User reviews

Actors have been known to sit on their laurels. Some would argue that, with Oscar, Emmy, and Tony as best mates on the mantelpiece, Al Pacino can do just that. Do we respectfully think that all his truly great performances are in the past? Godfather, Michael Corleone? Or Scarface, Tony Montana? Happily we can think again. Seeing You Don't Know Jack, we know it's the film Pacino fans have waited for.

Opening scenes give us Dr 'Death' Kevorkian. Before he invents his famous assisted suicide machine. I look closely at this point. I have to reassure myself it is indeed Pacino, not a docu-drama cut-in. For Pacino looks more like Kevorkian than Kevorkian does. Face, body language, tone of voice, the works.

The first achievement is to captivate with the character himself. Not the divisive issues he represents. Bypass the hazards of predictable biopics. Or monotonous 'message' movies. This is quality mainstream film-making and at its best. It doesn't seek to change views, and the spiky Mr Kevorkian leaves plenty of room to disagree, isolating himself often from even his own supporters. This is a passionate man who has little time for other people's views in any general sense. "Who cares what other people think?" he exclaims. "It's what my patient feels." This is not the first time director Barry Levinson has astounded audiences. Slick approaches shaking up accepted thinking. Wag the Dog was to be a wildcard that would embarrass Clinton's government. The Oscar-winner, Rain Man, was criticised for creating a misleading stereotype (Is every autistic person a closet savant? Of course not.) But what Rain Man did do was raise awareness. Make it OK to talk openly about autism. And – perhaps this is the secret – You Don't Know Jack could have a similar effect just because it is just as funny, just as entertaining, just as engaging and just as challenging. We so get many different emotions in fast succession on the screen, until we're primed to consider , "How do I really feel about this?" Real people (including death scenes with Kevorkian's patients) are more gutsier coathooks for feelings than the vague ethical constructs debated in every high school.

If movies learn anything from TV, it's how to keep audience attention. And You Don't Know Jack is suitably punchy. It dismisses any thought of getting up for coffee. No boring arguments for or against euthanasia. None of those Clint Eastwood, long and meditative, 'Million Dollar Baby' moments. Susan Sarandon even brings some of her own caustic lines to a film that often brims over with dark, surreal humour. "Is that Santa Claus stepping on a baby?" she asks casually at an exhibition of Kevorkian's bizarre paintings.

There are powerful performance in abundance, not least from the underrated Danny Huston who plays Fieger, Kevorkian's larger-than-life attorney. (Immediately after the movie first aired, the real Geoffrey Fieger announced he will 'maybe stand again' for governor.) Fieger is a colourful, over-the-top character in real life, perfectly suited to Huston's strengths. After watching Danny Huston's talent wasted in lesser films, such as the well-intentioned Boogie Woogie, it is a joy to see him shine.

Bare-knuckle scenes in You Don't Know Jack are explicit. Both in the physical acts of assisted suicide and in their emotional intensity. Kevorkian recalls his own mother's death to Janet Good (Sarandon). "She told me, 'Imagine the worst toothache in the world – now imagine that toothache in every bone in your body." He is almost penniless (for he never charged) and, with scientific precision, he at one point tries to save on lethal gas. He places his emphysema patient in a plastic hood (to catch the gas, rather than using a face-mask). But the patient panics and it is nearly the last straw for friend and assistant Neal Nicol, played effortlessly by John Goodman. Such scenes are not for the squeamish.

The sense of sincerity and conviction which Pacino gives the role could make it rather uncomfortable viewing if you disagree outright. But this intense, yet sidelong glance at a deeply polarising topic, seriously tackled but deftly relieved with a sharp witty screenplay, might just give new life to a debate that suffers from political hubris set against rather static public opinion.

You Don't Know Jack reveals a person a long way from popular conceptions. Even if you read his autobiography and see him in interview, as I have, he was and still is, a hard person to fathom. An egocentric – or to use a word he suggested himself – a zealot – it often seems that Kevorkian believes in himself to the point of being inaccessible. "You're gonna need some business cards you know!" chides his sister. For this driven man who is happy to live on a pittance and then go on hunger strike, the importance of such details can, it seems, easily be missed.

