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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 31% 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 ...it emerges as a magically entertaining blend of heart, soul, mind, wit, farce and, finally, an idyllic idealism. Apr 27, 2007 Full Review Desson Thomson Washington Post ...a drily funny satire about America's health care woes... Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times 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. Rated: 3/4 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 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. Rated: B- May 20, 2011 Full Review Chuck O'Leary Fantastica Daily Rated: 2/5 Oct 10, 2005 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 2/5 Jul 10, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Bucky R Albert Brooks' performance as Dr. Butz is hysterical. The 1989 tirade against the still-broken American health care system is painfully accurate. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/21/25 Full Review Audience Member So not worth 1.75 hours of characters, crew, and filming locations!!!!!!!!! Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Audience Member Lumet tries to do for the US healthcare system what he did for the television industry with Network, but it's lacking bite. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Audience Member I was bored quite fast. Good scenes here and there. Very forgettable. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Audience Member 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. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member fuck our heath care system! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review 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

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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
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