Extraordinary Measures

The faceplate reviewer goes out of his way to pan the leads, Harrison Ford and Brendan Fraser as being too old, curmudgeonly and too fat and weepy. OK. Thanks for expressing those opinions, which, BTW, I don't share. Yes. There's no doubt this is a sentimental flick with great emotional overtones and certainly qualifies as a three hanky job. Seeing children suffer, whether they're cute, charming, cuddly or not, is not pleasant. But, the fact that there are these kinds of kids who endure the ravages of disease stemming from their own bodies is a sad reality and I would argue it takes a pretty stern person to consider these conditions unemotionally. The movie is based on a book and like any biopic, a certain amount of license is taken in bringing the story to the screen. However, the story is never maudlin. The script is full of sentiment but never slips down to the level of being overly sentimental. In effect, it's a tale of people with various agendas driven by the desperation of a father trying to help his children from dying an early death. There is no deus ex machina, here. The conflicts which impede the goal largely stem from the personal agendas of the players in the drama. Sound familiar? You bet. That's what good writing is all about and when life imitates myth, it's even better. This is a good movie. Go see it. And, if you do so without puddling up at the eyeballs, you're made of sterner stuff than me.

One of the most underrated films of the year. Clearly this movie was too intellectual for the general public. Well acted, well directed and with a very powerful message. The movie shows to what lenghts good parents will go for their children. It also reveals the difficulty in placing a new well needed drug with the FDA. The message this movie reveals is the priority of costs by drug companies over the health concerns of individuals and families affected by rare diseases. Both Bryandon Frasier and Harrison Ford deliver powerful performances in this film. Its refreshing to watch a film and not have to sit thought the typical car chase or shoot-out.

source: Extraordinary Measures

This movie had Harrison Ford playing himself; basically an asshole. This a good, emotional movie that won't disappoint almost any movie watcher.

We just watched this film, and yes it may be "formulaic" but wtf do people want about a story of treating sick kids? I think all of the actors did a good job. I felt every moment of stress and tension along the way. Brendan is as lovable as ever, and he paired really well with Ford. It's heart breaking to see what it would be like in these parents' shoes, and this movie only made me appreciate medicine and science even more than I already do. Obviously it's going to have a happy ending! You can gather that right away from the tone. But that doesn't make the journey any less enjoyable. Lord, you can't please everyone these days, but to me, this film was wonderful and heartfelt, and I highly recommend.

I haven't seen a movie for a long time till i saw this that has all of the following. Love, family, marketing strategies, executing theory to practice, sentiment, jokes, message for humanity, practical difficulties for an organization,trust,betrayal,forgiveness,Hope,failure,success.. If you Guys have kids,you gonna enjoy this movie for sure.I loved the Dr.Stonehill character.Nice exhibition of natural self-pride that belongs to a scientist.Not for a minute while watching,i felt when it's gonna end.I was living with them..nice editing to insert cute moments then and there.

While you can feel the made-for-TV energy seeping out of this film, it has many examples of realistic science and is a fantastic lens into the world of scientific research and all of the struggles that come along with it. Even though it may not be a totally accurate retelling of the true story, many of the main points are hit and hit well. Pretty good coming from CBS Films if you ask me.

The movie was moderately complex. It is very easy for one to get lost in the business jargon, although they do try to minimise the scientific one. Another movie that carries a similar message in a less intellectual manner is John Q. On the other hand, the acting is superb. If sympathy for the victims of the disease was the objective, they succeeded. The hope, the fight in the parents was easily felt throughout the film, and the realism of the film is top notch. Tho only problem is the business jargon, apart from that, it is a really good movie. Harrison Ford acts the eccentric scientist remarkably well, and the switchover to the sympathetic friend, another plus. Personally, i believe the film was slightly less about how far a parent would go for the child, and more about the profit-orientation of drug companies. Nevertheless, it is a great film.

Pompe, a genetic disease where the human body is missing an enzyme and therefore can't break down a certain kind of sugar so that it builds up in muscle cells, first of all the heart, skeletal muscles and the diaphragm which leads to having a hard time breathing. Organ failure and slow paralysis of the limbs most likely ensue. This is one family's unimaginable fight against seemingly never ending hurdles to get enzyme treatment for their two Pompe-ridden kids, and it's a race against time. Loosely based upon real events, suffice it to say that this is the first outing of CBS's recently established film division, and it's very well acted throughout. Still, like "Lorenzo's Oil" eighteen years ago, a project like this one first and foremost strives to raise awareness, hence defying any kind of criticism.

The division of opinions for this film seem to reflect the conflict between the characters of Dr. Webber and Mr. Crowley. Sometimes there is a need for strict reality, but often a feel good story with a positive outcome is what the viewer wants. In this case matters of the heart took precedence. As the parent of two special needs kids, this story helped validate the struggles many parents have faced in not knowing if their children would survive a major health crisis. To the realists and their negative reviews I would say this: the movie was based on a book titled "The Cure." What did you think you were going to get? Bravo to the actors and writers of Extraordinary Measures.