At over two hours long, the movie occasionally verges on repetition. Levinson, back on form after several also-rans, maintains the pace with intelligent humour and inventive cinematography. "You understand what prison is?" Judge Jessica Copper asks Kevorkian, who seems oblivious of the potential consequences of his actions. "Did you see The Shawshank Redemption, Sir?" During the hunger strike, a fast montage of slamming doors and uneaten foodtrays makes an impression on our ears and eyes faster than any amount of words – and also provides a welcome change of tempo.

This is cinema of the unexpected. With subject matter that should have been unbankably inauspicious. Yet You Don't Know Jack triumphs to take your breath away. Even without a plastic hood.

What a different role for Pacino! But, he was just as great and totally brilliant and believable in this quiet but driven, eccentric role as he usually is in his other roles where he furiously eats the scenery throughout.

I wasn't sure if his "Midwestern" accent was a Fargo caricature or if he was merely channeling Chief Dan George in Little Big Man, but it sure was interesting to hear an NYC Italian able to be so believable in his upper midwest accent that was located about 10 miles east of Minneapolis, or close thereabouts. Meryl Streep, move over.

The philosophy of this controversial subject is much more serious. America is so far behind the rest of the world in assisted suicide, as many countries now allow a person to die an assisted death for any reason, with no incurable illness or the like required. All it requires is a waiting period to be positive of the hard decision made. And here we are in the good old retarded USofA, still not allowing the dignified assisted death of terribly suffering and/or terminal souls who merely and quietly want nothing more disruptive than a personal, peaceful, and painless end to their agonizing day-to-day existence. (I totally agree with the rest of the world that it is as much or more an individual decision as is having an abortion and no political or religious entity should have any say in what a person makes up his mind to do in this matter. These intruding entities should not play any part at all in influencing and determining the right and wrong of it, as there is none to a rational thinker.)

All supporting roles were well done, with John Goodman bringing much needed comic relief at times to this achingly serious story. Brenda Vaccaro as the doc's conflicted sister and fellow death-with-dignity proponent Susan Sarandon were truly positive additions to the cast. Direction by the brilliant Barry Levinson was nonpariel and as good as his earlier Rain Man.

I truly hope this film moves the assisted death argument forward in America as it couldn't go any further backward, and more is the pity for that unevolved thinking.

"You don't know jack" is one of the greatest movie of 2010. It Shows the life of Jack Kevorkian. If you remember the 90s than you should have a picture of Dr Jack Kevorkian in your mind. He was just as famous as any movie star. He was the daily subject of medical discussion, The Movie Shows what truly was the intention of Dr Jack Kevorkian and how he released countless people from their misery. Barry Levinson directed the movie amazingly, and as for the performance Every one performed excellent. But Al Pacino Truly stole the show, he proved why he is considered the greatest of all time by many. He lost over 20 pounds for this movie and developed a physique so different than what he originally posses. Its amazing that he was able to pull of such a physically demanding task at the age of 70. AL out did himself with each and every scene. John Goodman, Brenda Vaccaro, Danny Huston, Susan Sarandon, Cotter smith and Logan all did outstanding job in this Epic movie. You don't know jack has all the elements to keep a movie fan at the edge of their seats. If you haven't had the opportunity to see this amazing movie than i strongly suggest you see this movie and you will realize why its such a phenomenon.

If you remember the 90's, Dr. Jack Kevorkian needs no introduction. His name was as much the subject of medical controversy as it was the punchline of countless jokes. His name was as notorious to some as O.J. Simpson or Richard Ramirez, yet also as admirable to others as Bill Clinton or Michael Jordan.

In the hands of many other directors, Kevorkian's biopic could have been treated more like a farce based on the doctor's past eccentricities, such as showing up in court wearing a powdered wig. Of course, Kevorkian's unabashed behaviors in front of camera lenses are depicted in this film, but fortunately, the details of his assisted suicides are not ever given any sugar coated treatments.

"You Don't Know Jack" tells the story about Dr. Kevorkian we should already know. Taking place from approximately 1990-1999, the film takes us from Kevorkian's days of being an unemployed physician to the trial that brought an end to his morally questionable practice for good. The lighting throughout this film is dark and often times dreary, but never dull thanks foremost to an impressive performance by Al Pacino that may be his best since "Scent of a Woman".

