Customer Reviews

John Q

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(31)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(15)
1 star:		(20)

 

 

What a touching movie.This movie star's Denzel Washington(a terrific actor ), he plays the role of a caring father that would sacrifice his life for his son.
John Q. lives a normal life with his wife and 9 year old son.John's whole life is about to change all at his son's baseball game.at the game he uncovers that his son has a physical problem.he rushes his son to the hospital.the doctors tell him that his son has a deadly heart disease and will need a heart transplant.JOhn will stop at nothing to get a heart fof his son.It will cost $250,000 to do the surgery the down payment is $75,000 ,he cant come up with that amount of money.He makes many sacrifices but still does not even come close to that amount of money.
He decides to keep the heart surgeon hostage untill they put his sons name on the donors list.he ends up with the whole hospital hostage,all of this is happening while his son is dying
This movie has a great story and a terrific ending.Their were short scenes of a woman in a car accident she ties up with the whole story at the end.the interesting thing about this movie is that it is a true story!
a great quote is when John wants to kill himself because the chances for his son's heart is coming out pretty slim he says "I will die, but my son will live......"

JOHN Q was an amazing , important piece of work by Nick Cassavetes. Wow. Seems both sad and ironic that I watch this during Fourth of July weekend, when we boast again about our Independence from England, yet our country is in a pitiful mess. This is a great performance by Denzel ranking up there with "Training Day", "Glory" and "Philadelphia". A couple of times he goes over the top as John Q, but his acting and emotions make his character believable. John Q is a working man, whose family is just getting by, you can say their poor, as when his wife car becomes repossessed by the bank. His family has medical insurance, where he pays $100 a month or so, although as we learn doesn't mean a damn thing when it REALLY MATTERS. His kid becomes sick and we learn that he has a bad heart. Q's only recourse is to give his kid a heart transplant at the behest of a greedy HMO Chiropractor played James Woods and the greedy , white hospital director Rebecca Payne played Anne Heche. These are some vile characters. Despite the claims that Hope Memorial hospital helps out everyone, in reality they help out the rich with fat checkbooks.

Q learns that PPO former medical plan has changed and that the hospital wont offer any help. So basically he has to watch his son die with the Hospital Director with her million dollar salary and others not giving a damn. Aint that sweet Capitalism and Greed triumphs over Loyalty and Values in America. Q takes matter into his own hands and well the rest is history. Nick Cassavetes through this powerful, great film brings into the focus the Disarray , and Greed in Medical Care in America. Despite the fact that we boast about being the greatest superpower, WE CANT even take care of our people and, sadly it seems that the person in charge don't care. Talk about impact this movie makes it. Sad to say I don't think the situation will change whether a Democrat or Republic will take office. See John Q!!! I bet Michael Moore has as his next movie will supposedly tackle the Health Care Industry. Cassavetes does a great job here I wouldn't be surprised if Moore borrows a lot for that films from this one.

Also look for James Woods as the equally vile rich pathetic
Dr. Raymond Turner. He is the other part of the problem in
this epidemic of greedy HMO's who don't care about the patient.

Ray Liotta coming his pathetic performance in "Hannibal" gives
a somewhat better average performance as the corrupted Chief
Police along with his main kissbutt sidekick LT. Frank Grimes
played by Robert Duvall.

For those who reviewed this movie that stated that this movie was 'unreal' and this 'would not happen' and it's just a propaganda for the democrats are living in dream land. Maybe they are single, healthy and never get to go to the Dr., and are not aware of the pathetic state of health care of America.

I've had to deal myself since my son was born. My son has Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa. His skin basically falls apart at the slightest touch. It is awful, brutal (see some clinical pics at my website, silviaskingdom.com). The only treatment that my son has is basically take care of the wounds, which cover, at times, as much as 60-75% of his body. Some of these wounds are chronic and take months to heal. Taking care of wounds is vital because if a bad infection occurs, my son could die. Infection is the number one killer of persons diagnosed with my son's condition. You would think that insurance companies would cover the medical supplies, the ointments, the bandages and everything involved in taking care of the wounds, but the reality is, the vast majority of HMOs do not. They don't because bandages and related products to care for wounds are 'over the counter', hence not covered under insurances.

