Review of You Don't Know Jack (2010) by Eduardo S — 03 Jun 2011

Great biography of a man who just passed away. I'm glad I saw it, I didn't really follow his story very intently, because so much of it shocked, saddened, amused and filled me with admiration for the man.

I read that Jack walked the red carpet with Al Pacino and cried, he loved the film and its portrayal. I was very angry at the murder charge that sent him to prison, it was bogus. If he was charged with murder (with the assisted suicide charge dropped, so the testimony of the family wouldn't be heard and sway the jury's emotions and give them more information), then why weren't the family members present charged with being accessories to murder, or called to the stand as witnesses? It was such a miscarriage of "justice" and that judge was a moron.

Poor Jack didn't really understand the legal system, he understood justice but not the system, the nonsense, the bureaucracy and politics. What the film really showcased was that a lot of these people who ended up dying could have had a better, real life despite their disabilities if they only had the financial needs.

For example, a man who could not afford home care. If he lived in MN, he'd have a shot at a life, but if he lived basically anywhere else, forget it. I hate the hypocrisy of the people who angrily accuse the man of playing God, when they are indeed playing God themselves by pushing people to suicide because of their lack of health care.

It's like a lot of people in this country support life itself, but not its quality. Anyway, a problem (or rather a question) I did have regarding the film was why did Jack use so many different methods of assisted suicide? He had so many, and I didn't understand why.

Was it what the patient wanted, did he think it would be better for them medically, what? I'll have to watch it again and read into it. Overall, it's a story of a man with a belief and iron-clad conviction and passion, and I respect him for fighting for his patient's rights.

He did what he believed was right and put his money where his mouth was.