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Movies / On DVD / John Q
John Q

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John Q (2002)

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Reviews Counted:127

Fresh:28

Rotten:99

Average Rating:4.4/10

Consensus: Washington's performance rises above the material, but John Q pounds the audience over the head with its message.

Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for violence, language, and some intense thematic elements

Runtime: 1 hr 52 mins

Genre: Dramas

Theatrical Release:Feb 15, 2002 Wide

Box Office: $71,026,631

Synopsis: John Q. Archibald (Denzel Washington) is struggling through a recession trying to provide for his son Mikey (Daniel E. Smith) and his waitress wife (Kimberly Elise). Mikey collapses at a Little... John Q. Archibald (Denzel Washington) is struggling through a recession trying to provide for his son Mikey (Daniel E. Smith) and his waitress wife (Kimberly Elise). Mikey collapses at a Little League game and is rushed to a hospital. The situation is bleak. Only a heart transplant will save Mikey's life. John's HMO refuses to cover the expensive surgery. With the hospital and his insurance provider unwilling to help and his wife pleading with John to act, he takes matters into his own hands, holding the hospital's renowned heart surgeon (James Woods) and several others hostage in an emergency care wing until the surgery will be performed. Nick Cassavetes directed this attack on the American health care system. Like his previous feature, SHE'S SO LOVELY, Cassavetes proves adept at mining the political ramifications out of human drama. The film criticizes hospitals and health care providers for working in collusion against the working class. This moving drama is propelled by the intense lead performance by Washington as one man against an unjust system. [More]

Starring: Denzel Washington, Robert Duvall, Anne Heche, James Woods

Starring: Denzel Washington, Robert Duvall, Anne Heche, James Woods, Ray Liotta, Kimberly Elise, Daniel E. Smith, Shawn Hatosy, Eddie Griffin, Kevin Connolly, Troy Winbush

Director: Nick Cassavetes

Director: Nick Cassavetes
Screenwriter: James Kearns
Producer: Mark Burg, Oren Koules
Composer: Aaron Zigman
Studio: New Line Cinema

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Release:

Jul 16, 2002

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Reviews for John Q

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1 - 20 (sorted by fresh rating)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >> >|
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Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Film Threat

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Film Threat

Washington overcomes the script's flaws and envelops the audience in his character's anguish, anger and frustration.

Full Review Source: Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN) | comment Comment
02/19/02
Bob Bloom
Bob Bloom
Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

A satisfying piece of Americana in the age of the gun.

Full Review Source: San Jose Mercury News | comment Comment
02/14/02
Bruce Newman
Bruce Newman
San Jose Mercury News
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

One can excuse the movie's missteps and melodramatic moments in the greater interest of the strong statement it makes about our health care system.

Full Review Source: USA Today | comment Comment
02/15/02
Claudia Puig
Claudia Puig
USA Today

While it scarcely touches on the inadequate American health care system, it's at least got something to say, rather than just gush.

Full Review Source: Moviehole | comment Comment
10/02/02
Clint Morris
Clint Morris
Moviehole

The dramatic impact of John Q. comes down to something rather basic: It's wonderful to see Denzel Washington playing a father.

Full Review Source: Fresno Bee | comment Comment
02/15/02
Donald Munro
Donald Munro
Fresno Bee

John Q may be too problematic to be marked a great movie, but one thing definitely is: Denzel Washington.

Full Review Source: DustinPutman.com | comment Comment
02/15/02
Dustin Putman
Dustin Putman
DustinPutman.com

It's a powerful though flawed movie, guaranteed to put a lump in your throat while reaffirming Washington as possibly the best actor working in movies today.

Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
02/15/02
Eric Harrison
Eric Harrison
Houston Chronicle
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

An emotional, heart-wrenching story that not only takes viewers on a journey within their own souls, but also opens up their eyes to the way the health care system works.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/08/02
Heather Wadowski
Heather Wadowski
Film Threat

An edgy, poignant drama that has its heart in the right place.

Full Review Source: Palo Alto Weekly | comment Comment
02/13/02
Jeanne Aufmuth
Jeanne Aufmuth
Palo Alto Weekly

It's not a perfect film by any means ... but overall, it entertained me.

Full Review Source: JoBlo's Movie Emporium | comment Comment
02/13/02
JoBlo
JoBlo
JoBlo's Movie Emporium

Washington's extraordinarily precise, emotionally rich and powerfully persuasive performance blazes through the cliches and contrivances of James Kearns' blunt-spoken, heavy-handed screenplay.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Examiner | comment Comment
02/15/02
Joe Leydon
Joe Leydon
San Francisco Examiner

A coercive script by James Kearns, and some middling direction by Nick Cassavetes, can't rob the movie of an undeniable, headlong crowd-pleasing power as it tackles an issue that touches us all.

Full Review Source: L.A. Weekly | comment Comment
01/21/03
John Patterson
John Patterson
L.A. Weekly

Washington, Woods, and Duvall are so capable, they almost save this schlock-fest from itself.

Full Review Source: Film Quips Online | comment Comment
02/08/03
John R. McEwen
John R. McEwen
Film Quips Online

At every turn it has the courage of its material.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
02/14/02
Kevin Thomas
Kevin Thomas
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A real audience-pleaser that will strike a chord with anyone who's ever waited in a doctor's office, emergency room, hospital bed or insurance company office.

Full Review Source: Jam! Movies | comment Comment
02/15/02
Louis B. Hobson
Louis B. Hobson
Jam! Movies

It can be described as manipulative, derivative and heavy-handed. In spite of all that, it kinda works in a populist-fantasy sort of way.

Full Review Source: Cincinnati Enquirer | comment Comment
10/15/02
Margaret A. McGurk
Margaret A. McGurk
Cincinnati Enquirer

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
10/30/02
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

Moviegoers will enjoy the all-star cast and the near-constant tension, but they will be won over by Washington's performance and the timely cause.

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
02/12/02
Norm Schrager
Norm Schrager
Filmcritic.com
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by fresh rating)
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Latest News for John Q

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