Flowers for Algernon

2000 "Last month, Charlie Gordon couldn't read. Now he's quoting Shakespeare. Can the medical miracle that changed his life help him understand the meaning of love?"
6.6| 1h31m| NR| en| More Info
Released: 20 February 2000 Released
Producted By: Alliance Atlantis
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
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Synopsis

Charlie Gordon is mentally handicapped and all he wants in life is to be a genius. When he gets picked for experimental surgery it looks like his dream may finally come true. But the surgery has side effects that could could kill Charlie. Can Charlie survive being just plain old "Charlie Gordon" and will his newfound romance survive this test of character?

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Reviews

SpuffyWeb Sadly Over-hyped
Dirtylogy It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.
Zandra The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.
Lela The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.
TheBlueHairedLawyer Similar to its 1968 companion, 'Charly', Flowers for Algernon, Charly is a mentally disabled young man who goes through experimental surgery that was tested on mice. It makes him a genius, he even gets a girl and learns more in a few weeks than humanly possible... sadly this surgery has side-effects that could leave him dead, as he finds out when his pet lab mouse, Algernon, dies. Can poor Charly ever be what passes for "normal" in his peer group? These days psychologists think a pill can cure anything, that "turning of" autism, depression, Asperger's syndrome, Down's Syndrome is a necessity in today's age. One such medical treatment is Prozac, an antidepressant used to treat mental illness and mental handicaps. Here in Canada, the pills can be prescribed to children and teens, although they were never even approved for teens in the United States because of the increased risk of suicidal thoughts/behavior that comes with them. Right now it's just pills, society is the experiment, our children, our brothers, sisters, even those of us who suffer mental disabilities and illness. What if soon it isn't pills, it's brain surgery? Brain surgery that poses dangers? What will become of society then? How quickly doctors also forget, being mentally disabled doesn't mean "idiot", "retard" or "moron". There are autistic individuals capable of things the normal mind can't be. People with Asperger's often grow up to be authors, directors, any number of successful careers.It is difficult to watch Charly deteriorate in the movie, especially the moment when he discovers that he'll never fit in, that he'll always be a certain way and has no control over it. I honestly enjoyed the book more, it was more detailed from Charly's point of view. Still, this TV movie pulls off being an amazing story, with great soundtrack, decent-enough acting and a plot you'll never forget.
davidc-64 I first saw the Matthew Modine version, and I have never cried before or since, there are levels to be drawn from this film that were possibly never devised and never intended. The chords it struck in me, may be completely missed in others, perhaps it was just a sensitive moment, whether it be music,paintings,photos,sculptures,films, and even adverts we see what we see, we feel what we feel, independent of others. Be happy we are different, be happy we see things differently, be happy we are the same. I have since seen the Cliff Robertson version, another good film, not read the book and don't intend to. I understand some of the other comments regarding the book and film differences, from reading the Celestine Prophecy and watching the DVD, I prefer the book. Another film from book is Conversations with God, I like the film, I may read the book, but I got the message anyway, that's what I think it's all about.If you like reading get a book,if you like watching get a DVD/video, but don't miss the message.
hawktwo I was surprised to surf into this movie last week. I remembered the wonderful job Cliff Robertson had achieved in the same role -- movie was called Charly -- and for which he received an Oscar.Matthew Modine managed to quite believably transform himself into the various personas for this movie -- a very demanding role. At times he even physically seemed to be different persons. Based on this movie, I think he is very under-used and under-rated.
Michael-8 I must admit, the only reason I taped this movie was to see the spellbinding Kelli Williams, from "The Practice." I had no clue what the movie was about, but I figured she could carry the movie no matter what. Besides, I haven't read the book so I knew my view would not be "tainted" in that sense.Anyway, I was floored by the performances of both Modine and Williams. Modine's performance was good -- at no point was I convinced he was really retarded, but his transition from retarded to gifted and back again was well done. Williams acts with such sincerity and purity, it's easy for me to forget she's acting. Her performance was so genuine, at the end it actually felt as though she had actually experienced the horrible loss that her character experienced. She faces her loneliness utterly alone; she realizes this, and portrays it to a T.If you missed this film, I hope someday you will get a chance to see it again. If not, at least read the book. I know I will.

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