Review of Extraordinary Measures (2010) by Denise H — 01 Jun 2010

Harrison Ford was a crusty, bitter old professor. He just didn't seem to pull off the "loner attitude" I think he was reaching for. Brendan Fraser showed more levels of emotions in this film (some of his previous movies were real bombs). The little girl in the racing wheelchair did a splendid acting job and and her inter-personal relations with Harrison Ford were a riot!

The movie focused on all the politics and machinations that occur when testing and developing new "wonder" drugs. The infighting among the companies, the exorbitant costs for the drugs, the scrambling for FDA and government approval without taking into account the fact that peoples' lives are on "hold" until the drugs are released. Some patients die before the drugs are able to be released. IMHO when a patient has NO OTHER option, allow them to sign a waiver and given them the drug. If they're going to die soon and maybe, just maybe the drug might buy them a few months or years of additional life...let them have it. It's the patient's choice...it's their body.

And as far as who gets the drug during clinical trials...this movie proved that it's all who you know...who you can manipulate, who you're related to. Nothing really scientific about that??!