John Q.

Starring: Denzel Washington, Robert Duvall, James Woods, Anne Heche, Kimberly Elise, Ray Liotta, Eddie Griffin, Shawn Hatosy
Directed by: Nick Cassavetes
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama, Thriller
2002

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: When his son collapses during a baseball game, John Q. Archibald (Denzel Washington) and his wife (Kimberly Elise) learn that their son needs a heart transplant. John does everything in his power to raise the money needed, but his part time job at the factory doesn't produce anywhere near enough to pay for the bills that their insurance won't cover. When his wife calls him and says, "John! DO SOMETHING", John decides to take some hostages in the hospital, and holding them at gunpoint, makes only a single request- that his son's name be placed on the donor's list for a possible heart transplant.

Review:

Tim: John Q. tells a story than desperately needs to be told. In America today, the state of health care is atrocious. John Q. is really the story of millions of Americans, who are too poor to afford decent coverage, yet not poor enough to qualify for welfare. The health care system has screwed working class Americans for many, many years.

For that reason, this film has a powerful message that it should have delivered with full force. However, John Q. is a watered-down version of the truth, relying far too much on ideals and happy endings. This had the potential to be a powerful, powerful drama that could have shocked America into trying desperately to fix health care. Sadly, the end result falls short of its potential.

While this is a semi-powerful film addressing a very real problem, its not very realistic. It wants to tell an interesting story rather than a realistic one. I don't want to spoil the movie for anyone, but let's just say things don't happen the way they do in John Q.'s world. The film has its idealistic moments, wishing the world we live in was better than it really is.

Getting away from the realistic/unrealistic side of the film, Washington gives a powerful performance. He excellently plays the role of a father faced with losing his only son. Washington needed to hold this film together, needed to give a performance that would justify his unorthodox attempt to get a new heart for his son. When you watch the film, you're on John Q.'s side the entire time, waiting in anticipation for good news, watching over your shoulder constantly for a sniper's bullet, praying for a miracle.

I do recommend this film, as it addresses one of the key problems in America today, and does so in an entertaining and gripping way. The father/son relationship in this film is both touching and beautiful, and I won't be surprised if there are a few damp eyes near the end of the movie. I really do like this film, and I think you'll be glad you watched it. Try to get the most out of this film, and pay more attention to the message than the actual plot of the film. Hollywood and real life are two completely different things, but hidden in a mess of feel-good drama and "good" characters unlike most people in America, John Q.brings up some good questions, and simply states that health care in America needs to change... before what happens on screen happens in real life- and then, we won't have the magic of Hollywood to sugarcoat everything.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



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