When a patient in agony dies then a doctor’s true calling implies. One should do what’s best at the patient’s request for humane, quick and painless demise, says Jack Kevorkian as he silently watches his first patient Janet Adkins pull the plug. In one of the most controversial true stories ever filmed, Barry Levinoson’s ‘You Don’t Know Jack’ is a tear-jerking emotional tale that paves way to a discussion we’ll hesitate to participate.
Right or wrong but come to think of it, I’m sure it would make sense. What’s more painful according to you – to see your loved one suffer through excruciating pain for lifetime or watch them pass away at the flip of a button? I agree there’s some amount of pain that you’ll go through after their demise however that pain is far better than seeing them suffer and wither away in time. Most of what you see in this film need not be welcomed with a smile but thought with rationale and logic. And I’m sure you’d understand the intent of Jack – ‘Doctor Death’.
In his attempt to save a soul from suffering, Jack Kevorkian assisted 130 patients in suicide. Starting with Janet Adkins, patient # 1 to Thomas Youk, patient # 130, Jack provided support to patients who were in long-term suffering through mercy killing. However, the law was against it, viewing it as a form of murder and charging Jack for his lack of humanity. Support comes from Jack’s sister Margo, best friend Neal and a lawyer Geoffrey, who believe as much as Jack that what he’s been doing is not puritanical. But, the court continued to accuse Jack of mercilessly ‘killing’ his patients who were mentally incompetent to decide whether to live or die. On November 22, 1998, Jack, on the broadcast of ’60 Minutes’ aired the videotape he made while injecting his last patient Thomas Youk with poison, who was in the final stages of ‘Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis’ and dared the United States judicial system to stop him. What followed is a pulsating climax that’s better experienced when seen than explained.
What keeps this film alive is its intent – whether one has the right to choose life or death, if yes then why and if no then what’s the condition of someone suffering throughout life. This intent is brilliantly substantiated with a masterly written script by Adam Mazer (Breach) and inspiring direction by Barry Levinson (Wag the Dog). Partly based on the book “Between the Dying and the Dead: Dr. Jack Kevorkian’s Life And The Battle To Legalize Euthanasia”, this film brings together multiple viewpoints and gives the audience an opportunity to decide on their own. The viewpoints here only present different perspective but not a solution.
There are some actors who merely age with every passing day but their commitment and passion still remains rock solid to this day. Al Pacino is undoubtedly one of those actors and you’d vouch for him too after you see him in ‘You Don’t Know Jack’. Al transforms into Jack from the word go and sweeps you off your feet with his performance. There are two sides to Jack: one that says he’s evil according to the law and the other that says he cares for his patients. Unlike his other roles, this one in particular required lot of detailing as he reprised a real character. Al perfectly brings to life Jack Kevorkian by emphasizing on smallest detail such as ‘walking with a hunchback’, ‘drooping shoulders’ etc. One of Al’s best scenes is in the courtroom towards the end where he stops his fellow prosecutor from allegedly calling ‘Euthanasia’ a form of genocide.
Jack ferociously yells at the prosecutor – How dare you! How dare you, compare euthanasia with genocide. How dare you?
Another good scene – While assisting his first patient in her suicide, Jack tells Janet that when she’s ready she can pull the plug but before Jack could even finish the sentence, she pulls it.
John Goodman and Brenda Vaccaro are two pillars of this film who bear as much weight as Al Pacino. It would be stupid to disregard their part or call their roles cameo. The film was nominated for 15 Emmys and won two: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for Al Pacino and Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries or Movie for Adam Mazer.
In essence; ‘You Don’t Know Jack’ is a commendable take on a subject that most of us refrain from even talking. Thanks to HBO films for producing gems like this every now and then and not make films with the sheer purpose of making money.
This article was originally written here. Read more reviews here
Rating : 4 on 5