Awakenings
Awakenings
Dr. Sayer is a pioneering neurologist who wants to take a risk and give his patients who suffer from encephalitis a drug used for Parkinson's Disease. He tries it out on one man who miraculously wakes from his perpetual catatonic state.
Desmond Dale reviewedJanuary 24, 2025
At the heart of the story is the mantra to live every day like it's your last, and as cliched and trite as that type of moral usually reads, Awakenings manages to convey it with an earnestness and cogence that's undeniably moving.
Deniro gets to show off his acting chops, as he's tasked with a depiction of a character who goes from catatonic to vivacious and then back again while having to convey every little stage in between and the effects of the aftermath through strong nonverbal cues or at the end just a glimmer in his eyes.
The bittersweet ending grounds the story in realism and reminds the audience that this otherwise magical tale actually took place in our flawed, fucked up world. It's one of those films that's so emotionally affecting that I don't think I'll rewatch much, which is a testament to its effectiveness.