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Awakenings [VHS] [1990]

VHS ~ Robert De Niro

4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)

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3 new from �2.50 9 used from �0.37 4 collectible from �2.00

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Product details

Actors: Robert De Niro, Robin Williams, Julie Kavner, Ruth Nelson, John Heard
Directors: Penny Marshall
Writers: Oliver Sacks, Steven Zaillian
Producers: Penny Marshall, Amy Lemisch, Arne Schmidt, Lawrence Lasker, Walter F. Parkes
Format: Dolby, PAL, Surround Sound
Language English
Classification: 15
Studio: 4 Front Video
VHS Release Date: 1 Jul 2002
Run Time: 115 minutes

Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)

ASIN: B00004CLGO
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 7,994 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review
Based on the acclaimed book by neurologist Oliver Sacks, director Penny Marshall's hit 1990 drama Awakenings stars Robin Williams as Dr. Malcolm Sayer. Sayer is a neurologist who discovers that the drug L-Dopa can be used to "unlock" patients in a mental hospital from the mysterious sleeping sickness that has left them utterly immobilized. Leonard (Robert De Niro) is one such patient who awakens after being in a comatose state for 30 years, leaving Sayer to guide Leonard in adjusting to the world around him. Penelope Ann Miller costars as the daughter of another patient, with whom Leonard falls tenuously in love. Earning Oscar nominations for best picture, actor and screenplay, this moving fact-based drama was a hit with critics and audiences alike. --Jeff Shannon

Synopsis
Drama based on the true story of a doctor who provides an experimental drug to a group of people suffering from a sleeping sickness. The first patient to receive treatment is cured for one brief summer.

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	48% buy the item featured on this page: Awakenings [VHS] [1990] 4.9 out of 5 stars (7)
	37% buy Awakenings [DVD] [1990] 5.0 out of 5 stars (3) �4.98
	5% buy Patch Adams [DVD] [1999] 4.0 out of 5 stars (18) �3.98
	5% buy Dead Poets Society [DVD] [1989] 4.7 out of 5 stars (27) �3.98

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Customer Reviews

7 Reviews

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.9 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Little Known Masterpiece, 20 Oct 2007

By	Andrew Kerr (Scotland) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Awakenings [DVD] [1991] (DVD)

Awakenings is a little masterpiece of a film, that I discovered late one night while channel surfing. I was immediately taken back by the depth of the film and purchased the DVD for a very low price on Amazon the following day.

The film stars Robert De Niro and Robin Williams and is based on a non-fictional book written by neurologist Oliver Sacks. Awakenings follows Dr Malcolm Sayer who takes up a post at a hospital in New York. The Doctor played perfectly by Robin Williams, discovers some of his patients - who survived the 1916 sleeping sickness epidemic can be helped to awaken from their existence as living statues (Encephalitis) through the use of an experimental drug known as L-Dopa. One patient called Leonard (De Niro) is awoken after being in a coma like state for thirty years. Leonard is transformed into a normal man and even falls in love. Encourage by this Dr Sayer sets about 'awakening' the other patients.

I found the film to be moving and powerful with the ability to make you question how you value the life of others. Awakenings is absorbing and very involving, and you can't help become gripped by the emotion and strength of the story. The acting throughout really is fantastic. Both Robin Williams and Robert De Niro are at their best and offer inspiring and tear jerking performances. Standards from other cast members is also note worthy. Especially the interaction between Leonard and his mother, which is realistic and powerful. The setting of the hospital itself was perfect and seems right.

Beautiful and completely engrossing offering a great and moving ending, it's hard to find anything to fault with Awakenings (other than the lack of special features on the DVD). So if you haven't seen this film I strongly suggest that you purchase it...soon.

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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Acting and a Moving Script, 15 Jul 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Awakenings [DVD] [1991] (DVD)

Robin Williams and Robert DeNiro yet again demonstrate why they are at the top of their profession. This moving, sometimes harrowing, but ever engrossing movie contains some of DeNiro's most sublte and moving work, with Williams complementing him to an equally high standard.
It offers some very poignant reminders about what life is and how even the little little things shouldn't be taken for granted.

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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awakenings, 10 Mar 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Awakenings [DVD] [1991] (DVD)

This film is absolutely awesome and tells the story of how the human spirit will always survive. If you are ever feeling a little low about your profession, this will definetely give you another spark to your endeavors and how important it is to be brave with ideas about patient care. In addition it reminds physicians to treat patients as humans for in the end that is what we all are.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars An Underrated Gem
I'll lay my cards on the table from the off here; I love this film. Not in the same way I love Goodfellas, the Godfather Pts I and II, Taxi Driver, Dumb and Dumber, Get Carter... Read more

Published 2 months ago by Guv

5.0 out of 5 stars There is no such thing as a simple miracle.
Put in two great Hollywood actors; Robin Williams and Robert de Niro; A superb director, a great book by Oliver Sacks and the end product is a sure winner. Read more

Published on 23 Jun 2007 by Jay

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Film!
It was a fantastic film with my favorite actors playing in it; Robert De Niro and Robin Williams. Not only the actors, the story was based on a True story and in every motions it... Read more

Published on 31 May 2000

4.0 out of 5 stars Touching authentic movie
Robin Williams plays more or less the same role as in �Patch Adams�, only much less humoristic. Robert DeNiro is fantastic in the tragic role of the patient. Read more

Published on 28 April 2000

› See all 7 customer reviews...

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