Awakenings

''Awakenings'' is a 1990 American biographical drama film written by Steven Zaillian, directed by Penny Marshall, and starring Robert De Niro, Robin Williams, Julie Kavner, Ruth Nelson, John Heard, Penelope Ann Miller, Peter Stormare and Max von Sydow. It is based on Oliver Sacks's 1973 nonfiction memoir ''Awakenings''. The film tells the story of the fictional neurologist Dr. Malcolm Sayer (Williams), whose character is based on Sacks.

In 1969, Sayer discovers the beneficial effects of the drug L-DOPA and administers the drug to catatonic patients who survived the 1919–1930 epidemic of encephalitis lethargica. The patients—among them the focal character Leonard Lowe (De Niro)—are awakened after decades and must therefore try to acclimate to life in a new and unfamiliar time.

The film is produced by Walter Parkes and Lawrence Lasker, who first encountered Sacks's book as undergraduates at Yale University. Released on December 12, 1990, ''Awakenings'' was a critical and commercial success, earning $108.7 million on a $29 million budget. It was nominated for three Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Actor (De Niro), and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Plot

In 1969, Dr. Malcolm Sayer is a dedicated and caring physician at a local hospital in the New York City borough of the Bronx. After working extensively with the catatonic patients who survived the 1919–1930 epidemic of encephalitis lethargica, Sayer discovers a stimuli that will "awaken" the patients from their respective catatonic states. Actions such as catching a ball, hearing familiar music, being called by their name, and enjoying human touch each have unique effects on particular patients and offer a glimpse into their worlds. Patient Leonard Lowe seems to remain unmoved, but Dr. Sayer learns that Leonard is able to communicate with him by using a Ouija board.

After attending a lecture at a conference on the drug L-DOPA and its success for patients with Parkinson's disease, Sayer believes that the drug may offer a breakthrough for his own group of patients. A trial run with Leonard yields astounding results; Leonard completely "awakens" from his catatonic state. This success inspires Sayer to ask for funding from donors, so that all the catatonic patients can receive the L-DOPA medication and gain "awakenings" to reality and the present.

Meanwhile, Leonard is adjusting to his new life and becomes romantically interested in Paula, the daughter of another hospital patient. Leonard begins to chafe at the restrictions placed on him as a patient of the hospital, desiring the freedom to come and go as he pleases. He stirs a revolt by arguing his case to Sayer and the hospital administration. As Leonard becomes more agitated, Sayer notices that a number of facial and body tics begin to manifest, which Leonard has difficulty controlling.

Although Dr. Sayer and the hospital staff are initially overjoyed by the success of L-DOPA in reviving a group of catatonic patients, they soon realize that the effects are only temporary. Leonard, the first to "awaken", is also the first to show signs of decline. His tics gradually worsen, his walk becomes a shuffle, and he begins to experience full-body spasms that severely limit his movement. Despite the pain, Leonard remains resolute. He asks Dr. Sayer to film him, hoping that his experience may one day contribute to research that helps others.

Aware of his deteriorating condition, Leonard shares a final lunch with Paula. He tells her that he can no longer see her, but before parting ways, she invites him to dance. While they dance, Leonard's spasms cease for a brief, calming moment.

Although Leonard and Sayer reconcile, Leonard soon returns to a catatonic state. One by one, the other patients follow, despite increasing doses of L-DOPA.

Dr. Sayer speaks to a group of hospital donors, explaining that while the physical awakenings were fleeting, a deeper awakening had occurred, with most a renewed sense of appreciation for life. Sayer also grows from the experience, finally overcoming his intense shyness to ask Nurse Eleanor Costello for coffee.

The staff now treats the patients with greater empathy and dignity, and Paula continues to visit Leonard. Although Leonard is again unresponsive, he and Sayer maintain their connection through the Ouija board, a quiet testament to the enduring human spirit.

