John Q

3 ½  pipes out of 4

The health care system is pretty messed up right now and this movie shows us just how screwed up it really is. It is a tragic story about a down on his luck father John Quincy Archibald (Denzel Washington) whose son needs a heart transplant but his insurance won’t cover it. In order to get his son the surgery John takes a hospital emergency room hostage until the hospital gets the heart. John Q also stars Robert Duval as the police hostage negotiator and James Woods as a stuck up doctor. I love this movie because both Washington and Duval give heartfelt performances while Woods, as well as Anne Heche who plays an uncaring hospital executive, give a face to the problems with the health care system. The ending does not go completely as you might want it to but it is much more realistic. This is not an uplifting film so if you’re looking for a lovie dovie film you won’t find it hear. It really makes you think about the issues of today and who is at fault.