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Robin Williams, Robert De Niro, Julie Kavner, Ruth Nelson, John Heard ... see more see more... , Penelope Ann Miller , Alice Drummond , Waheedah Ahmad , Mary Alice , Tanya Berezin , Oliver Block , Adam Bryant , Yusef Bulos , Linda Burns , Chris Carolan , Keith Diamond , Le Chance DuRand , Rico Elias , Laura Esterman , Gwyllum Evans , Howard Feller , Shane Fistell , Mel Gorham , Gloria Harper , Barton Heyman , Jayne Haynes , Tiger Haynes , Christina Huertes , Michael Hyde , Judy Jacksina , John Christopher Jones , Charles Keating , Debra Kovner-Zaks , Richard Libertini , Joan E. MacIntosh , Judith Malina , George Martin , Anthony McGowen , Anne Meara , Paul Montgomery , Anthony J. Nici , Tomislav Novakovic , Vincent Pastore , Max Rabinowitz , Steve Randazzo , Buck Smith , Peter Stormare , Max von Sydow , Gary Tacon , Leonard Tepper , Libby Titus , Byron Utley , Steve Vinovich , Gordon Joseph Weiss , Bradley Whitford , Mary Catherine Wright , Dexter Gordon , Max Raven , Harvey Miller

Based on a true story as related by neurologist Oliver Sacks, Awakenings stars Robin Williams as the Sacks counterpart, here named Dr. Malcolm Sayer. Something of a klutz and naif, Dr. Sayer takes a j... read more read more...ob at a Bronx psychiatric hospital in 1969. Here he's put in charge of several seemingly catatonic patients who, under Sayer's painstaking guidance, begin responding to certain stimulati. Apprised of the efficacy of a new drug called L-DOPA in treating degenerative-disease victims, Sayer is given permission to test the drug on one of his patients: Leonard Lowe (Robert De Niro), who has not communicated with anyone since lapsing into catatonia as a child. Gradually, Lowe comes out of his shell, encouraging Sayers to administer L-DOPA to the other patients under his care. Julie Kavner and John Heard also star. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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85% liked it

51,323 ratings

Critics

87% liked it

31 critics

PG-13, 2 hr.

Directed by: Penny Marshall

Release Date: December 19, 1990

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DVD Release Date: August 28, 2001

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Stats: 2,256 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (2,256)

  • FrizzDrop
    September 10, 2011
    FrizzDrop
    Awakening to the world after thirty years, lost youth, the incomprehensible loss of who you were in contrast to who you could be in the future, is a heavy subject matter. Luckily we have the extraordinary efforts of actors Robin Williams and Robert De Niro to encapsulate the spec... read moretrum of human behavioral science and emotion. The aspects of the film that make it true are for certain the most astounding, drawing on the experiences of neurologist and author Oliver Sacks, who worked with catatonic patients from the 1917-1928 encephalitis epidemic. What is really very disturbing about the film, is watching fictionalized Dr. Malcolm Sayer come to the conclusion that these patients are in fact only sedate, and have the mental faculties to make a full recovery. This is both good news for their future state, and devastatingly horrifying to think of their mental prison for the past thirty years, trying to communicate with the broader world but being limited by their own body. We watch the good doctor bring back Leonard Lowe (De Niro), a child at the time of his crisis, and now a full grown man with the faculties of an infant. His transformation is subdued, nothing overall astounding about his awakening, since no one seems able to witness them when they happen. He wakes from sleep, recognizes that he's back with the tender joy of a child, and remembers the death of his former state, but not the events of the past thirty years. As the other patients also awaken, and their journey begins, we're fed the horror of wasted life, the principle of the film to drive you into living when others cannot. The premise was executed in a fairly original way, the acting was sincere and realistic for the otherworldly circumstances that developed from it, and everything is believable and neither sappy nor unenjoyable. It's only the longwinded approach to certain sections that keeps me from enjoying it through and through, the lack of true depression at the very end, only the possibility for Sayer to finally live now that he's seen the worst of unused potential. It's too bittersweet a taste for me when I've gone through the rigmarole of this film.
  • cosmo313
    April 3, 2011
    cosmo313
    The last time I saw this was sometime in the early 1990s. but back then I didn't really get much out of it, nor do I really remember much of it. Rediscovering it recently has been a great joy

    This is a remarkable and touching film that could have gone so many different ways, ... read moresuch as sappy melodrama, angry One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nestish anti-establishmentarianism, or what have you. There are elements of these things, but the film nicely finds a nice balance, and is probably all the better because of it.