When watching this film, there was rarely a moment where I thought to myself, "That's Al Pacino playing Dr. Kevorkian". Pacino's signature eyes and husky voice are still ever present, but he disappears into his role so effectively that I found myself saying, "That is Dr. Kevorkian". Not only is that feat so hard to accomplish for an actor so iconic as Pacino, but it's also hard to play someone who most of the American public knew so well from being on TV all the time.

While it's impressive for Pacino to play the Jack we do know, he plays the Jack many "don't know" with a wry wit that makes an appealing character, even if you don't agree with assisted suicide. A great scene involved Pacino delving a subtle verbal blow to protesters outside his apartment building. When he says that the God he believes in, namely Johann Sebastian Bach, isn't imaginary like the God the protesters believe in, you can't help but laugh. I'm Catholic, and I thought it was hilarious.

However, this movie's strength comes in its nonjudgmental view on Kevorkian's practices. The movie never tells you how you should feel, but also clears up the notion that Kevorkian practiced his assisted suicides with reckless abandon. Many of the suicides in the movie focus on the patients themselves, and their absolute certainty that they want their suffering to end. Of course, leaving their loved ones is their hardest decision, something the film indeed recognizes. Is it still wrong? This movie doesn't tell, nor should it.

What's interesting, though, is the focus on Pacino's eyes during the scene where he performs his first procedure. They move back and forth on the screen as the operation continues, and don't try to mask any emotion of any kind. It could mean that Kevorkian doesn't care about his patients, or that he cares enough about them to keep the procedure as precise as possible. The main point: You decide.

The same is true for Kevorkian's unabashed character on camera. It's all here in this film, but director Barry Levinson resists the temptation for Pacino as Kevorkian to wink and nod at the camera. Considering Levinson directed excellent character-centric comedy/dramas like "Good Morning Vietnam" and "Man of the Year", the temptation must have been there. Fortunately, he used his knack for dramas like "Rainman" and "Avalon" instead, and the effect worked wonders.

The supporting cast behind Pacino is excellent. Danny Huston is fantastic as Geoffrey Fieger, Kevorkian's successful lawyer, and is equally as good interacting with Pacino as he is in the courtroom scenes. Brenda Vaccaro, Susan Sarandon, and John Goodman are great supporting members of this film as colleagues who believe in Kevorkian's mission, but also have the outside vantage point to know what he's inevitably destined for.

Whether you agree with Kevorkian's practices or not, it is impossible not to be compelled by this movie. The story draws you in, the characters are well developed in all the right areas, and it doesn't take more than five minutes for Pacino to convince you he is Dr. Jack Kevorkian. Do you know Jack by the end of this film? I'm still not sure. But I know an excellent movie when I see one, and this deserves 10 stars. See it!

Confession: I have long been a fan of Jack Kevorkian, and believed in his cause. Yes, he does walk a thin line at times, and raises some ethical issues, but his general point always seemed sound to me.

Here is the first film on his life (at least the part that we care about) that merits watching. It tells the whole story, does it very effectively, and gives us one of the best Al Pacino roles in years. Also, we learn more about his friend Neil and his attorney, both of whom were always played down in the news.

Although the film runs a bit on the long side, and could possibly be trimmed by ten minutes, I really enjoyed it. Pacino should be proud, and Kevorkian himself could ask of no greater portrayal of his work.

I've seen "You Don't Know Jack" twice now and will certainly watch it several times more with friends coming to watch my DVR HD recording of this HBO TV movie. It's not easy to watch the harrowing scenes of terminal patients in great distress. But with an outstandingly intelligent script, first-class cinematography and stellar performances by all the actors it becomes compelling viewing. Like Marion Cotillard's portrayal of Edith Piaf in "La Vie en Rose", Pacino's incredible performance will leave us with the feeling that he has indeed become Dr Kevorkian for us. His powerful acting gains pace as the movie progresses until the final dramatic courtroom scenes end the remarkable story of a pioneer eccentric's human rights obsession. While overtly sympathetic to Kevorkian, all sides of the arguments for or against assisted suicide are fairly presented and leave one thinking about the subject for days. In addition to Pacino's tour de force role I think that Barry Levinson's inspired direction brings this movie to masterpiece status. I hope it will be released on DVD soon so that a much wider audience can see it.

Jack Kevorkian (Al Pacino) is the Michigan doctor who started assisted-suicide with his sister Brenda Vaccaro (Margo Janus) and his friend Neal Nicol (John Goodman). He encounters political opposition and charged in court. He is helped by Janet Good (Susan Sarandon) who leads a support group and lawyer Geoffrey Fieger (Danny Huston). He is a child of Armenian genocide survivors.

