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So Much So Fast

Play trailer Poster for So Much So Fast Released Oct 11, 2006 1h 27m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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96% Tomatometer 23 Reviews 85% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Filmmakers Steve Ascher and Jeanne Jordan chronicle a man's struggle with ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease, and its effect on his family. Stephen Heywood fights to keep working as a home builder, but his physical condition deteriorates. His brother, Jamie, quits his job, starts a medical research foundation and devotes himself to finding a cure.

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So Much So Fast

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Critics Consensus

A poignant documentary about terminal illness that's as moving as it is honest.

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Critics Reviews

View All (23) Critics Reviews
Ty Burr Boston Globe It is harrowing, heartbreaking, cheering, and unforgettable. Rated: 4/4 Oct 27, 2006 Full Review Noel Murray AV Club So Much So Fast tries hard to imbue Stephen's story with a life-is-fleeting wonder. In fact, it tries too hard. Rated: B- Oct 13, 2006 Full Review V.A. Musetto New York Post It retains an upbeat air of hope, and even humor, as two brave men battle fate. Rated: 3/4 Oct 13, 2006 Full Review Eric Monder Film Journal International Should inspire many who suffer from life-threatening health problems. It is also quite interesting on a purely dramatic level. Mar 1, 2007 Full Review Jeff Vice Deseret News (Salt Lake City) A very compelling human story. Rated: 3.5/4 Dec 8, 2006 Full Review Sean P. Means Salt Lake Tribune Ascher and Jordan bring [their] personal knowledge to bear on the Heywoods' plight, sometimes asking wistfully whether it is ultimately any different from any other family's trouble. Rated: 3.5/4 Dec 8, 2006 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member I might come back to this and watch again. I'd love to learn more. Maybe I'm just not in the mood. Distracted. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review Audience Member An emotional journey in the life of a young man with ALS... Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member The technical merits of this documentary are probably shit. It mostly has the qualities of a home video. But the story is pretty good. It follows the life of a man and his family as he battles Lou Gehrig's Disease. Probably never before has the disease been so well-documented, at least in the way it destroys the body. I doubt anyone I know will watch, but spoiler: he dies. That's actually really tragic. This was a guy who seemed really at peace with what he was going through, and made a lot of decisions to prolong life. He died two years after filming ended by accident...his respirator came loose during the night and he suffocated. To die of an accident like that after years of fighting is, and I think Stephen might even agree, almost comical. I mean, how much can life shit on a guy? The other two people who really impressed me are the guys who helped him build houses. They were more or less kids, but took up the job he was no longer able to do: build houses. So they must have been pretty patient and pretty good guys to deal with the language, etc, on a daily basis. Finally, the bring up Dr. Jack in the movie. I was pretty impressed with Stephen the entire time. I'm not as positive as he is and I don't suffer from this crippling disease. But he was right about Dr. K. as well. He didn't say what he did was wrong, or that the people wanting his services were wrong. They just didn't have the things he had to live for. Spot on. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/29/23 Full Review Audience Member Poignant & inspiring. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Jamie Heywood was guest speaker at the Bio-IT dinner, and he gave a talk about the science of drug development with such passion, I have never seen a conference speeach like it. So I had to watch the movie about his brother's life, and Jamie's fight to save him. The documentary concentrates on the people rather than the science, and the stresses on all involved as Stephen's disease progresses and the foundation fails to make progress gives the film an edge. This is what a reality show used to be like, and should be like. I wonder how I would respond to a diagnosis of ALS. I can't imagine I would have a life at any cost attitude, but where would I draw the line? If I could communicate, would that be enough? Watch this film, it's inspiring. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/15/23 Full Review Audience Member Makes you appreciate life and the courage of the human spirit Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Read all reviews
So Much So Fast

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Cast & Crew

51 Birch Street 97% 87% 51 Birch Street Watchlist Indestructible 100% 83% Indestructible Watchlist The Devil's Miner 93% 85% The Devil's Miner Watchlist Wide Awake 80% 50% Wide Awake Watchlist Romántico 96% 95% Romántico Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis Filmmakers Steve Ascher and Jeanne Jordan chronicle a man's struggle with ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease, and its effect on his family. Stephen Heywood fights to keep working as a home builder, but his physical condition deteriorates. His brother, Jamie, quits his job, starts a medical research foundation and devotes himself to finding a cure.
Director
Steven Ascher, Jeanne Jordan
Producer
Steven Ascher, Jeanne Jordan
Screenwriter
Steven Ascher, Jeanne Jordan
Distributor
Balcony
Production Co
West City Films
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 11, 2006, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 8, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$11.2K
Runtime
1h 27m
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