MovieChat Forums > Extraordinary Measures (2010) Discussion > Something to seriously think about. Sad.

Something to seriously think about. Sad.

posted 14 years ago by lotrtkdchic
13 replies | jump to latest

If the Crowley children in the movie had not been so utterly and typically hollywood-style adorable, funny, and cute....Would people feel such sympathy and would the movie be so popular?

http://thetimes-tribune.com/polopoly_fs/1.511100!/image/347104520.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_490/347104520.jpg

http://quest.mda.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/story_main_image_542x309/Crowley%20family%20-%20lead.jpg

This is the REAL crowley family.
The real children are not so "beautiful and charismatic" (As hollywood would have it, I mean) are they?
I'm not saying I can't personally see through physical "imperfections" to see inner beauty. But the truth is, the masses aren't swayed by the truth, they're enamored by false fantasy.
Thoughts, please :)

[–] Cyclo Rider 14 years ago

I don't think the appearance of the children matters in the film.

It would be a GREAT film either way.

More people just need to see it.

Powerful story.

Beautiful movie.

10/10

[–] lotrtkdchic 14 years ago

But it's false in so many ways and reminiscent of a lifetime movie.... see http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1244659/board/thread/154512001

[–] Cyclo Rider 14 years ago

No. It's not.

John Crowley says the film is accurate.
The medical aspects in the film are accurate.
The business aspects in the film are accurate.

Just because the movie has two kids with a fatal disease and a father trying to save their lives doesn't make it a lifetime movie. What John Crowley accomplished was incredible...

He was told his children had a year to live.
All of the doctors said it was hopeless.
There is no cure.
His kids will die.
So what does Mr. Crowley do?
He quits his job.
He raises money.
He starts a new biotech company from scratch to find a cure that will save their lives.

The story and the movie are filled with drama and suspense. John faced so many obstacles as he searched for a cure in a race against the clock with time running out for his children...

This is a big screen movie just as much as 'Erin Brockovich' and 'Up in the Air' are.

Beautiful story.
Fantastic movie.

[–] Fritz_Gerlich 14 years ago

The FDA has halted the distribution of the current form of Myozyme (aka Lumizyme) b/c is is ineffective and should not be on the market.

[–] lodidodii 14 years ago

Fritzy, you're giving too much credit to the person who posted that Myozyme has been banned by the FDA. That's absolutely NOT true. It is currently approved for children in the US, and has been for several years. It is pending approval for adults in the US. It has been approved for children & adults in many countries around the world for several years. I'm an adult, currently on Myozyme (Lumizyme) so I can assure you that it's not ineffective.

[–] pawposytek 14 years ago

All children are cute and adorable, has nothing to do with Hollywood. And most child actors are just themselves so they are just as cute and adorable as in real life.....

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] horsenbuggy 14 years ago

Not to offend Mrs. Crowley, but she's no Keri Russell. And I'm sure that none of the scientists who inspired the Dr. Stonehill role look like Harrison Ford, either.

It's part and parcel of Hollywood that real people are going to be played by more attractive actors when their life story makes it onto the big screen. (TNT cast Gerard Butler as Attila the Hun for crying out loud!)

I know it would have been more accurate for the child actors to present themselves more like the Crowley children, at least with the weakened facial muscles that people say they have. But I question whether child actors that age could have maintained that level of acting. Imagine if they had tried but then been terrible at it. Wouldn't that have been worse? It would have been distracting to the audience and probably offensive to those affected by this disease. (You know you've seen horrible portrayals of people with mental disabilities that come off looking like the actor is making fun of the affliction.)

Edited to add: I know this disease does not affect mental capacity. I used the example of actors portraying someone with a mental disability because it is a more common "role". The only other comparison is Lorenzo's Oil, but I don't know enough about the kid who played that role to really comment on how well he did.

Further edit: I just looked up the boys who played Lorenzo and it appears that they all had some kind of wasting disease, though not necessarily ALD. So that explains why Lorenzo appeared more realistic than the kids in this movie.

[–] Cyclo Rider 14 years ago

What's important isn't the facial appearances of the children, but the fact that they would lose their lives without a breakthrough medical treatment.

The kids they cast did great.

I think Meredith Droeger is a young star in the making.

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] ulht1 13 years ago

Yes, there are. Also because they were black, Muslim, poor etc. (just noting: I am white and not near poverty and atheist - doesn't mean I don't know what goes on) - and it is likely it's more than hundreds. Also diseases/conditions no one has jumped on yet for similar reasons. Also much good research that goes way unfunded so sports teams can have the big bucks. It's a long, long list some people will eventually answer for. But, hey, in the spirit of the season, let's, at least those who care, try to do something for others. Maybe even for people in a group you don't normally care about - or forget to care about. Lot's of those out there.

if it isn't funny enough have someone hit in the face with a fish. Since Thorne Smith likes it ...

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] 13 years ago

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