It's a good biopic by director Barry Levinson. Pacino is masterful. The title "You Don't Know Jack" is accusational and suggests a more in-depth psychological examination of the man. There is nothing wrong with this but it doesn't dig that deep into his origins. The most insightful scene is a passing conversation between Janet and Brenda about the Kevorkian parents. It would have been a great addition to have them talk to a child Jack about the death and destruction of the genocide. It would be a great pairing with his rantings about the Nazis. It needs some tying together.

Al Pacino gives an absolutely superb, riveting performance in this 2010 HBO production of the biography of Jack Kevorkian.

While the subject matter is difficult to swallow, especially when the assisted suicides begin, the film is done is an exceptionally intelligent matter that focuses on what Kevorkian is attempting to do in his role as an angel of mercy to assist those suffering with terminal illnesses.

The first person who Kevorkian helped was an Alzheimer's patient. It was difficult to understand why he was doing this since the lady knew that the gardener would be there on Thursday to plant. As the other suicides progressed, you realized the situations that people truly face at the end of their horrible existences.

The film depicted what the far right would do in any effort to get after the good doctor. It also brought out that even with such a terrible ethical question pending, politics is never set far apart in the appearance of Michigan Gov. John Engler.

Susan Sarandon is excellent in the role of Pacino's aide who falls victim to a terminal illness. Brenda Vaccaro is equally good as Pacino's sister, a woman who believed in what he was doing but didn't have the sense to call a doctor when she was suffering a heart attack.

Naturally, the film is all Pacino's. He takes you down the road of justification to show you that he is on a mission. It's a great performance that probably will be rewarded at Emmy Time. Ms. Sarandon and Ms. Vaccaro may also warrant supporting nominations as well.

At the height of his infamy, Jack Kevorkian was called 'Doctor Death' on the cover of Time magazine.

You Don't Know Jack stars Al Pacino as Jack Kevorkian. A pathologist and supporter of euthanasia.

Frustrated by the suffering faced by the elderly and the terminally ill. He argued that those who had their life support machines switched off faced a slow agonising death where they were starved to death.

Kevorkian invented a Thanatron machine. A device consisting of tranquilizers, sedatives and poisons pumped into his patients that wanted to die. Assisting him were his friend Neal (John Goodman) or his sister Margo (Brenda Vaccaro.)

It is said that Kevorkian assisted in the suicides of over 130 patients. The state of Michigan did not take his activities lying down. Kevorkian was tried four times for assisting suicides and was acquitted by a jury three times, with a mistrial declared on one occasion. His dogged lawyer Geoffrey Fieger (Danny Huston) did his utmost to keep him out of jail and seem to enjoy the publicity himself.

Director Barry Levinson made this film for cable television. However he treats this like a provocative documentary drama, a film to arouse debate. Pacino shows Jack Kevorkian as uncompromising, determined and rough around the edges. A fiery man who can easily fall out with friends and relatives. He appears to be a hard man to like.

The film might be a little too sympathetic to Kevorkian. The people against him are painted as the usual religious right to life mob. Maybe a more intelligent counter-argument should had been made against his views.

Love him or hate him, agree or disagree with his stance on assisted suicide, Jack Kevorkian makes for good television. Detroit's "Dr. Death" is a polarizing force in medical ethics, a man who believes that a person's right to self-determination includes the right to decide when enough is enough.

Al Pacino is a dead-wringer for Kevorkian (pun intended), the son of Armenian immigrants who escaped the Turkish genocide. He passionately lives the edict that one must disobey laws one feels are immoral. For Kevorkian, that means helping the terminally ill end their suffering and die with dignity, at a time of their choosing, regardless of its cost to him.

HBO's docudrama shows Kevorkian at his best and worst, compassionate with those who ask for his help, acerbic to the point of viciousness with anyone he considers stupid. Kevorkian is not necessarily a nice man, but he is obdurate when it comes to his principles. We see him argue with prosecutors, walk out on court proceedings, lock horns with his attorney Geoffrey Fieger. Nothing sways him in his zeal for allowing individuals suffering from end-stage terminal illness to decide for themselves what—and when--it means to die with dignity.

