Review of You Don't Know Jack (2010) by Blake P — 10 Aug 2012

Convinced that dying isn't a crime, Dr. Jack Kevorkian (or as legend calls him, "Dr. Death), for years caused much controversy advocating assisted suicide, in which he would help a victim of terminal illness end their own life.

His "patients" grow over the years, and before long the media grabs onto the story, and Kevorkian becomes a cause for debate-- and eventually, he goes to prison for what he believes in. HBO, today known as one of the "classy" channels on TV, has proven over the years that "Lifetime" makes crappy made-for-TV movies-- not them.

"You Don't Know Jack" is a great example of HBO strutting their stuff. I didn't know much about Dr. Jack Kevorkian (I doubt most people did, hence the title), but after seeing this believable, and constantly compelling slice-of-life biopic, I gradually moved to the controversial doctor's side.

Played with endless empathy from veteran Al Pacino (in one of his best performances), we are introduced to a man that much of the world believes to be a serial killer on the outside-- but we eventually get to know him as an activist, a compassionate man who simply wants to see his goal come to life.

Pacino, who captures Kevorkian's many quirks, is perfectly cast, and I believe no actor could be as brilliant. Barry Levinson too, provides to be a simply perfect director; he seems to not even really have a side on the story, and instead paints us a picture as realistic as he can.

Combined with Pacino's charm, we root for Kevorkian, but we ultimately have a choice to. "You Don't Know Jack" might just cause as much controversy as the subject itself, but that what it's supposed to do.

This is a biopic that's so well acted and scripted, that every step of the way we are absorbed. Isn't that what good films should do?