John Q
Starring: Denzel Washington, James Woods, Robert Duvall, Ray Liotta, Anne Heche
Directed By:Nick Cassavettes

Taking on the establishment and winning is a popular movie fairy tale. That is what John Q sets out to show you with medical care. When John’s son is diagnosed with a life threatening heart disease, the hospital won’t operate – his insurance doesn’t cover it. John is pushed to the limit, ultimately the breaking point, and finally he snaps, taking the hospital hostage in an attempt to get his son a new heart. Denzel Washington plays John with the conviction of a father, he is truly a man pushed to the limit. For the second straight film Washington has grown stronger in his choices, branching out and trying different things. He is backed up by an extraordinary supporting cast, in particular James Woods as the heart surgeon who is conflicted and Robert Duvall as the hostage negotiator brought in to bring John down. It is a tight, taunt script, with some holes, but ultimately a convincing story of a man who has no options. Even more importantly it raises the question, what would you do? Watch your child die? You’d probably do exactly what John would do: whatever it takes. B