The talented supporting cast includes big names like Susan Sarandon, Brenda Vaccaro, John Goodman, and Danny Huston, as well as a slew of less-known actors who portray Kevorkian's patients/victims with heartbreaking realism. Make no mistake, however; this is Pacino's show from start to finish. His physical resemblance to the real Kevorkian is uncanny. He rants, he rages, he cajoles, he sympathizes. He assists and he initiates. It is sometimes difficult to remember that we are watching a supremely talented actor and not the man he is portraying.

"You Don't Know Jack" clearly sides with Kevorkian's viewpoint. It does so, however without sensationalism, nor does it dismiss nor trivialize the opposing side. In other words, "You Don't Know Jack" does what television does best: It entertains while challenging viewers to engage in dialogue about a topic that truly matters.

When I first saw the HBO logo at the beginning I thought "crap this a made-for-TV movie?" I was pleasantly surprised by the cinematography & absolutely blown away by Al Pacino's portrayal of Jack Kevorkian. The subject matter weighs the movie down, however, and no matter what side of the controversy you find yourself on, the scenario is grave. Though I personally haven't decided whether euthanasia is morally right or wrong, You Don't Know Jack will had me rooting for Kevorkian as I was taken alongside him in his thinking and what seems to me, to a genuine empathy for his "patients". After you see this film, you will "know Jack" and it just might change what you thought of him or even what you thought about euthanasia.

I grew up in Jacks neck of the woods and they have botched the Lower Michigan accent and especially Kevorkian's accent. Pacino and a few other actors put on pretty thick Northern Michigan/Northern Wisconsin/Minnesota accent which Jack did not have. He was born raised and educated in Pontiac where the accent the standard for broadcast. I was so bothered by this I couldn't finish the story, one I knew well.

Throughout the history of Mankind, there are a plethora of unique individuals who stand as giants as they have changed the world. Columbus, Gailieo, Copernicus, Darwin and Einstein, have all fought a prevailing notion of a given era. To this famous list one can add the dedicated Dr. Jack Kavorkian. Born May 26, 1928 is an American pathologist, right-to-die activist and painter. His life is the center of this movie called " You don't know Jack. " Al Pacino, who bears an astonish resemblance, plays Dr. Jack Kevorkian and does an incredible job. Other notable thespians like Brenda Vaccaro, Susan Sarandon, John Goodman and Danny Huston all appear like towering pillars in a magnificent temple. Together their performance allows the audience to view the good doctor in his Herculeion task of establishing a man's right to die. Despite being ostracized, ridiculed, vilified, hounded and even imprisoned, Kavorkian continued and in the minds of millions of rational people, his struggle established the precedent for humans, not a puritanical government, to chose the time to die. Pacino's performance is exceptional and this movie will become a Classic for future audiences. Recommended to anyone willing to listen. ****

HBO for one has always been the champion and best king of all-time when it comes to showing original movies, and once again they delivered a gripping and touching docudrama that will long stand in memory. Al Pacino who is always brilliant delivers once again a stand up and cheer for performance(the same way he did with his last HBO work as right wing republican closeted homosexual attorney Roy Cohn who died of AIDS). Pacino who was made to look just like Dr. Jack! Captures the man's movements and actions just perfect and so wonderfully done is his take of Kevorkian's proper northern Michigan accent. Still at the same time Pacino plays this character with some mystery as clearly the role didn't call for any showing off.

Directed by Barry Levinson(who did the award winning 1988 "Rain Man")this is a film in my opinion was a Dr. Jack against the world attitude. As clearly while watching this docudrama which is blended in with some real life media interviews of Jack's like the ones with Mike Wallace and Barbara Walters you get the feel that this film is a good cultural flash of somewhat of a media circus. Still most telling is the stubbornness of Jack as his desire to provide alternative deaths for the terminally ill outweighs anything else the films shows.

It starts in the early 1990's in Michigan as Dr. Jack Kevorkian(Al Pacino)who's bored and living like a lonely hermit with his creepy art drawings and enjoyment of watching Bugs and Tweety cartoons. All of a sudden Jack has an ideal to take the medical community by storm should I say a death storm, he wants to start assisted suicides to the sick and terminally ill and also for those who don't want to live no more. Dr. Jack is aided and supported by his sister Margo(Brenda Vaccaro)and buddy Neal(John Goodman)and enter the outspoken advocate Susan Sarandon who plays euthanasia crusader and right to die advocate Janet Good.

