YOU DON'T KNOW JACK: THE LIFE AND DEATHS OF JACK KEVORKIAN DVD (2010)

SYNOPSIS: In 1990, Dr. Jack Kevorkian astonished the world as he took the end of life debate head-on with his "Mercy Machine" and performed his first assisted suicide. Starring Oscar and Emmy winner Al Pacino, "You Don't Know Jack" is the story of one man's obsession with challenging the rules by which we live and die - and his stubborn, heartfelt insistence on breaking the law to do so.

MOVIE REVIEW:

We strongly believe that a well designed DVD cover helps to push sales, and one catches our attention real well. A face as iconic as Al Pacino’s should capture some eyeballs. Accompanied by a simple yet effective layout of text, this is one classy yet powerful DVD cover. Coupled with the emphasis of certain words in red, and a teasing tagline “Is This The Face Of A Killer?”, one can’t help but want to find out more about this movie.

Truth is, if you are knowledgeable in the medical field, the name Jack Kevorkian shouldn’t be foreign to you. Well call us ill informed, but this is also the first time we are hearing this name. But hey, isn’t this what autobiographical movies like this are supposed to do? To increase awareness of a certain topic or person to the mass audiences?

Based on the book “Between the Dying and the dead: Dr. Jack Kevorkian’s Life And The Battle to Legalize Euthanasia”, this 2010 television movie is a HBO production which looks at the life and the work of Kevorkian, an advocate of physician assisted suicide. As noble as his aim of helping hopeless patients to end their sufferings by committing suicide effortlessly may sound, we know better than the complications involved in this.

Yes, somewhere in this subject matter is a 5000 word long thesis waiting to be written. But here, we have veteran actor Pacino playing the titular character Jack. Issues are presented from his point of view, which may, of course, be a little on the emotional side of things. Whichever side you are on, you will applaud the actor’s ability to leave you affected by his personal belief. The Oscar winning actor (Scent of a Woman) effortlessly portrays the conflicted doctor and for that perfect performance, he took home a Golden Globe and a SAG Award for Best Actor earlier this year.

Accompanying Pacino are other acclaimed actors like Danny Huston (Robin Hood), Susan Sarandon (The Lovely Bones) and John Goodman (Speed Racer), who play other key characters in Kevorkian’s life. The competent cast delivers worthy performances which we have nothing but full of praises for.

Despite the production’s 134 minute runtime, you would find yourself thoroughly engaged throughout the film. Interspersed with some real life footages, this is one of those tales which you find yourself feeling for. Director Barry Levinson (Liberty Heights) is clearly a masterful storyteller, bringing the tale of Kevorkian (the man lost his life to thrombosis earlier in June this year, shortly after his 83rd birthday) to life on screen. As the films ends on a poignant note, you realise the film is not about the controversy about the legalization of euthanasia, but about the boldness and courage of a single man who believed in his craft.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

There is a 10 minute featurette The Real Jack/ Inner Circle which has the cast talking about the roles they play. The actors’ real life counterparts are also interviewed to give an in depth understanding to what kind of a person Kevorkian was.

AUDIO/VISUAL:

 The movie's visual transfer is pristine, and is presented in its original English audio track.

MOVIE RATING:

DVD RATING :

Review by John Li