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Critical Care (1997)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Release Date:
31 October 1997 (USA)
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Tagline:
At Memorial Hospital no one ever dies... Until their insurance runs out.
Plot:
Werner Ernst is a young hospital resident who becomes embroiled in a legal battle between two half-sisters...
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Plot Keywords:
Hospital
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Half Sister
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Ethics
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Medical
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Life Support
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Awards:
1 nomination
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NewsDesk:
User Comments:
The medical profession takes it on the chin in this good comedy, with a wonderful performance by Albert Brooks.
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US TV Schedule:
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| James Spader | ... | Dr. Werner Ernst | |
| Kyra Sedgwick | ... | Felicia Potter | |
| Helen Mirren | ... | Stella | |
| Anne Bancroft | ... | Nun | |
| Albert Brooks | ... | Dr. Butz | |
| Jeffrey Wright | ... | Bed Two | |
| Margo Martindale | ... | Constance 'Connie' Potter | |
| Wallace Shawn | ... | Furnaceman | |
| Philip Bosco | ... | Dr. Hofstader | |
| Colm Feore | ... | Richard Wilson | |
| Edward Herrmann | ... | Robert Payne | |
| James Lally | ... | Poindexter | |
| Harvey Atkin | ... | Judge Fatale | |
| Al Waxman | ... | Sheldon Hatchett (a Lawyer) | |
| Hamish McEwan | ... | Dr. Hansen |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Özel ilgi (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Cuidados Intensivos (Portugal) (video title) [pt]
En estado crítico (Spain) [es]
O Impaciente (Brazil) [pt]
Se mi amate (Italy) [it]
Sterben und erben (Germany) (TV title) [de]
Teholla (Finland) [fi]
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Cuidados Intensivos (Portugal) (video title) [pt]
En estado crítico (Spain) [es]
O Impaciente (Brazil) [pt]
Se mi amate (Italy) [it]
Sterben und erben (Germany) (TV title) [de]
Teholla (Finland) [fi]
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MPAA:
Rated R for language and a scene of sexuality.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
107 min
Language:
Color:
Sound Mix:
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Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Quotes:
Dr. Hofstader:
Seeing patients is a waste of time.
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Movie Connections:
References The Terminator (1984)
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Soundtrack:
Dry Bones
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (10 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Critical Care (1997)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
|---|---|
| This was not a comedy. | mathmaniac |
| Albert Brooks | evilshenanigans |
Recommendations
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| News articles | IMDb Comedy section | IMDb Australia section |
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This film takes its place beside many comedy/dramas touching on the inadequacies of the medical profession, such as Otto Preminger's "Such Good Friends (1971)" and Arthur Hiller's "The Hospital (1971)." Though the comedy here is not as "black" as those films, which concentrated more on the incompetencies of some doctors and nurses, "Critical Care" finds its humor in the insurance-driven medical profession today. Albert Brooks is absolutely wonderful as the epitome of a doctor caring only about the bottom line. His only concern is whether or not a prospective patient has medical insurance, and his decision to keep a comatose patient with no chance of recovery alive is based solely on the fact that the insurance company pays $9,500 per week ("cold cash") if he's alive, and zilch if he dies. Conversely, an emergency patient has very little priority if he has no medical insurance. The reason to see the film is Albert Brooks, in a much different role than he usually plays.
The setup is a bit contrived, but is easily forgiven. I also enjoyed the brief roles of Wallace Shawn as the devil (called "furnaceman" in the credits) and Anne Bancroft as sort of an angel in a nun's habit.