Along the way in a compelling and gripping fashion Kevorkian and his friends carry out death after death of those with terminal cancer, MS, the crippled, the depressed and many others who have deadly diseases. And along the way this man who feels so passionate about it he even records speeches and the actual passing away of his victims. One by one "Dr Death" gets America's attention which stirs up controversy in Michigan from the religious right and state politicians and county legislatures. Gradually the film drifts into more of a courtroom drama asking what is morally right or wrong? It's interesting and entertaining to see an old fart fight stubbornly till the age of 79.

So no matter your take on euthanasia(even though this film is pro argument for it)"You Don't Know Jack" is a lovable story that is sold wonderful from the great performances especially Al's who's right on the money and believable as "Dr. Death". It's really a great biography that educated us about the life and stubbornness of Jack Kevorkian, while at the same time an interesting, compelling and dark outspoken anti-hero docudrama that makes some want to feel grim and others want to cheer depending on what side of the aisle they take on the issue. A must see film that's controversial, historical and cultural.

Al Pacino has done it again, not only fully inhabiting a real-life character we knew from TV reports but also investing his portrayal with late-life bravado, amusing eccentricity and stubbornness, and a caring and sensitivity towards the sick that must be present in order to understand the man once dubbed by the media as "Doctor Death," Jack Kevorkian. In the early 1990s, Kevorkian, a retired pathologist born to Armenian immigrant parents and situated in Michigan, assists in the suicide of a woman diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, a woman who was lucid long enough to express her wish to die with dignity. A proponent on the ethics of euthanasia, the doctor--with the help of his housemate, his loyal sister, his lawyer (whom his sister discovered in a TV commercial) and a right-to-die advocate--would go on to fight endless battles against the legal system in order to keep assisting terminally-ill patients in their right to die, despite being surrounded himself by the deaths of colleagues and family. Although lengthy, this HBO presentation is masterfully written by Adam Mazer, who based his teleplay in part on Neal Nicol and Harry Wylie's book, "Between the Dying and the Dead", and beautifully directed by Barry Levinson, who shows a keen eye for small details, but isn't fussy about them (he doesn't linger over his points, which is in keeping with the personality of his story's champion). Terrific supporting performances by John Goodman, Brenda Vaccaro, Danny Huston and Susan Sarandon compliment Pacino's sterling work, while the film manages to be a testament to the human heart as well as an evocative document of our times.

You Don't Know Jack is a long movie but it never feels long, in fact it could have been longer for me, as for that the biographical story is too important and debatable (or not). Logically it's a farce that it's debatable because everybody should be able to make the decision to end his own life or not, and certainly when you are incurably sick and in a lot of pain. Nobody deserves neverending pain, nobody deserves to live like a plant if they don't wish to. What Jack Kevorkian did should be normal, without even questioning, like it's done in many other countries where you can die with dignity. Again religion and absurd laws dictate the American juridical system, a system with laws that are antiquated and that make no sense at all anymore. So yes the movie is an important and interesting story. It's well made with a great cast that all contributed to make this movie more than enjoyable. Al Pacino is excellent in this movie, in a role that we're not used to see him, but where he proves he's a great actor that can play different characters. I thought it was one of his best performances. You Don't Know Jack is about the courageous doctor Jack Kevorkian, a man that didn't deserve to be put behind bars, not even one day. Very good emotional movie, not easy to watch for everybody, certainly not if you saw somebody close rot in pain until his last breath. In conclusion I wish everybody that is against euthanasia to die in a long terrible and painful way, see if you like it then.

"You Don't Know Jack" sheds a lot of positive light on Dr. Death ala Jack Kevorkian and his infamous life involved with assisting people in suicide. I do not know how much of the light he deserved, but the movie makes him very interesting and out to be quite the humanitarian. A movie that makes you want to go learn! Al Pacino is deserving of every award they want to hand him for this one. His performance was fully engaging, he became a character aside from the character that Al Pacino himself seems to be.

As serious as the movie subject matter is: death along with the moral and legal trouble the good Dr. finds himself in, there is a lot of humor to be found, and it is in this that I felt the movie really portrayed what it is to be human and real.

