AWAKENINGS - 35th Anniversary 4K UHD Blu-Ray

Rating 4 out of 5

Robin Williams and Penny Marshall are both best known for the laughter they brought to audiences, but their talents extended beyond that. Williams was, in addition to being one of the most talented comedic actors who would leave audiences dying of laughter, an exceptional dramatic actor with memorable performances in films like Good Will Hunting, Insomnia and Dead Poets Society that have defined his legacy, while Marshall was an outstanding director in bringing to life human stories with notable films like A League of Their Own and The Preacher’s Wife. Naturally, it comes as no surprise that their collaboration in Awakenings showcases the best of their combined talents, delivering a deeply moving and tender dramatization of what could only be described as a miracle.

Fictionalizing the autobiographical memoir of Oliver Sacks, the film tells the story of a doctor who is able to awaken a group of catatonic patients with a drug and follows the group of patients as they acclimatize to a new world decades after when they lost responsiveness and the doctor who made this discovery. As the screenplay details, the events that this film is based on are unexplainable, something that can only be described as a miracle beyond human comprehension, and this sense of wonder is never lost in Marshall’s direction. Guiding the entire film with a tenderness, never overplaying the moments for dramatic effect, Marshall’s direction instead allows the natural emotional response of the characters to play out without pomp and circumstance. By doing so, this more natural exploration of such an incredible medical event in Steven Zaillan’s screenplay allows the magic of the events to remain instead of trying to scientifically explain what happened, but championing the moving human story to create an emotional experience for viewers that they won’t soon forget. Undeniably uplifting in its storytelling, balancing the joy and sadness of the events as these patients struggle to adapt to the new world they find themselves in, Marshall’s direction finds a happiness despite the story’s ending, leaving the audience with the sentiment, “don’t be sad its over, but be happy that it happened.”

Though, it is the lead performances of Williams and Robert De Niro that are the highlights of the film. Williams brings an undeniable warmth and passion to the film as Malcolm Sayer, the neurologist who discovers the medical miracle for the patients, endlessly championing his patients and their quality of life despite the pushback from the hospital administration more concerned about the cost and legality of the situation. It is an exceptional performance from Williams that once again showcases his dramatic range with that endless twinkle that has defined every performance he gave, effortlessly matching Marshall’s tone for the film. 

De Niro is nothing short of fantastic in his Academy Award nominated performance as Leonard Lowe, the main patient that awakens from his catatonic state. With a curiosity and desire to live that is present in every scene of the film, it’s a far quieter and more emotionally vulnerable performance than audiences expect from De Niro, but one that tugs on the heartstrings at every moment of the film. From his softer beginnings as Leonard rediscovers his mobility and the world with an endless optimism and hope, a cruel sadness as his freedom is restricted by the fear of something going wrong as he ventures out into the world, to the devastating slide back into his catatonic state, De Niro will not leave a dry eye among viewers. 

As magical as the true events it is based on, Penny Marshall’s Awakenings is a gem of film. Led by two sensational performances from Robin Williams and Robert De Niro, this true story medical miracle is a heartwarming drama that nourishes the soul and allows Awakenings to conjure up an unforgettable experience that is a must see for all who have not seen this classic 1990 film.