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Critical Care

Play trailer Poster for Critical Care R 1997 1h 45m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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59% Tomatometer 17 Reviews 30% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Medical resident Dr. Werner Ernst (James Spader) aspires to help sick people, but is constantly warned by his mentor, Dr. Butz (Albert Brooks), to treat only patients with good insurance coverage. Soon, Ernst must deal with two sisters, Felicia (Kyra Sedgwick) and Connie (Margo Martindale), who are arguing over the proper treatment for their ill father. Although he tries to remain uninvolved, Ernst finds himself attracted to Felicia, though he suspects both women are really after money.
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Critical Care

Critics Reviews

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Andrew Sarris Observer 04/27/2007
...it emerges as a magically entertaining blend of heart, soul, mind, wit, farce and, finally, an idyllic idealism. Go to Full Review Desson Thomson Washington Post 01/01/2000
...a drily funny satire about America's health care woes... Go to Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times 01/01/2000
3/4
The film is a stimulating mix of a medical drama and a courtroom showdown, with broad comedy from Brooks, a little sexual blackmail, and a touching subplot involving another terminally ill patient who thinks he is being visited by the devil. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 05/20/2011
B-
There's not much that's subtle in Lumet's tirade against the greed of the medical profession and health-care system and patients who sue. Go to Full Review Chuck O'Leary Fantastica Daily 10/10/2005
2/5
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 07/10/2005
2/5
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Audience Reviews

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Bucky R @Bucky3085 04/21/2025 Albert Brooks' performance as Dr. Butz is hysterical. The 1989 tirade against the still-broken American health care system is painfully accurate. See more 07/27/2022 So not worth 1.75 hours of characters, crew, and filming locations!!!!!!!!! See more 07/14/2013 Lumet tries to do for the US healthcare system what he did for the television industry with Network, but it's lacking bite. See more 11/30/2011 I was bored quite fast. Good scenes here and there. Very forgettable. See more 09/12/2010 Not bad medical drama hampered by the fact that for a great deal of the film Spader's character behaves like an idiot. This isn't the actor's fault, he gives as good a performance as possible considering the actions forced on him by the script. He is certainly supported by a high quality cast in almost every role. Kyra Sedgwick is annoying and not terribly convincing but she is the lone sore spot. Helen Mirren is wonderful as an understanding and compassionate nurse and Albert Brooks a stitch as a loony doctor well past his sell by date. The script has many holes but it does make a strong plea for doctors seeing patients as people not just science projects and sources of income. See more 03/19/2010 fuck our heath care system! See more Read all reviews
Critical Care

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Cast & Crew

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Sidney Lumet

Director

James Spader

Dr. Werner Ernst

Kyra Sedgwick

Felicia Potter

Helen Mirren

Stella

Margo Martindale

Constance "Connie" Potter

Jeffrey Wright

Bed Two

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Critical Care

Critical Care (1997) Critical Care (1997) Critical Care (1997) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Medical resident Dr. Werner Ernst (James Spader) aspires to help sick people, but is constantly warned by his mentor, Dr. Butz (Albert Brooks), to treat only patients with good insurance coverage. Soon, Ernst must deal with two sisters, Felicia (Kyra Sedgwick) and Connie (Margo Martindale), who are arguing over the proper treatment for their ill father. Although he tries to remain uninvolved, Ernst finds himself attracted to Felicia, though he suspects both women are really after money.
Director
Sidney Lumet
Producer
Steven S Schwartz, Sidney Lumet
Production Co
Live Entertainment
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
May 16, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA)
$169.4K
Runtime
1h 45m
Sound Mix
Surround