The movie Extraordinary Measures is an inspirational movie about a father and his quest to find the right medication for his two children that are suffering from Pompe disease.
This is a genetic disease that affects children that disables the heart and muscles. Because of the underdevelopment of the muscles it leaves them confined to a wheelchair. Children with this disease normally die at around age nine, at that stage the organs enlarge. You can imagine the shock and the despair John Crowley (Brendan Fraser) and Aileen Crowley (Keri Russell) parents of the children feel when they are told their young children have less than a year to live.
The family leads a pretty normal life, a working dad, stay at home mom with three children to care for. The father, a leading corporate executive is faced with a dilemma; to stay at his job and enjoy the perks of promotions – increased benefits, meeting deadlines and to watch his kids die from a disease that will rob them of a future before they are teenagers or leave the job and find the cure.
Directed by Tom Vaughan, the movie’s cinematography is not only good but shows his experience. The scenes in the movie are amazing; they will grip you from the beginning to end. The characters all have personalities that make you connect more with them. The daughter Megan is full of personality, a typical 8 year old who desires a future. She likes pink and loves to play.
John Crowley (Brendan Fraser) decides to fight the battle with his kids and leaves the state to the University of Nebraska where he meets Dr. Stonehill (Harrison Ford). Dr. Robert Stonehill (Harrison Ford) is a scientist who has explored the area of Pompe and has developed what he thinks is the cure. Leaving his wife behind with the children, John Crowley meets with Dr. Stonehill after chasing him down in the wee hours of the morning from his university office to a bar. At the bar, a relationship develops between the two. It leads to a business relationship, with both men partnering to find a cure to help the children, Megan Crowley (Meredith Droeger) and Patrick Crowley (Diego Velazquez).
To make John Crowley’s dream a reality of not only benefiting his own children they meet with executives from drug manufacturers. With this new partnership there are other issues that arise which make the movie even more exciting to watch. Extraordinary Measures is a true story and is an adaptation of the novel The Cure by Geeta Anand.
The movie also explores at length the politics, tribalism, materialistic goals of drug companies. I understand this is a moral dilemma for them and the company executives from the drug company kept emphasizing the importance of objectivity. Because, dealing with drugs, medicines and treating people if you are caught up with the Utilitarian Principle (doing good for the greatest number of people) you may not have a successful company at the end of the day. Drug companies are in business to make a profit and not primarily to save patients at the end of the day.
In the movie John Crowley, the father of the children is caught up emotionally with finding a cure that there is a huge disagreement between him and the company executives. When the company had completed the process and it was time to test the medication, it caused a major conflict of interest. There was a conflict of interest because John Crowley had a vested interest in the company and he also had an interest in the success of the product. Of course he wanted his children to have the medication first. To solve the issue, he was fired from the company. It was sad to see him go but the drug company maintained their strict adherence to policy.
His children did receive the needed medication. The testing worked and they responded well. The movie ends on a good note. Extraordinary Measures will not have you crying but its emotional journey will have you supporting these parents that placed everything on the line – their relationship and jobs to fight for a cure to save their ailing children. You will be cheering on these parents.
I only wish that you will get a hold of this movie and see it. It is worth your time. I yearn for the will that I might have the same fervour and strength these parents had in their darkest moment. The strength to fight on till the desired end is attained.
This post is dedicated to a blogger and a friend of this site who revealed that he has cancer. All of us here wish him the very best and a speedy recovery. I trust that he will not only have the audacity of hope but the certainty of faith that he will get better. Read his updates on his blog. http://jammer5spolyrant.wordpress.com/
Great review. This movie was filmed in my home town and I can’t wait to see it. Your review has me even more amped.
I hope you will let me know what you think about it.
Definitely sounds like my kind of film. Good review.
This is my type of film to the tee…..textbook version lol
Drama – good ending
Excellent review. Sounds like powerful stuff – you say it won’t make you cry, but I blubbed like a bitch during Pursuit of Happyness, and that had a happy ending…
Ok 🙂 lol
You will cry, weep, bawl, sob in this one then.
Thank you! This does sound like a movie I do not want to miss. You are quick good at reviews. 🙂
I am catching up on all the movies I have missed in my life. I think they make good reading….and we all need something to chill and make us relax sometimes.
Yap… I like this Movie also… And I love the story itself….!!!
Cool
I thought the previews for this movie looked good, thanks for the review…now I REALLY want to see it. thoughts go out to your friend….
Thanks Beth.
Sounds interesting. I’ll wait for the video though. I only get to see about two movies a year in the theater (unless you count movies I see with my kids, which are usually animated).
I think there is a new animated movie out. I will check that out for sure.
This movie I will not miss it. The theme is very interesting. I hope that someday these diseases will never hurt children or those parents. I always told myself that if someday I will have a power I will do everything to stop this kind of maladies that take from us the people that we love them.
Thank you, Corve.
Have a beautiful day and enjoy every moment of your life too 🙂
Great reveiw, you sound like a pro!
I haven’t seen Ford in anything serious in awhile. I think I’ll give this one a shot.
Sounds like a great movie and it has my 2 fav actors starring in it. I will definitely check it out!!
U Look Handsome,
wow,
what informative review…
keep inspiring!
😉
Great movie not what I am use to from Harrison Ford but great movie with meaning and feelings.
I have yet to see the film but from what I can tell in the film it will be darn good, I am so glad to finally see American Film evolving to show the realities of American Life from different socioeconomic statues, the truth is not what has been glossed over coming out of Hollywood, I just hope that the American Movie Industry continues to show a better view of reality, to the American people and the world. I know that this movie showcases an issues that affects many people around the globe, or you know someone who has been touched by a simlair situation, I could not have asked for better characters to take up the task of fielding the movie, they, Harrison Ford, Brendan Fraser, Keri Russell, add just the right amount of salt and grit that’s needed to make this movie a masterpiece, I would love to see this movie get some awards! I guess I will just have to wait! Great movie review Corve!
I agree with you – this movie because of its nature is universal and many people will be able to relate to it. Thanks for your lovely comment. I enjoyed reading this.
Excellent review!
Ohhhh thanks so much for that!
This movie has been on my to see list for awhile…and I do not go to the theater to see many movies anymore, just ones that strike a chord with me. Great review…I want to go even more now.
Extraordinary Measures is truly an inspiring story.. John Crowley and his wife showed an unconditional love for their children. I’ll give two thumbs up for this movie and will higly recommend it..
You are so-o wrong, Corve, and I quote: “Extraordinary Measures will not have you crying.” Well, the trailer has me crying.
I’ve enjoyed Brendan Fraser’s comedy (the Mummy films and Dudley Do-Right); I think I’d enjoy this movie too. Thanks for bringing it to my attention with your thorough review.
Godspeed to your friend with cancer.
Great post Corve but I sense a box of kleenex 😦
Oh and here is wishing Jammers a speedy recovery so he can get back to his sarcastic best.
It’s good to see your review on this movie. I have been wanting to see it. I am not sure if we have the right schedules for the theatre with my husband, so we will settle for netflix.
And my sympathy to your friend and I too hope treatment will be successful and he gets well again.
This movie sounds depressing as hell. The only thing worse than sick kids are molested kids; but hey, at least the ending sounds reasonably pleasant.
This isn’t my normal fare, but perhaps I will go and check this one out.
Cool review, I’ll have to check this movie out…I just read a movie spoiler for the movie “Shutter Island” with Leonardo DiCaprio and it looks so good with lots of great twists and turns and a real surprise at the end. Have you seen it yet?
I will be trying it out tonight. Hopefully.