Lorenzo's Oil (1992)

What an outstandingly Moving film I had tears rolling out of my eyes through the whole feature. I can't remember seeing a film as riveting and as moving as Lorenzo,s Oil in a very long time and the cast was awesome the 2 leading were Nick Nolte a Ten star actor if ever there was one and Susan Sarandon an actress of absolute star power. If I were in charge at the Academy awards I would give them both Emmys for best Actor and actress and the Boy Zack O'Malley Best supporting actor. Now having said all that I have to say this is not a suitable film for children under 13 due to the complex subject matter Ie the emotions involved here and the scientific Lingo,being used is beyond anyone under 13.Please use good judgement when allowing your kids to see this film not that it is violent or has bad language it is that the Emotions here are very TENSE I am still shaking after seeing Lorenzo suffering like he was that will take me some time to get over. But all In all it was a Awesome movie experience. I would recommend it to any one who likes tear jerker's .

'Lorenzo's Oil' tells an extraordinary story of two parents determined to save their son. Not long after the Odone's move to the States, their son, Lorenzo is diagnosed with ALD, a rare progressive congenital disease that only affects boys. Since there was no cure, and while all the doctors administer experimental treatments that only contribute to the deterioration of Lorenzo's condition, the Odone's have to fight the battle by themselves. Miller's writing and direction are solid. He, along with the actors, really manage to express the pain and hardship of the family. It's easy to empathize with the characters as we hope for them to achieve victory. Nick Nolte's Italian accent might take some getting used to but once one looks passed that, his performance will strike the viewer as something brilliant. A charming Kathleen Wilhoite also deserves special mention as Michaela's supportive sister. The child actor too is terrific. And last, but not least, Susan Sarandon delivers a transcendent performance as Michaela Odone, the mother who will give up at no cost to save her son. Based on a true story, such films remind the viewer the value of determination and courage. While it has its costs, the end result just shows what hope can do when one doesn't give up. Clearly, the real Odone's must have gone through far more than what the film has shown but in the end they managed to save their son and Augusto is now a crucial part of medical research on treatment of myelin while Michaelahas unfortunately passed away as her son lives on. 'Lorenzo's Oil' is an inspiring story that reminds us how miracles can happen when you don't give up.

This is a motion picture unlike any other I've ever seen. I highly recommend the film, yet this is not an easy movie to watch. It depicts human suffering in such a brutal and forthright manner that it's hard to believe it received only a PG-13 rating. After viewing this film I felt tired and wrung-out, which just goes to show how the family who experienced this in real life must have felt. The movie is not so much about the little boy Lorenzo, suffering from a 100% fatal illness, but rather his parents' dogged determination to find a cure, despite stern opposition from the medical community and other parents who have basically given up hope. It raises the question of whether research money should be spent on finding the cure for a rare disease that effects relatively few people, or rather using that money for finding a cure for a more common disease that effects millions. There have been many good movies made about the triumph of the human will over a fatal illness, but Lorenzo's Oil has so much more to offer than that. But even though the movie has a relatively "happy" ending, getting there is certainly not a comfortable ride.

An inspiring true-life account of a husband and wife who, out of desperation, discover a treatment for their son's disease that otherwise had been dismissed by the medical community as untreatable.This is Lifetime movie stuff, and at any number of moments the film threatens to topple over into the overly maudlin and treacly. But it mostly avoids those pitfalls thanks largely to Nick Nolte and Susan Sarandon, who play the mom and dad and who make this film worth watching. Sarandon's role is a bit more stock, that of the suffering mother. But Nolte is ferocious as a man with an obsession, literally racing the clock to save his little boy.Will probably never be considered a great film, but is at least a pretty good one.Grade: B