1988
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Because this movie is not a tearjerker but an intelligent examination of a bizarre human condition, it's up to De Niro to make Leonard not an object of sympathy, but a person who helps us wonder about our own tenuous grasp on the world around us.
82% Tomatometer 38 Reviews 89% Audience Score 50,000+ Ratings The story of a doctor's extraordinary work in the Sixties with a group of catatonic patients he finds languishing in a Bronx hospital...
- (37)
- Penny Marshall
- PG-13
- Robert De Niro
- The Inspiration For Awakenings Dr. Sayer Explained
- Awakenings True Story: The Real Doctor Sacks and His Drug Experiments
- Awakenings Book vs. Awakenings Movie: What They Changed
- Robin Williams & Oliver Sacks Became Lifelong Friends
Robin Williams' Character Is Based On Dr. Oliver Sacks
Awakeningsfollows neurologist Malcolm Sayer (played by Robin Williams), who, in 1969 while working at a hospital in the Bronx, began extensive research on catatonic patients who survived the 1917-1928 epidemic of encephalitis lethargica. Sayer learns of a new drug that helps patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease and believes it could be of use on catatonic patients. He runs a trial on patient Leonard Lowe (played by Robert De Niro), who completely “awakens” and starts to show major impr...
The Real Experiments That Inspired The Awakened Movie Explained
The drug Sacks began using on catatonic patients was L-DOPA, also known as levodopa, an amino acid precursor to the neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine (adrenaline). L-DOPA is used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, but Sacks saw its potential in helping other diseases. According to an article by AP News back in 1991, De Niro's character, Leonard Lowe, is a real person based on a real patient of Sacks, described as “an exceptionally well-read man, freely quoting...
Despite Being Remarkably Accurate, Awakenings Is Still A Fictional Tale
There are many differences between the Awakenings book and the movie. The most notable is that Oliver Sacks doesn't appear in the movie, with the Dr. Malcolm Sayer character that is played by Robin Williams standing in for him. This was a deliberate decision to give the writers artistic license for dramatic scenes and friction that didn't occur in real life (including flirting with a female nurse, which the real Oliver Sacks never did, as he was homosexual). The patients in Awakenings have ha...
Playing A Fictional Version Of Dr. Sacks Was Robin William's Favorite Role
Of course, Awakenings made various changes to the stories of Sacks’ patients, but as it counted on Sacks as technical advisor, the crew made sure that it stayed true to the essence of the book and gave a true yet devastating portrayal of encephalitis lethargica and its effects. Character-actor and adlib performer extraordinaire, Robin Williams, and Oliver Sacks were close friends by the time both sadly passed away, meeting on the set of Awakenings. Williams spent a lot of time with Sacks to m...
- Adrienne Tyler
Jan 11, 1991 · Awakenings: Directed by Penny Marshall. With Robert De Niro, Robin Williams, Julie Kavner, Ruth Nelson. 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.
- (159K)
- Biography, Drama
- Penny Marshall
- 1991-01-11
Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 82% of 38 film critics have given the film a positive review, with an average rating of 6.6/10. Its consensus states: "Elevated by some of Robin Williams'[s] finest non-comedic work and a strong performance from Robert De Niro, Awakenings skirts the edges of melodrama, then soars above it."
A great film. Penny Marshall's Awakenings is a very emotional movie and heartwarming to say the least. Marshall has out done herself with this picture. The movie is a masterpiece. Robin Williams is great and Robert De Niro should have won the Oscar for his performance in this movie.
Dec 20, 1990 · Metascore Generally Favorable Based on 18 Critic Reviews. 74. User Score Universal Acclaim Based on 169 User Ratings. 8.3. My Score. Hover and click to give a rating. Add My Review. Where to Watch. Vudu ($3.99) All Watch Options. View All. Robert De Niro. Leonard Lowe. Robin Williams. Dr. Malcolm Sayer. Julie Kavner. Eleanor Costello. Ruth Nelson.
