Review of Awakenings (1990) by Theta S — 19 Mar 2011

Based on the book by Oliver Sacks, Awakenings tells the story of two men, Dr Malcolm Sayer who joins the staff of a chronic care psychiatric hospital and one of his charges, Leonard Lowe, a catatonic patient following the after effects of encephalytis thirty years earlier.

When Sayer finds a common link between Leonard's condition and that of several other patients, Sayer looks to help the patients with an experimental drug by trialling it on Leonard.

When Leonard is revived from his condition by the drug, the hospital's patrons funds the use of the drug to all of the other patients and they experience similar awakenings, but is this a miracle cure... or a false dawn?

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PLEASE DO NOT READ ON UNLESS YOU HAVE SEEN THE FILM - SPOILERS.

I saw this film back in 1991 and it's as powerful to me now as it was back then. This is primarily made through the performances of the two lead actors.

Robert De Niro delivers a powerful performance in the role of Leonard, in what is in essence a three act play for the character. The first 45 minutes or so presents a character that we're not used to seeing De Niro play - immobile, non speaking, helpless and, yet, you can't keep your eyes off him. The second act presents Leonard as the man waking up from his thirty year "sleep" - rediscovering life, a means of expression and the bonds of friendship, family and even, a romance of sorts. The third acts presents Leonard as the man who's chance of life is cruelly snatched away from him as the effects of the drug become equally as problematic as the illness itself. De Niro is exceptional in all aspects of the role of Leonard.

Robin Williams delivers an equally powerful performance as Sayer. Where Leonard and the other patients are trapped in a statue like state due to their neurological condition, Sayer is trapped emotionally due to his shyness, inability to bond with people and the fact that he is basically a research doctor rather than a physician. The magic of this film is as Leonard awakens, so does the character of Sayer and whereas we are used to the manic version of Robin Williams through various performances, this film presents Williams as a quiet, introverted and well played character actor and you wish that he had taken more roles such as this.

Both actors are ably supported by a brilliant supporting cast most notably Julie Kavner as hospital nurse and Sayer's main ally, Eleanor Costello, John Heard as Dr Kaufman - presented as the main "road block" to Sayer's plan to help the patients and Penelope Ann Miller as Leonard's "romantic" interest, Paula.

Additionally, all the actors who portray Leonard's fellow patients delivers great performances as they awaken from their condition and convey the patients' love for the simple things in life - like dancing, singing, going out on trips and finding out about a world that's left them behind.

Penny Marshall's direction and the script by Steven Zaillan is emotionally clever with it's audience by delivering emotion without the sugary nature that these films tend to have.

A great film.