Sounds crazy? It is. And there is nothing I can do about it. Some states, if the income is low enough, provide some services that include coverage for bandages, and that is what fortunately is saving us, because I could never afford to pay the tens of thousands of dollars it takes each year just to purchase the various skin care products my son needs. I know what you're thinking... there is no way bandages cost that much! Yes they do actually... for example: an 8x10 sheet of Mepitel for deep wound coverage is $40. A roll of 1" gauze to bandage my son's hand is $1, and he goes through 4-6 of those per week, and that is just on his hands!

It gets crazier... the various HMOs that we've had over the years have also denied to have my son seen by specialists too because they were 'out of network'. Of course they are out of network, my son's condition is one in a million, we can't expect to see a 'specialist' on this condition in every corner of the country, are we?

I know what you're thinking... it's all my fault, yeah, the evil HMOs -- how dare they actually have the audacity to enforce the contracts people choose to purchase! Choose to purchase? I never had that choice. I never had the choice to choose between HMOs, let alone even have the opportunity to get PPOs. Medical care won't be legitimate in this country until we stop seeing ten-dollar boxes of Kleenex on the bills. Everyone gasps when I tell them how much my son's power chair cost... yes, $7,000, and there is no way it's worth that much. It is all outrageous, and the movie John Q. eloquently and effectively addresses the needs of families in a most poignant manner.

I was utterly surprised at the reactions of the audience when I went to see this in the theater. I could not believe that I appeared to be the only person who was totally apalled to the plot of this story.

Denzel...always great. With the exception of Training Day. But the plot and premise of this movie is not plausible at all. I understand that one would do anything for their child ( I probably would to), but there is no way I am condoning the taking hostage of a group of individuals. Totally ridiculous.

This movie, itself, had good acting. But that's about it. The storyline was too ridiculous.

I saw this movie at school and we had a discussion afterwards on health care in America. Health care in America is very inadequate to those that are in dire need of insurance. Denzel played a devoted father and husband whose son needed a heart transplant and wasn't able to get one unless he had money. His coverage could barely pay for the transplant and he was in desparation to get his son on the donor list. He hijacks a hospital and is a sensation.
The health care industry is run by a bunch of bureaucrats who care more about putting money in their pockets than they do about treating people. I am single with no dependents and have no health care coverage. I work part-time and go to school full-time. The health care industry goes against those that have children and those that don't.

A son who has a hearfailur that needs a doner for a heart transplant. A father in tears and will stop
at nothing to get his son a heart transplan. Jon Q is a truly a power full film. I cant say its the best movie ever made but its a great and yet sad film. The drama and emotions that get you in this movie will deeply get you into some what ways of sadness. This movie was a great role for denzel.
The movie look more like an R rating than pg 13. Than again they probably edited out some parts to get it a PG-13 intentiannaly. This is a great film to watch but not for those who get sad emotions easily.

John Q is a masterpiece about a father who's son goes into heart failure. Left broke and no options left he can't afford the expense for the donor's list he snaps. Left with no options he goes onto the edge. Risking his life in jail or death he continously goes through his plan.A captivating story about one father's determination to keep his son alive As his son's life hangs in the balance. An emotional story you will want to experince again and again!Denzel Washington was truely destined to play this role. Therefor John Q is the best movie i've seen in years.

Do you have health insurance? If the answer is "Why no, Roman, I don't believe I do," then you really need to check out JOHN Q.

JOHN Q, a drama starring Denzel Washington as a father who takes matters into his own hands when his insurance won't foot the bill on a new heart for his dying son, has all the elements of a great drama except one - it tries desperately, but miserably fails to really keep you guessing.

