6.9 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Jack McKee is a doctor with it all: he's successful, he's rich, and he has no problems.... until he is diagnosed with throat cancer. Now that he has seen medicine, hospitals, and doctors from a patient's perspective, he realises that there is more to being a doctor than surgery and prescriptions.
Starring: William Hurt, Christine Lahti, Elizabeth Perkins, Mandy Patinkin, Adam ArkinDrama | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 16-bit)
None
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Director Randa Haines earned accolades and awards for her sensitive treatment of sexual abuse and incest in the 1984 television film, “Something About Amelia.” But her career truly took off with 1986’s “Children of a Lesser God,” which managed to collect a Best Actress Oscar for actress Marlee Matlin, while her co-star, William Hurt, enjoyed a nomination for his work in the lauded feature. It took some time for Haines to return to the screen, but in 1991, she delivered “The Doctor,” reuniting with Hurt for a semi-charged look at the inner workings of health care in America, taking inspiration from the book “A Taste of My Own Medicine,” written by Dr. Edward Rosenbaum. The topic of finding compassion in an inherently cold, unwelcoming medical system is a bit of gimme, but “The Doctor” finds a direct way to address the inadequacies of the system, following and tweaking Rosenbaum’s odyssey as a surgeon forced to experience the trial of treatment once he’s confronted with a cancer diagnosis. Haines can’t completely get her hands around every subplot in the movie, but her dedication to the humanity of the piece is remarkable, crafting something approachable for the mass audience that still retains emotional nuance and provides a careful challenge of hospital practices.
"The Doctor" was initially issued on Blu-ray by Mill Creek in 2012. Kino Lorber revisits the feature in 2019 with an AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation. While a straight comparison of the two releases isn't possible at this time, the Kino Lorber disc does feature an older scan of the movie. Visual fatigue is present but not distracting, with the viewing experience basic in appearance, showcasing decent detail with medical particulars, including surgical scenes and close-up tests. Skin surfaces are reasonably textured, along with crisp hospital uniforms and professional suits. Interiors offer decoration with some sharpness, providing a feel for waiting rooms and domestic locations. Colors are slightly muted, but broader pushes of lighter blues and clean whites dominate hospital visits, while the redness of innards remains. Skintones have their reddish surges here and there, but remain within the realm of natural. Delineation isn't ideal, but very few scenes wrestle with solidification issues, and most costuming is open for study. Source is in strong shape, without damage.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix delivers a slightly wider listening event for "The Doctor." This is not a forceful track, respecting the movie's delicate, introspective nature, but some activity is found along the way, with surgical scenes capturing the nuance of equipment and doctor movement. Dialogue exchanges are sharp and true, supporting subtle emotionality and more pronounced acts of vocal frustration. Scoring is defined and selective, coming through with satisfactory instrumentation. Clarity is sustained throughout, with decent atmospheric changes for exteriors in the city and the desert, and hospital commotion is communicated.
Hurt is outstanding in "The Doctor," delivering one of his most complete performances in the picture, paired well with Perkins, who also supplies career-best work in the film. The acting is powerful, with Haines making it a point to avoid melodrama as much as possible, though she does indulge in a few audience-pleasing moments to reach the back row. "The Doctor" is emotional, authentically so, and has a lasting message concerning the ways of compassion in the medical industry that resonates 28 years later, retaining much of its power. Even with rough edges, the movie manages to capture a profound understanding of care and survival, with Haines isolating a specific experience with aim to challenge the apathy of an entire industry.
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