producer, Cynthia Flynt - Costume Designer, Penny Marshall - Director, Battle Davis - Editor, Jerry Greenberg - Editor, Jere Huggins - Editor, Elliot Abbott - Executive Producer, Penny Marshall - Executive Producer, Arne Schmidt - Executive Producer, Randy Newman - Composer (Music Score), Ilona Herman - Makeup, Bernadette Mazur - Makeup, Anton Furst - Production Designer, Miroslav Ondrícek - Cinematographer, Elliot Abbott - Producer, Lawrence Lasker - Producer, Penny Marshall - Producer, Walter Parkes - Producer, Arne Schmidt - Producer, Les Lazarowitz - Sound/Sound Designer, Paul W. Shapiro - Screenwriter, Steven Zaillian - Screenwriter, George De Titta, Jr. - Set Decorator, Oliver Sacks - Book Author| Awakening: Empowering Women Through Microloans (2006 Film), Awakening of Ruth (1917 Film) | |
| Awakenings of the Beast (1969 Film), Awaking (2006 Film) |
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