Basic synopsis: Washington stars as John Q. Archibald, the kind of fellow who can't seem to get a break. However, his family life, while not full of monetary riches, is full of the heart-felt kind. And, when it comes to heart, no one surpasses his son, whose heart turns out to be three times too large. After young Mike Arhibald passes out on the baseball field (thunk!), doctors book him for a brief stay on the planet without a normal-sized heart, which his insurance won't pay for. The doctors and hospital administrators don't seem too sympathetic and old John Q just can't raise enough to money to fix the situation. So, in the dark of night, by the light of the full moon, he jumps the fence of a nearby pet cemetery and steals the heart of a pig in a desperate attempt to save his only son. O.k., that last part isn't true. I made it up. But, things do get nutty when John Q takes over the ER at gunpoint, demanding his son be placed at the top of the donor list.

The Cast: Denzel Washington (HURRICANE; GLORY) does an excellent job in any role he takes on. He can be an ex-slave soldier with no real heart, a boxer with all heart, or a daddy whose kid has too much heart. His part as John Q is no exception. He does a great job of looking flustered and scared yet determined throughout the crisis, like a real father would.
Robert Duvall (APOCOLYPSE NOW; FALLING DOWN) is no Samuel L. Jackson (THE NEGOTIATOR), but he still does a fantastic job as the "good cop/negotiator" in this crime caper. He's the police officer who does things for the "right reason."
Anne Heche (SIX DAYS SEVEN NIGHTS; RETURN TO PARADISE) is insensitive and cold. But, hospital administrators have to be. Do you have any idea how many sick people they see every day? Don't you think they might get just a little numb to tears? Still, you will hate her in a very healthy way.
James Woods (ANY GIVEN SUNDAY; THE GENERAL'S DAUGHTER), once again, lives up to his name as one of the best supporting actors of all time. This guy knows exactly when to push his dramatic expertise over the edge. His "didn't you ever have a dream" speech in ANY GIVEN SUNDAY is a prime example. While you really don't get too much of that in John Q, he keeps the emotion flowing.
Kimberly Elise (BELOVED) grows on you as the momma, but she cries so dang much it makes me want to shoot myself.

My take on the film: While JOHN Q may not have been the most-shocking movie of late, it was everything I thought it would be, which can be both good and bad.
It had plenty of drama and great acting on the part of Washington. That was great.
It was full of unique camera angles, music that really clicked, and casting that can't be beat. Also a big plus.
However, all the health insurance ranting was not what I wanted to hear about. I wanted to see a drama where a daddy takes care of his boy and refuses to let the world and all its nonsensical rules stand in its way.
Also, there were parts of this movie that no one, not even a pawn shop owner, would buy. I don't want to give anything away, but I hope the cops and judicial system don't handle a real incident the way they do in JOHN Q.
Overall though, it was a fairly good film. It certainly wasn't GLORY or MALCOLM X caliber, but it was far from boring and kept me on the edge of my seat, even though I knew basically what was going to happen from start to finish. JOHN Q is definitely worth renting and almost certainly worth checking out in theaters, but don't expect anything Oscar caliber.

yes denzel is back sgain. this is a good movie that an interesting plot. denzel is greatnes like always.he holds the screen with such chirisma and acts so good he actually becomes this character. this movie is great so see it. u can understand y this character is doin this and they establish the love that he has for his son so well its hard not to like this film. its good enough for a low 4

Denzel, Robert Duval, James Woods, Ray Liotta - and yet none of these talented artists could save this debacle of a movie. This good guy gone bad genre has got to end!

I was truly amazed at how choppy, awkward, and just plain stupid the lines are. The seem so random and inappropriate that at times I laughed. There is absolutely no sense of despair - the audience quite frankly yawns. Did the director want the audience to feel the internal struggle Dr. James Woods has - wether to operate or not? What was the point of having that annoying guy who hit his wife? To take attention away from a supposed HOSTAGE SITUATION!!!! HELLO??!?!?! This is like SONY'S MY FIRST FILM. We have another supposedly dramatic struggle between the veteran Duval and the flashy new chief, Ray Liotta - is this what passes for character development???? The crowd cheering on John Q from the outside of the hospital, truly pathetic. This movie should have been named John Doe - hopefully no one would claim it...