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SYNOPSIS: Top-rated
Lifetime movie! Dr. Dennis Slamon has reached a breakthrough
in his career. He has helped to develop a new experimental
drug called Herceptin, which he hopes will become a revolutionary
treatment in the fight against breast cancer. However, when
funding for his project is cut, Slamon must turn to philanthropists
Lilly Tartikoff and Ron Perelman to help make his life's most
important work a reality. With the backing of his new supporters,
Slamon continues to perfect his treatment, but his new drug
proves that while it has the ability to give life, it does
not work for everyone. This gut-wrenching true story explores
one doctor's difficult struggle to find a cancer treatment
that can save thousands of lives while giving meaning to his
own life.
MOVIE
REVIEW
Up
till before "Living Proof", what little I knew of
the drug certification process was that it was a long onerous
process from animal trials to human clinical trials, a process
that could take as fast as five years and as long as ten years.
"Living Proof" is the true story of Dr Dennis Slamon,
a passionate doctor at UCLA who spent about ten years of his
life tirelessly championing and campaigning for the use of
herceptin (or HER-2) in the treatment of breast cancer.
Here
is a multifaceted story that tells not just the struggles
of a doctor determined to save the lives of hundreds of thousands
of women each year, but also the pain and agony of the women
diagnosed with breast cancer and whom one day realize that
they are living their lives on borrowed time. Both these perspectives
deserve to be seen and heard, and "Living Proof"
is first and foremost a story that is told as passionately
and emphatically as these points of view rightfully warrant.
Such
is the reality of our politico-scientific realm that the FDA
does not fund any kind of drug trials, and it is up to the
courage of the individual drug companies to invest thousands
upon thousands of dollars in expensive trials in order to
get a drug certified. Such is the reality when because of
that hefty investment, drug companies begin setting extremely
stringent criteria on the kinds of participants for these
trials to ensure that they have a greater chance of success.
Such is the reality when hope and optimism are so important,
yet so hard to sustain in such a climate.
And
then from the viewpoint of the patient, "Living Proof"
suggests what it means to be told that your days are numbered,
what it means when chemotherapy fails, and what it means when
suddenly there is a glimmer of hope offered by an experimental
drug. But what about eligibility of trials, not just to gain
entry into Phase I, but also to remain in the study and continue
to receive this experimental treatment all the way up to Phase
III.
Yes,
if you haven’t yet known about the tedious process it
takes to get a drug out of the market, and the difficult decisions
that have had to be made along the way, "Living Proof"
is a great place to start. Director Dan Ireland juggles the
multiple subplots of the women involved in the clinical trials
adeptly alongside the central story of the committed and dedicated
Dr Slamon who, knowing the potential and significance of his
research, bravely placed his work before his family for ten
years.
This
being a TV movie, one has to put up with the somewhat truncated
nature of the film that seems to package its story in ten
minute segments which fade to white every time one ends. But
despite this, "Living Proof" has not just a compelling
story, but a great ensemble cast that lift its story above
the hokum melodrama you may be quick to dismiss this as. Indeed,
open your heart to this "Living Proof" and you’ll
find yourself rewarded with a touching account of fortitude
and perseverance and sweet, sweet triumph.
SPECIAL FEATURES :
Commentary with Vivienne Radkoff and Lilly
Tartikoff: One is the screenwriter of the movie who
took seven years to get this film made and the other is a
wealthy philanthropist whose efforts were instrumental in
helping Dr Slamon secure the money he needed for his research.
Although much of this commentary is clearly scripted and there
is little banter between the two, their passion for this story
to be told and heard is more than palpable and what makes
this definitely worth a listen to.
Hope and Miracles: The Making of Living Proof:
Executive producers Craig Zadan and Neil Moran (who were producers
on Chicago and The Bucket List) explain the genesis of this
movie, and the cast members take turns talking about their
enthusiastic involvement in this project.
For Life: The Journey of Dr Dennis Slamon: There’s
nothing like hearing it from the man himself, as well as the
real-life characters whom this movie is based on. Only reaffirms
how important it is for this film to be seen.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
The
film’s colours seem more muted than usual, probably
due to the filmed-for-TV nature of this film. Audio’s
presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 though there’s little
to suggest this is more than just a 2.0 track.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD
RATING :
Review
by Gabriel Chong
Posted on 27 October 2009
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