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Unexpectedly faced with the urgent necessity of his son Michael (Daniel E. Smith) undergoing a
heart transplant, John Q (Denzel Washington) is confident that his health insurance will be sufficient to cover the operation. He expects that the boy would be immediately put
on the waiting list for a compatible heart donor. Instead, hospital administrator Rebecca Payne (Anne Heche) informs him that he is not eligible for the coverage because of
his reduced work hours at the factory, and that he must now pay cash $250,000 with 50 percent down. He does a hopeless round of talking to the financing company, making a
promise to the hospital for an operate-now-pay-later plan, pleading with the employer, convincing the cardiac surgeon Dr. Turner (James Woods) to give in just this once. When
he runs out of options, and his wife Denise (Kimberly Elise) tells him to "Do Something!" because Michael's time is running out, he sees only one option to take. He barricades
the emergency section of the hospital, with people there as hostages, and gives the authorities one hour to put his boy on the transplant list. This brings on the
hostage-negotiator (Robert Duvall), the chief of police (Ray Liotta) the news hungry media and the crowds. How is this scenario going to turn out?
Although, there is nothing new to the story, but with a known director (Nick Cassavetes ), Denzel
Washington does not fail his audience in giving a feeling portrayal of a desperate father, willing to do just anything to give his only son a chance at life. He is strongly
supported by such known actors as Duvall, Liotta and Woods. Cinematography and the production design showing whole crowds outside the hospital, the no-nonsense police, the
SWAT team, the press, sympathizers and onlookers add to the tension of the story.
This is a movie that Filipinos can easily relate to, given their natural love of family and
children. There is no doubt whatsoever of John's love for his only son, as shown clearly through visuals and dialogue. The flow of John Q's story also exposes some of the
weaknesses of the American health system. As for John Quincy Archibald, though his situation is understandable, the options that he takes for his son and the consequences that
follow his actions are matters that he must be held accountable for.
(Date reviewed: March 22, 2002)
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