terrible movie

Social politics aside, this movie was awful mainly because the characters were so one dimensional and stereotyipcal:

The Head Surgeon (James Woods)- Starts out as the typical greedy doctor cavorting with his rich clients by the end of the movie he does a 180 is willing to throw away his career to perform the transplant surgery.

Rebecca Payne (anne heche) - Again, stereotypical "head hauncho" who cares only about money rather than saving lives. But like james woods, at the end of the movie does a complete 180 suddenly cares so much about the John q's son when when they find a donor.

Chief of police (ray liotta) - Sterotypical incompetenet head of police who cares about his political position. Makes the usual bonehead moves and of course needs the negotiater (james duvall) to bail him out.

Hostages - These guys had so many opportunities to disarm jon it wasnt funny. Yet they dont and they all are on his side even though he is threatening their lives? I guees its could be attributed to stockholm syndrome.

As for the politics, there is decent message here. Yes our healthcare system has its flaws but i think the movie blows it way out of proportion. Its so obvious the movie is pushing for a single payer system, which has its own flaws and is far from perfect.

Only good part about this movie was james duvall. The only chararcter that seemed believable.