Review of Awakenings (1990) by Nik M — 22 Oct 2012

This was a very humane and warm movie, nice change for all the violent hollywood spectacles. It also had great acting, especially by Robert De Niro. The storytelling flows seamlessly from the beginning to the end, and as I wrote the acting was convincing, although I felt that Dr.

Malcolm Sayer, even though not being a representation of Dr. Sacks, was behaving more like a kindergarten lady than a medical doctor. A bit sentimental, if that's the word. Based on Dr. Oliver Sakcs' book by the same name, the film helped bring an important issue of sick, institutionalized people and neurological disease to the consiousness of the people around the world.

Another, similar, and equally successful film could have easily been created based one some other of Dr. Sacks' books, which are always so enlightening and well written.