    This is a really good film, and I liked it a great deal, but I figured I would love it. That is not the case, but I'm not sure what it is that is keeping me from giving it a higher grade. Let's just call it a very high B+, because that seems like a great way to categorize it.

    The performances are terrific. Again, like the film overall, the actors achieve a very nice balance, and avoid sending the wrong message, or overplaying it, espeically De niro and the other catatonics. It is so easy to make a wrong move playing a character such as that which demands sensitivity, yet still getting the point across. As Leonard, this seems to be one of De Niro's forgotten roles. That's a shame too, because he delivers a wonderful performance. Williams is also great as the doctor trying to reach him, as well as make a connection with the rest of the world, of which he has a hard time relating to. Julie Kavner is also really good as the nurse who is the closest to Williams's doctor.

    This is going to sound really cynical, but it seems odd to me that this was a theatrical release. This is troubling because it seems to me like this kind of movie, if made today, would more than likely (for the most part) not be a theatrical film, and instead a tv-film for HBO or Showtime or something. I'm not knocking those productions, but it just seems sad to me that really good films like this aren't being made as much as they once seemed to.

    Give this one a look, it's a heartwarming film that is touching, inspiring, yet not overbearing in its message.
    The last time I saw this was sometime in the early 1990s. but back then I didn't really get much out of it, nor do I really remember much of it. Rediscovering it recently has been a great joy

    This is a remarkable and touching film that could have gone so many different ways, such as sappy melodrama, angry One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nestish anti-establishmentarianism, or what have you. There are elements of these things, but the film nicely finds a nice balance, and is probably all the better because of it.

    This is a really good film, and I liked it a great deal, but I figured I would love it. That is not the case, but I'm not sure what it is that is keeping me from giving it a higher grade. Let's just call it a very high B+, because that seems like a great way to categorize it.

    The performances are terrific. Again, like the film overall, the actors achieve a very nice balance, and avoid sending the wrong message, or overplaying it, espeically De niro and the other catatonics. It is so easy to make a wrong move playing a character such as that which demands sensitivity, yet still getting the point across. As Leonard, this seems to be one of De Niro's forgotten roles. That's a shame too, because he delivers a wonderful performance. Williams is also great as the doctor trying to reach him, as well as make a connection with the rest of the world, of which he has a hard time relating to. Julie Kavner is also really good as the nurse who is the closest to Williams's doctor.

    This is going to sound really cynical, but it seems odd to me that this was a theatrical release. This is troubling because it seems to me like this kind of movie, if made today, would more than likely (for the most part) not be a theatrical film, and instead a tv-film for HBO or Showtime or something. I'm not knocking those productions, but it just seems sad to me that really good films like this aren't being made as much as they once seemed to.

