Awakenings (1990)

Director:

Penny Marshall

Writers (WGA):

Oliver Sacks (book)
Steven Zaillian (screenplay)

Release Date:

20 December 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

There is no such thing as a simple miracle.

Plot:

The victims of an encephalitis epidemic many years ago have been catatonic ever since, but now a new drug offers the prospect of reviving them.

Plot Keywords:

Influenza | Diaper Change | Catatonic | Catatonia | Coma

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Robert De Niro	...	Leonard Lowe
Robin Williams	...	Dr. Malcolm Sayer
Julie Kavner	...	Eleanor Costello
Ruth Nelson	...	Mrs. Lowe
John Heard	...	Dr. Kaufman
Penelope Ann Miller	...	Paula
Alice Drummond	...	Lucy
Judith Malina	...	Rose
Barton Heyman	...	Bert
George Martin	...	Frank
Anne Meara	...	Miriam
Richard Libertini	...	Sidney
Laura Esterman	...	Lolly
Dexter Gordon	...	Rolando
Jayne Haynes	...	Frances

Runtime:

121 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Australia:M | USA:PG-13 (certificate #30341) | South Korea:All | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:S | Iceland:L | Norway:11 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:11 | UK:12

Filming Locations:

Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Penny Marshall at first wanted Bill Murray to play Leonard Lowe, who was interested in the project, but she decided against it because she didn't want audiences expecting a comedy.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the scene in the parking lot just before Eleanor tells Dr. Sayer she believes his theory about the "will of the ball", Dr. Sayer is first shown from the passenger side of his Plymouth Valiant, which has no gear shift knob on the right side of the steering column. Valiant models in the '60s had what was known as "typewriter drive", where the driver changed gears by pressing buttons in a column on the dash to the left of the steering wheel. In the next shot, Sayer is shown from the driver's side and after he starts the car, he shifts gears with a knob on the right side of the steering column that wasn't there in the previous shot.

Quotes:

Leonard Lowe: Hello. My name is Leonard Lowe. It has been explained to me that I've been away for quite some time.I'm back.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Wogan: (1991-05-20)" (1991)

Soundtrack:

You Made Me Love You

Amazing

Simply put, this is one of the greatest movies ever. This is easily the most powerful tearjerker that I've ever seen, thanks in large part to the brilliant performances by Williams and De Niro. But to be fair, the whole cast was excellent, and they were helped by a script that was nearly perfect. For me, the scenes with Miller proved to be the most emotional, but really, the whole film was heartwarming or heartbreaking on some level. I don't tend to get emotional when watching movies, but this film managed to find a way into my heart, and I can't possibly recommend this movie enough to those of you who haven't been lucky enough to see it yet.