Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

The Doctor Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf February 22, 2019

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.

A star surgeon at a respected San Francisco hospital, Dr. Jack (William Hurt) doesn’t take much time with his patients, and treats the procedures of his job with robotic authority, acting flippant with his fellow professionals, including Dr. Murray (Mandy Patinkin), with his ego outpacing his care. He lives comfortably but remains distant from wife Anne (Christine Lahti) and son Nicky (Charlie Korsmo), preferring to stay in his bubble of professional achievements, dealing with life or death situations coolly. After suffering with throat issues for some time, Jack decides to get his issue checked out by Dr. Leslie (Wendy Crewson), who reveals that a cancerous growth has developed, with radiation treatment to begin immediately. Suddenly thrust into the position of a patient, Jack is subjected to various tests and waits that offer him a unique view of the medical world, causing him tremendous frustration as he tries to sustain his lifestyle. Along the way, Jack finds a friend in June (Elizabeth Perkins), a woman dealing with a brain tumor who offers the doctor a special look at his situation, helping him to identify his emotions with support from someone going through the same experience.

The easy way to play “The Doctor” would be to make Jack a monster. The screenplay by Laura Ziskin doesn’t head in that direction, instead clarifying the character’s glib attitude around the daily procedures he leads as a successful surgeon. Jack orders up cheery pop music in the operating room, also demanding a lewd country song to close every surgery. He’s dismissive of patient concerns, always on the prowl for humor in every situation, failing to recognize the intensity of feeling emerging from those he’s treating. At home, he’s a ghost, with his own son barely engaging with him, while Anne carries on with household management while her husband works constantly, expecting him to be elsewhere at all times. But Jack isn’t a ghoul, he’s just emotionally unavailable and detached from the severity of his profession, giving “The Doctor” room to slowly untangle a knotted psyche, with the character experiencing a profound awakening he fights like mad to suppress.

Haines doesn’t encourage a light switch-style renewal for Jack, electing to track the evolution of the doctor’s treatment as he goes from a man of denial to a patient strapped to a table. “The Doctor” finds its footing in this section of the story, isolating the horror of medical procedures that torment the sick, some without warning, adding elements of physical exposure and confusion, while the pains of waiting room life are examined in detail. It’s vivid stuff, supported by Haines’s particular focus on Jack’s restlessness with the system he’s part of, forced to wait for doctors, fill out endless forms, and remain outside with other ill people. There’s privilege and abuses of authority, but Ziskin keeps Jack’s outbursts organic, pairing them with a growing sense of hopelessness, which is mitigated by June’s friendship.

“The Doctor” eventually moves over to June and Jack’s relationship, which eats up a little more screentime than it should, pushing Anne out of the story for too long. Still, June is critical to the tale, presenting behavioral clarity for Jack, who connects with her kindness and awareness of his situation. They end up on a trip to Nevada, which is meant to deepen their ties, almost to a point of romance, but mercifully the movie doesn’t go there. Less engaging are severely trimmed subplots concerning Jack’s absentee relationship with Nicky (their dynamic is basically an afterthought in the final cut), and there’s a weird aside with Dr. Murray and a malpractice suit he needs Jack to testify on his behalf about. The legal angles are never developed in full, making them more of a distraction than a widening of “The Doctor” world.

The Doctor Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"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 Doctor Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

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.

The Doctor Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features director Randa Haines.

• A Theatrical Trailer (1:52, SD) is included.

The Doctor Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

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.