    Give this one a look, it's a heartwarming film that is touching, inspiring, yet not overbearing in its message.
  • CloudStrife84
    November 25, 2010
    CloudStrife84
    Wonderful movie, with some truly phenomenal performances by Robert De Niro and Robin Williams. A story that builds quite slowly, but doesn't get boring for a single second, thanks to its beautifully written script and terrific acting. It was fun to see Julie Kavner (known best to... read more the world as the voice of Marge Simpson) in one of the supporting roles. The film is also a proud moment for us Swedes, as two of our greatest actors are found within the cast; namely Max von Sydow and Peter Stormare. A pleasant surprise to be sure, even if their characters have minimal screen-time. But the real treat of this film is the very powerful and touching story, holding many goosebump-inducing moments and a fantastic pay-off. Being based on real-life events, also further increased that emotional magnitude. To make a comparison, it's got a lot of things in common with One flew over the Coocku's Nest, and is just as brilliant. Quite a mystery though that this one has received so little mention. Because it deserves to be seen, and certainly ranks as one of the greatest dramas ever made. A movie for the heart and soul, that will leave you deeply moved by the time the curtains go down and we say goodbye to its characters.
  • FiLmCrAzY
    December 29, 2009
    FiLmCrAzY
    Amazing movie!
    Brilliant performances from both Williams and De Niro, its exceptional acting that is award winning.
    I like it because its based on a true story as well!
    i like the storyline and its really emotional as well!!
    really worth a watch!!
  • SirPant
    September 23, 2009
    SirPant
    A very sweet film, tactfully, intelligently and beautifully made.
  • FilmFanatik
    November 2, 2008
    FilmFanatik
    An astonishing film. A very rare performance from Robert De Niro.
  • fernandorafael
    July 30, 2008
    fernandorafael
    Monumentally touching. The beautiful score and cinematography help set the heartwarming mood of this lovely film. Well written and directed (Steven Zaillian; Penny Marshall). Robert De Niro gives one of the best performances I've ever seen, innocent and vulnerable, as well as tou... read moregh and smart. He nailed this role completely. Robin Williams, who, after seeing this, I no longer hate (I guess I hate him whenever he does comedy, but he's a fine dramatic actor). Penelope Ann Miller and Julie Kavner complete the impressive cast with their sincere performances.
  • puffchunk
    July 29, 2008
    puffchunk
    Sad story. It would suck big time to have this disease. This was one of the few Robin Williams roles that I didn't hate.
  • 76Majikat
    May 15, 2008
    76Majikat
    Atruly amazing tale, based on true events. A well played role by Deniro and Williams.

    An emotional story and dilemma spurring Neurological research into a group of people with a chronic 'mystery' condition.
  • thmtsang
    March 15, 2008
    thmtsang
    A doctor introduces a new drug that awakens victims of an encephalitis epidemic. Great performances by Robert De Niro and Robin Williams.

View All Awakenings Reviews

Critic Reviews

Rob Humanick
January 15, 2012
Rob Humanick, Projection Booth

Maybe life affirming, but hardly life-changing. Full Review

Nell Minow
December 22, 2010
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media

Nonfunny Robin Williams role in moving story. Full Review

Chuck O'Leary
July 5, 2007
Chuck O'Leary, FulvueDrive-in.com

A beautifully moving, life-affirming true story.

Emanuel Levy
February 1, 2007
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

A potentially intriguing story, based on the actual experiences of Dr. Sacks, gets a characteristically middling, sentimental and uplifting from director Penny Marshall. Full Review

Clint Morris
March 10, 2005
Clint Morris, Moviehole

Tour-de-force performances and one memorable storyline

Nick Davis
November 2, 2004
Nick Davis, Nick's Flick Picks

I remember this film, which I saw 13 years ago, as a squishy article redeemed by two strong performances; I am not inclined to go back for a second opinion.

Rich Cline
June 5, 2004
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall

Moving and over-sentimental - but Marshall's best film.

Dan Lybarger
May 23, 2004
Dan Lybarger, Nitrate Online

Solid medical drama. Williams is terrific in a straight role.

Ken Hanke
August 14, 2003
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Utter goo.

Widgett Walls
May 20, 2003
Widgett Walls, Needcoffee.com

Moving and well-acted.

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    • Dr. Malcolm Sayer: What we do know is that, as the chemical window closed, another awakening took place; that the human spirit is more powerful than any drug - and THAT is what needs to be nourished: with work, play, friendship, family.
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Awakenings Trivia

  • Whose nose did Robin Williams break while filming Awakenings?  Answer »
  • name the actor that links these films Strays Saving Private Ryan Awakenings Find me Guilty A Man Apart  Answer »
  • In what movie did Robin Williams play a physician who uses an experimental drug to awaken catatonic patients?  Answer »
  • This formerly common childhood illness led to Robert DeNiro's catatonic condition in Awakenings.  Answer »
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