Nonureva Really Surprised!

Actuakers One of my all time favorites.

MoPoshy Absolutely brilliant

Monkeywess This is an astonishing documentary that will wring your heart while it bends your mind

Claudio Carvalho The efficient surgeon Dr. Jack MacKee (William Hurt) is a successful, wealthy and indifferent man, married to but distant from his wife Anne (Christine Lahti) and their son Nicky. When Jack is diagnosed with a growth in his throat, he is submitted to radiation therapy and feels how patients are treated and exposed in the hospital. He befriends the fellow patient June Ellis (Elizabeth Perkins), who has incurable brain tumor, and she gives a lesson of life to him. But his treatment does not work and Jack needs to be submitted to a surgery. What will happen to him?"The Doctor" is a sensitive drama with a magnificent story of a doctor that changes his values when he understands the perspective of patients after becoming one with cancer. William Hurt, Christine Lahti and Elizabeth Perkins have wonderful performances and the story is never corny despite the pleasant conclusion. My vote is eight.Title (Brazil): "Um Golpe do Destino" ("A Strike of the Destiny")

Rodrigo Amaro The successful team that brought us the sensitive and acclaimed "Children of a Lesser God" returns with another great emotional journey destined to turn our lives and views around. "The Doctor" reunites director Randa Haines and William Hurt in a powerful film that tells about the unexpected turns of life, the wake up call in which we stop, think about our past conducts and turn things for a more positive way. This little appreciated movie deserves a wider audience despite its mildly corny theme and the ones in more need of it are the ones depicted here: medical doctors. A glimpse to the story: Hurt plays Dr. Jack MacKee, a respected man who thinks he knows it all, with a God-complex like most medical doctors tend to have and act who finds himself with the tables turned when he's diagnosed as having throat cancer and has to deal with what his patients had to deal in several bureaucratic ways. He gets a taste of own his medicine this time as a patient who deals with uncaring doctors who fail to show up in scheduled appointments, long hours waiting for his name to get called and the up's and down's about possible results, tests and treatments. MacKee is one of those arrogant guys who thinks he knows it all about his craft but doesn't know how to interact with his patients - his interactions with his fellow workers are beautiful, filled with jolly humored moments, as demonstrated right in the opening where they're listening to a "Frankie Vallie & The Four Seasons" song during a surgery. A common phrase I heard during the years is that "doctors are the worst patients". Hurt's character fits the criteria with such accuracy that it's almost painful to watch. He's impatient, nervous, doesn't know how to cope with his diagnosis without alienating his wife and kid, and even some of his colleagues. But he finds some light with another patient (Elizabeth Perkins), who has a brain tumor. She's the one who brings this guy back to earth, back to the common suffering people and allows him to see a better side of life despite she's being in a worst condition as his. Along with those more tender moments, we have parallel stories involving the way Jack deals with his wife (Christine Lahti) and kid (Charlie Korsmo), both of whom he alienates a little bit and she's the one who tries to be very supportive but gets blocked by him each time she tries while with the kid he doesn't know how to fully explain his torments; and a malpractice process that a fellow of his (Mandy Patinkin) is facing at the moment and he trusts that Jack will help him out with his testimony (I think the film went over its head with this segment since it didn't present a conclusion to it. Gripping sequences between Hurt and Patinkin in those but I was hoping for some closure with that, specially because of how close they were during medical proceedings, the most humored bits of the film). Trust me, it's not like those TV melodramas that turn things around in a bright way in a fast time, this film has some interesting development and intelligent dialogues in which we understand each point of view with care and respect, and some touch of art as well (amazingly presented during Hurt and Perkins scene in the desert when she explains how she deals with her terminal condition). It's not a case of taking a jab on doctors or preachy about they act the way they do despite this work being an adaptation from a doctor who went through similar situations as presented in the film. And I even doubt that some MD will watch this movie...but if they do, it'll be a more poignant experience than for us present or future patients. It's not an attack on them, it's more a mere presentation of realistic facts that happen and it's never too late to change ways of conduct - my favorite scene in that example is when an intern forgets to mention the patient's name and just says that his case is a terminal one, to which Jack replies that the intern's career will be over if he ever say a similar thing again. In the past, he wouldn't care less and probably say the same but while being on the other side of the fence he sees the humanity of it all and think things over. Mrs. Haines made a remarkable film again, even though this one was more sad than "Children of a Lesser God" and at times less satisfying; but I like her quality in making works were you actually feel part of the environment, you like the characters despite their flaws and it's always nice to revisit them, their places and situations because it genuinely feels like you're going back home and you truly understand everything about them. No rush, it's all quiet, calm and with an everlasting effect. And there's always room for humor moments that are more effective than if you were watching a comedy. "The Doctor" is truly inspired and reinvigorating, avoiding clichés and using some necessary ones, anchored with powerful performances that goes through your heart. 10/10

geenam I really liked this movie. William Hurt was excellent as a cold surgeon, who although excellent as his job, didn't have a lot of beside manner. He didn't realize how he came across to patients and didn't seem to care. However, it all changes when he is diagnosed with cancer and becomes the patient.The movie also deals with the relationship he has with his family. He doesn't have the emotional connections with his wife and son and in fact doesn't even reveal to her that he is sick at first. He also befriends a fellow cancer patient and has feelings for her and his wife notices.When the physician does become the patient, William Hurt finally realizes what patients experience and this makes him a better person, dad, husband and doctor. The movie is uplifting, not overly sentimental and the acting is phenomenal. I love anything Mr. Hurt is in and he doesn't disappoint with his performance.

Diva101 While this is not really the kind of movie that someone calls a favorite or one that you want to watch over and over again, it has it's interesting and touching moments. This is even more so if you've ever worked around smug doctors, have gone through a medical crisis or have supported someone through one. William Hurt plays his usual "I need a jolt to get me out of this semi-comatose drawl" guy which actually works well for the part. His stereotyped distant demeanor as a physician who seems to have it all quickly dissipates after being diagnosed and treated for cancer. Unfortunately, he turns a tad too sappy in the end. A scene in which he caressed the head of patient who he just performed a heart transplant on was too sugary for my taste. As happens far too often, women only get "tool" supporting characters here. While I've usually considered Elizabeth Perkins a non-actress, she shows otherwise in this movie and delivers a good performance if only in a supporting role. The movie is well cast all around. Christine L and Mandy P also deliver good performance if in all too small roles. The script and directing could have been better.