Five Star Favourites: Awakenings

It was exactly three months ago today that I published my review of Jumanji, and eight months ago I uploaded my review of Aladdin.

In both reviews, I wrote about how Robin Williams brought so much life and dynamism to both roles, and how he was a key part of my childhood.

Sadly, as everyone knows, Robin Williams died last week. I was shocked and devastated. Robin Williams was beloved by so many people worldwide, and his death was upsetting for me because he was such a wonderful actor, who played some iconic parts, and made some truly inspiration movies.

I already had Awakenings on my Five Star Favourite ‘to do’ list, so I thought it appropriate to write and upload it this week. Not only is Awakenings a truly amazing and inspiring movie, it is also one of Williams’ greatest performances, showcasing his true versatility as an actor.

Although he is gone, he will live on in the characters he played, especially the ones that touched us all so profoundly.

Awakenings (1990)

Starring: Robin Williams, Robert De Niro, Julie Kavner, Penelope Ann Miller & John Heard

Directed by: Penny Marshall

Rating: ★★★★★

Awakenings is based on the memoir of the same name by Oliver Sacks, a British neurologist who discovered the effects of the drug L-Dopa on catatonic patients.

Robin Williams as Dr Sayer

Although the movie reworked the original story to be set in the USA, with Williams playing a stand-in for Sacks called Dr Malcolm Sayer, it still chronicles the physiological effects of what happened to the patients that were given L-Dopa, albeit in a much more engaging, challenging and emotional way.

The two soon become friends...

Set in 1969, Dr Sayer works in a hospital in New York with patients who, having survived an epidemic of encephalitis lethargica years before, are now in a catatonic state. Dr Sayer is quick to begin working with patients once he realises that they can respond to certain stimuli, and soon makes a connection between this and L-Dopa, a drug used for Parkinson’s.

Dr Sayer is determined to help his patients.

Dr Sayer is given permission to test the drug on Leonard Lowe (De Niro), and the drug soon begins to awaken him from his state.  Dr Sawyer then gives the drugs to other patients, and soon they all wake up and being to live life again.

Leonard just wants to live the life he was denied...

Awakenings may sound sappy, but it really isn’t. There’s something genuinely inspirational and uplifting about its message, even though it doesn’t have a ‘feel-good’ finale.

At the time, the movie was critically successful, and was nominated for three Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor for De Niro. I think it is harsh that De Niro received this nomination rather than or as well as Robin Williams, because Williams is clearly the main character and gives an incredibly understated but powerful performance.- one that is better than De Niro’s.

De Niro is menacing no matter what character he plays!

His turn as Dr Sayer is really excellent, mainly because it’s the sort of role that Williams isn’t really known for, as he plays a painfully shy loner who struggles with social interaction. He makes the character entirely authentic and genial at the same time, something which is very hard to do when the character is an introvert.

Dr Sayer just wants to help Leonard as much as he can.

Even though the plot itself is very strong, and the movie is about a truly fascinating area of psychology, it is Williams who drives the film forward, and makes it entirely watchable.

Leonard quickly falls in love.

Of course De Niro acts very well, but he soon shifts from being likeable to typical ‘De Niro’ detestable as Leonard, which I think is Awakenings only bad moment.

We are entirely on Dr Sayer’s side, and although many other actors could have played the role, Williams makes him heart-wrenchingly believable.

The two pose for a quick photo...

Awakenings is about life. It’s about experiences, and the people you share those with. But mostly, it’s about love. The authentically slow burning relationship between Eleanor (Kavner, who some might recognise instantly as the voice of Marge Simpson) and Dr Sayer is one of the smaller sub-plots that really elevates the movie.

Both Williams and Kavner give understated performances that feel very authentic.

The relationship between Leonard and Paula (Miller) is also very touching, but I really think that it’s the little moments that make Awakenings come to life, such as the other older patients’ journeys, even though it is about a very big discovery.

Dr Sayer just wants to help people!

Awakenings is a movie that not many people have heard of, and not many people know Robin Williams is even in, but it’s one that I love to watch, because it’s genuine and powerful. Williams proved that he could act alongside Hollywood heavyweight Robert De Niro and come out on top which, I think, is a massive achievement.

Robin Williams made a lot of beloved movies in his lifetime, but Awakenings is one that should always be remembered.