Cast

* Robert De Niro as Leonard Lowe
** Anthony J. Nici as Young Leonard
* Robin Williams as Dr. Malcolm Sayer
* Julie Kavner as Eleanor Costello
* John Heard as Dr. Kaufman
* Penelope Ann Miller as Paula
* Max von Sydow as Dr. Peter Ingham
* Vincent Pastore as Ward #5 Patient #6
* Ruth Nelson as Mrs. Lowe
* Alice Drummond as Lucy
* Judith Malina as Rose
* George Martin as Frank
* Anne Meara as Miriam
* Mary Alice as Nurse Margaret
* Richard Libertini as Sidney
* Keith Diamond as Anthony
* Peter Stormare as neurochemist
* Bradley Whitford as Dr. Tyler
* Dexter Gordon as Rolando

Production

Casting

On September 15, 1989, Liz Smith reported that those being considered for the role of Leonard Lowe's mother were Kaye Ballard, Shelley Winters and Anne Jackson. Three weeks later, ''Newsday'' named Nancy Marchand as the leading contender.

In January 1990—more than three quarters of the way through the film's four-month shooting schedule— the matter was seemingly resolved when the February 1990 issue of ''Premiere'' magazine published a widely cited story belatedly informing fans that not only had Winters gotten the role, she had been targeted at De Niro's request and had been cast by displaying her Oscar awards (for the benefit of veteran casting director, Bonnie Timmermann).

Despite Liz Smith's, ''Newsday'''s and ''Premieres seemingly definitive reports (which, minus any mention of the specific film being discussed, would be periodically reiterated and ultimately embellished in subsequent years), the film was released in December 1990, featuring neither Winters (whose early dismissal evidently resulted from continuing attempts to pull rank on director Penny Marshall) nor any of the other previously publicized candidates (nor at least two others, Jo Van Fleet and Teresa Wright, identified in subsequent accounts),Haun, Harry (2000).
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Filming

Principal photography for ''Awakenings'' began on October 16, 1989, at the Kingsboro Psychiatric Center in Brooklyn, New York, which was operating, and lasted until February 16, 1990. According to Williams, actual patients were used in the filming of the movie. In addition to Kingsboro, sequences were filmed at the New York Botanical Garden, Julia Richman High School, the Casa Galicia, and Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Reception

''Awakenings'' was released theatrically on December 12, 1990, with an opening weekend gross of $417,076, opening in second place behind ''Home Alone'''s ninth weekend, with $8,306,532. It went on to gross $52.1 million in the United States and Canada, and $56.6 million internationally, for a worldwide total of $108.7 million.

Critical response

''Awakenings'' received positive reviews from critics. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 81% of 37 film critics have given the film a positive review, with an average rating of 6.6/10. Its consensus states: "Elevated by some of Robin Williams' finest non-comedic work and a strong performance from Robert De Niro, ''Awakenings'' skirts the edges of melodrama, then soars above it." Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average score from reviews of mainstream critics, gives the film a score of 74 out of 100, based on 18 reviews. Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a grade of A on a scale of A+ to F.

Roger Ebert of the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' gave the film a rating of four stars out of four, writing:

Owen Gleiberman of ''Entertainment Weekly'' praised the film's performances, citing,

Oliver Sacks, the author of the memoir on which the film is based, "was pleased with a great deal of he film, explaining,

Desson Howe of ''The Washington Post'' said that the film's tragic aspects did not live up to the strength in its humor, saying,

Similarly, Janet Maslin of ''The New York Times'' concluded her review by stating,

Accolades

The film was nominated for three Academy Awards, including: the Academy Award for Best Picture, the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, and the Academy Award for Best Actor (Robert De Niro). Robin Williams was also nominated at the 48th Golden Globe Awards for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama.

Explanatory notes

References

External links

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{{Steven Zaillian

1990 films
1990 drama films
American drama films
Columbia Pictures films
1990s English-language films
Films scored by Randy Newman
Drama films based on actual events
Films based on non-fiction books
Films based on memoirs
Films directed by Penny Marshall
Films set in 1969
Films set in psychiatric hospitals
Films shot in New York City
Films set in the Bronx
Films with screenplays by Steven Zaillian
Medical-themed films
Films based on works by Oliver Sacks
Films produced by Walter F. Parkes
1990s American films