Awake (2007)

Director:

Joby Harold

Writer:

Joby Harold (written by)

Release Date:

30 November 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

Every year, one in 700 people wake up during surgery. When they planned her husband's murder, they never thought he'd be the one.

Plot:

The story focuses on a man who suffers "anesthetic awareness" and finds himself awake and aware, but paralyzed, during heart surgery. His mother must wrestle with her own demons as a drama unfolds around them, while trying to unfold the story hidden behind her son's young wife.

Plot Keywords:

Surgery | Heart Surgery | Medication | Nonlinear Timeline | Hospital

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Thur. Dec. 31	11:40 AM	TMC
Fri. Jan. 1	5:20 AM	TMC
Fri. Jan. 1	2:00 PM	SHOW

Cast

Hayden Christensen	...	Clay Beresford
Jessica Alba	...	Sam Lockwood
Terrence Howard	...	Dr. Jack Harper
Lena Olin	...	Lilith Beresford
Christopher McDonald	...	Dr. Larry Lupin
Sam Robards	...	Clayton Beresford Sr.
Arliss Howard	...	Dr. Jonathan Neyer
Fisher Stevens	...	Dr. Puttnam
Georgina Chapman	...	Penny Carver
David Harbour	...	Dracula
Steven Hinkle	...	Young Clay (as Stephen Hinkle)
Denis O'Hare	...	Financial News Analyst
Charlie Hewson	...	Brian the Orderly
Court Young	...	Officer Doherty
Joseph Costa	...	Dr. Elbogen

MPAA:

Rated R for language, an intense disturbing situation, and brief drug use.

Runtime:

84 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #43173) | Singapore:NC-16 | Ireland:15A | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:15 | Australia:MA | Malaysia:U | Finland:K-13 | Argentina:16 | Taiwan:R-12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Chile:14 | Italy:VM14 | Peru:14 | Netherlands:16 | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

18 East 68th Street, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

GreeneStreet Films

Trivia:

Helen Mirren and Sigourney Weaver were both considered at one point to play Lilith Beresford before Lena Olin was cast.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The surgeon starts prepping the op site even before the anesthesiologist intubates the patient. Usually you first sedate, then anesthetize & intubate the patient before any preparations starts b/c the sedatives and hypnotics tend to make a person susceptible to hallucinations & bad trips that could be triggered by sensory input (noise, light, the cold from the disinfectant).

Quotes:

Dr. Jack Harper: At 6:32 this morning, on Thursday the first of November, Clayton Beresford Junior died on my operating table, two and a half hours later, his life was saved.
Dr. Jack Harper: There are no excuses for what we did, there’s no defense, no one to blame but us, we got what we deserved. Clay would have his revenge, and justice would finally be served, but despite all the secrets, despite all the lies, and a terrible loss, one thing really matters now, he....is....awake.

Soundtrack:

No Kind of Life

Why only 6.4? I was so entertained!

I did not read reviews till after I saw this, and I am appalled. To each his own, but I felt as if I had held my breath the whole movie. And what a great ending to make you feel you so got your moneys worth. And how enchanting was Jessica? Adorable and virtually perfect in the role. Such a great ride. One of the best movies I have seen in the past year.

Also, it seems many feel the length of the movie is too short, but who says 2 hours is required? My stress level was so high throughout, and everyone in the theater kept laughing at parts, not because it was funny, but as a defense mechanism from the aforementioned stress. Perfect acting? Maybe not, but it was certainly very good... in my humble opinion. I can tell you to go see it, but no order needed to enjoy it... that part comes easily, without force. Cheers.