The Doctor vs. This Movie

"The Doctor" from 1991 with William Hurt is a film like "Dying Young". William Hurt plays a hot-shot heart surgeon who is diagnosed with throat cancer. He goes through a whole emotional growth period. The Doctor lives at the end, and is cured and becomes a better man.

It's based on a real story actually, unlike "Dying Young" which was a novel. It was based on the book, "A Taste of My Own Medicine" by Ed Rosenbaum, M.D. who William Hurt plays in the movie. Roger Ebert gives "The Doctor" 3.5/4 stars, which is a very good rating. In other words, a "thumbs up". Ebert gives "Dying Young" 2/4 stars, in other words "thumbs down". Ebert has had thyroid cancer for a long time now, so he is knows the emotions. In fact, he has been absent from his weekly TV show and column in the Chicago Sun-Times because of his cancer reoccurring. No one knows when he will come back.

I liked "Dying Young" -- all of the actors were excellent. Campbell Scott is the son of one of the greatest actors in film history, George C. Scott. Julia Roberts was terrific as well. Vincent D'Onofrio was also a great character actor. What I don't understand is why the wasted the talents of Ellen Burstyn in such a small little role (Mrs. O'Neil - the mother). Ellen Burstyn is one of the best actors of her generation. She has been nominated for 5 Oscars from 1972 - 2001; and she won 1 Oscar in Martin Scorsese's picture "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" in 1975. Why wasn't she used in a more crucial role? How about for the role of "Estelle Whittier"?


Anyway, in my rating it was a 2/4 -- fine for some tastes, but nothing great.