Awakenings (DVD 2000)

An amazing real life story guaranteed to touch the hardest of hearts. A moving human drama about a horrific illness which turns people into living statues.
A great cast is led by the incomparable Robert De Niro, (he should have won the Oscar), who is brilliantly supported by Robin Williams, in what I think is his best screen performance.
The film is immensely moving and the tragic story will stay in the memory long after it has finished.
Superbly directed by Penny Marshall it is a film which reminds us all how unfortunate some people are and how precious our health is.

mesmorising. captivating. couldn't stop watching it. i decided to buy it because my friend saw it and advised me to either find a cinema to watch it on or try and buy the dvd.

WHAT A BRILLIANT FILM? HAVING BOTH ACTORS TOGETHER, DENIRO AND WILLIAMS, WAS AN ABSOLUTE DREAM! BETWEEN THEIR ACTING AND A FANTASTIC STORYLINE, WHAT MORE COULD YOU ASK FOR? HIGHLY RECOMMENDED AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.

This is a very sad but uplifting story (true) story of a doctor who 'brought patients back to life' froma very disabling illness. Wonderful portrayal of the characters.

Awakenings is based on a very true story about a mental disease very similar to Parkinsons, and is played brilliantly by the two main actors. So well in fact that you may not recognise Robin Williams in such a straight role. The story is raw and gritty at times with odd patches of black comedy, and plenty of thought provoking and heart-warming drama. Like other films of this type; such as 'One Flew Over The Cookoo's Nest', the film draws in the audience with the realism and honesty of the narrative - without getting too bogged down in 'over realism' or technical sub-plots. DeNero is under-rated, and gives a performance on par with the very best of his acclaimed works. By the end of the feature, the audience is left with a very real sense of awe, respect and gratitude to the main characters for showing them the real meaning of life.