Dr. Death

This weekend, HBO debuted their new movie, You Don't Know Jack. It's a biopic about Dr. Jack Kevorkian, the headline-maker of the 1990s who assisted in the suicides of over 100 people. This film follows his story from the first time he assists in the euthanasia of a patient to the point where he is actually convicted of second degree murder and sent to prison, and attempts to convey his passion on the issue of patients' rights.

Al Pacino stars as the doctor, and gives an interesting performance. I'm of a mixed mind about this famous actor. On the one hand, he often does the thing I hate more than anything from a major actor -- he really just plays the character as "himself." Pacino has a stock pool of mannerisms, speech patterns, and demeanors that everyone who has seen even a few of his films will know well. And yet, I find myself forgiving him for this to some degree, because this persona he has is a fiery and passionate one that often lights up the screen.

Here, Pacino is interesting because he mutes that famous persona to a surprising degree. Yes, there are moments of shouting and grandstanding in the film, but for the most part, you don't really see many glimpses of that "this whole court room's out of order!" verve that you usually get with Pacino. More so than in any other Pacino film I've ever seen, the actor does slip into another character as Dr. Kevorkian.

The cast also includes Susan Sarandon and John Goodman, and while both are most definitely secondary parts in this story, they make a good impact in their scenes.

The script is a bit odd, because it treats a very emotional and charged subject in a rather academic way. We do see a number of "characters" living in intense pain, desperate to end their suffering and their lives... but with only a few exceptions, they aren't really brought to the screen in an emotionally compelling way. In most cases, they're more "points of data" used to build both the narrative and a case in favor of allowing assisted suicide.

The drama is reserved for Kevorkian himself, and it's rarely of the tear-jerking variety. The movie is more about how this man has a clear message (for which a compelling argument is presented; but then, I was on its side to begin with), but is not himself a clear messenger. When he opens his mouth in support of his cause, he's as likely to stick his own foot in it. And to a large degree, this is what winds him up in hot water by the movie's end.

The film ends up being an interesting, but not fantastic one. The title doesn't do it any favors, though; it feels inappropriately flippant about a very serious subject matter. But then, perhaps that's the point? It's a little off, like Kevorkian himself. In any case, I'd rate the movie a B-. It's worth checking out if you already have HBO; it's certainly not anything to get a subscription for.