You Don't Know Jack (2010)

You Don't Know Jack is a good TV movie with a reasonably well developed plot and a stellar cast. The performances are certainly what holds it all together, Al Pacino shows that he's still got it as he portrays the controversial doctor Jack Kevorkian, who fought for patients right to end it all. He is joined by a top notch supporting cast that are for or against this case, such as John Goodman and Susan Sarandon.The film is very biased towards Kevorkian's views, we do not get the hear the other side enough, which would have been very effective. This would have aloud the audience to form their own opinion on this real life situation, instead of being forced to view one side. It fails to be compelling, it never takes any risks, there are no big moments that engross us in to this story and truly bring it to life, I felt underwhelmed by the end. Terrific cast and an interesting true story, You Don't Know Jack may not be anything special, but it is worth the watch if you are looking for a good drama. A former doctor turned activist fights for peoples rights to be put down if they can no longer cope with the suffering of an illness. Best Performance: Al Pacino

This movie offers a non-sensationalized account of the career of Dr. Jack Kevorkian. Although the movie is not unbiased, it still manages to avoid becoming an outright polemic arguing in favor of assisted suicide. The movie presents both sides of the issue. The title character, Dr. Jack Kevorkian, is portrayed as a victim of a justice system that is too inflexible and biased to afford him justice. Hence, he is treated as a criminal for doing something that he believes is beneficial his patients, which is assisting them in exercising their right to die. Dr. Kevorkian is portrayed as a crusader for patients' rights which he claims are being ignored by a medical establishment that would rather permit a patient to die in pain than to end the suffering. Kevorkian's argument is compelling. The problem is, as depicted by the movie, that Dr. Kevorkian is assisting his patients without any outside controls as would normally be expected for any kind of treatment modality. This leaves him vulnerable to criminal prosecution which occurs, thus effectively ending his medical career. Al Pacino's resemblance to the actual Jack Kevorkian is uncanny; his performance is outstanding. He captures Kevorkian's rage, sense of indignation and his commitment to his cause. There is no question that Dr. Kevorkian believed that he was doing right by his patients. He knows that he is going it alone and that it is only a matter of time before he is stopped.

A biopic that is at times really hard to watch, but does an admirable job in telling things as they are - even if it is 'just' a movie. In America, this issue is still... an issue, in Holland... it also still is (pain, suffering and death will not be eradicated from life with a changing of the law, even if it may of course help considerably), since recently a doctor took his own life after euthanizing a patient under (alledged) suspicious circumstances and being investigated by a medical board. Still, the rules áre more humane here than in America, with exception of a few states (though it must be assisted suicide, not euthanasia, something which would be unthinkable in Holland). It can be made to be a difficult subject of debate, but here (in the film) the conditions for euthanasia are clear and, for instance, Kevorkian turns down about 97% of the requests and a man who is 'simply' depressed, is refused as well. Sure, he paints macabre paintings and he has a strong tendency to make life as difficult as possible for himself, but he has great wit and a tough history to overcome. I should say 'had', may he rest in peace.Back to the cinema. Al Pacino plays a captivating Dr. Kevorkian, and Vaccano, Goodman, Huston and Sarandon assist wonderfully. With its runtime well over two hours, it is no small feat that it does not bore for a minute; not only is this story interesting and challenging, but it is told with great care and calm and does not repeat itself at all. Every new case adds a new element to the story of Kevorkian's struggle for a basic civil right. Visually I really liked the film, too; sober and grayish, though it has atmosphere in spades.A good 8 out of 10.

Have you ever been seriously ill? Once you're told that you'll recover, you probably found it boring, more than anything else. What if you weren't going to get better? What would you do?Jack Kevorkian (played by Al Pacino) was a pathologist but, by the time we join the story he has left his career behind. His friends and colleagues say he's retired but Kevorkian (Pacino) states that retirement means you are no longer preoccupied with your chosen profession and that he is simply unemployed. Being unemployed, he has a great deal of free time and is intrigued by a local news story. A man who is paralyzed from the neck down wishes to end his life while the hospital caring for him is fighting to prevent it. Kevorkian had written several articles on euthanasia for foreign periodicals by that time and was now determined to make practical use of his theories. The hospital learned of his intentions, stopped him, and the patient died of starvation. Nevertheless, our protagonist continued his search for a patient. Assisting him in this quest, the doctor had longtime friend and colleague, Neal Nicol (played by John Goodman) and his loving sister, Margo (played by Brenda Vaccaro). In time, he is approached by a married couple, a woman suffering from Alzheimer's and her husband. This presents Kevorkian with an ethical dilemma, as Alzheimer's is not a fatal disease. Once Margo (Vaccaro) puts the matter in perspective, they begin devising a plan. While searching for a location, Kevorkian approached a member of the Hemlock Society by the name of Janet Good. Good (played by Susan Sarandon) offers the use of her home but later reneges. In spite of that, the plan is carried out and Kevorkian becomes national news.If you ask most people about the Right to Die movement, they'd probably tell you that reasonable people could disagree on the matter. Personally, I don't understand that, as I am an advocate of personal choice. Likewise, I believe this movie is incredible and cannot comprehend anyone thinking otherwise. Pacino has partnered with HBO on another project Phil Spector, about the renowned music producer. Maybe it's the fact that, deep down, Kevorkian is a sympathetic figure and Spector is not but, the latter film fell flat, at least for me. The story of You Don't Know Jack and supporting cast are incredible and Pacino himself won an Emmy for his performance, as he should've. I'm not sure how you'd find it, but you should absolutely see this film if you can.