My biggest gripe with the movie is that for the first some-odd minutes of the movie I did not know jack about what was going on. I don't know if the editor is to blame, or lack of footage, or what, but the movie was very disjointed before settling in. I am lucky I stuck it out because I really connected with "You Don't Know Jack."

No matter your opinion on the subject, it's going to be difficult to get through You Don't Know Jack. It's understandable, though. A biopic of Dr. Jack Kevorkian and his work is bound to bother everyone, since the debate on euthanasia is intense and personal. If this television movie didn't make people cry, it wouldn't have been well-done. Al Pacino shines in the lead, completely camouflaging himself in the role and making audiences believe he really is Dr. Kevorkian. I'm sure even his greatest critics thought his performance was an inspired transformation, with none of his usual trademarks. If you're a fan of his acting, and you're in the mood for an extremely heavy film, rent this one and pick up a box of tissues.

With a strong supporting cast, including Susan Sarandon, John Goodman, Brenda Vaccaro, as well as an intelligent, thoughtful, sensitive script, this is one of those films that you watch once, think incredibly highly of, and never want to watch again. Just a warning, though, if you're staunchly anti-euthanasia, you're probably not going to like this movie. This is a film that celebrates the compassion, strength, and courage of Dr. Kevorkian.

Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to adult subject matter, I wouldn't let my kids watch it.

Excellence! What a great production! All the way with the acting,writing,directing,cinematography,music and editing.All superb. I'm just happy how compalling and how well-thought this movie was. It takes you to a man's story about life and death and how it all goes down when the life turns its back on people and how different people respond to them. The thing that really captivated me was that how people's reactions and choices differed from each other in this movie.It reminded me of all the same things that are happening around me.Wel...I've never been a big Pacino fan but man..how wrong was i! What else to say?! It's just great.Please see it.

You Don't Know Jack is a good TV movie with a reasonably well developed plot and a stellar cast. The performances are certainly what holds it all together, Al Pacino shows that he's still got it as he portrays the controversial doctor Jack Kevorkian, who fought for patients right to end it all. He is joined by a top notch supporting cast that are for or against this case, such as John Goodman and Susan Sarandon.

The film is very biased towards Kevorkian's views, we do not get the hear the other side enough, which would have been very effective. This would have aloud the audience to form their own opinion on this real life situation, instead of being forced to view one side.

It fails to be compelling, it never takes any risks, there are no big moments that engross us in to this story and truly bring it to life, I felt underwhelmed by the end. Terrific cast and an interesting true story, You Don't Know Jack may not be anything special, but it is worth the watch if you are looking for a good drama.

A former doctor turned activist fights for peoples rights to be put down if they can no longer cope with the suffering of an illness.

Best Performance: Al Pacino

Jack Kevorkian is such an awesome personality that this movie was somewhat inevitable. With Al Pacino in the title role, it's better than it could have been. At the same time, I found most of it very average - good and forgettable at the same time, If I can convey my drift. The strongest moments come towards the end, when Kevorkian's stubborn behavior costs him his freedom. I enjoyed the movie, but it felt like something seen many times before. In these cases, I think I prefer a good documentary.

One thought that sprang to mind during this. Cinema has moved into a direction in which a lot of shots and overabundance of coverage is the norm. I was watching a scene with Pacino and John Goodman having a conversation inside a car and the contrast between that and the shots in The Great Escape (showing in the other channel) was incredible. All right, that's an extreme counter-example, but what I mean is that there was no physical action in the scene and yet we had all these separate shots capturing minute gestures of each actors that I instinctively disliked. In my personal taste, that almost shows a lack of trust in the scene, the dialog or the actors, which obviously must not be the case here.

I cannot remember any film about a character of real Life or just a character that does not come from the comics where an actor has used false ears to play the role, especially when his original ears are not that much different in the first Place (but different enough for me to spot it). Was it Pacino's commitment to the role or was it an acquirement by the director or some other people - that, of course, I do not know. Most people don't spot the ears and for most people putting on false ears was totally unnecessary. Nevertheless this is what I Think is most staggering in this performance.

This is one of those rare hi-impact, makes-you-squirm-while-watching films that cannot be reviewed on its own without commenting on the underlying social issues. So here we go:

THE MOVIE

Directed by Barry Levinson (one of the top directors of the last century) and starring one of the top actors of the last century giving one of the best performances of his career (understated and self-aware, NOT the over-the-top Pacino we have come to expect) ... was there ever any doubt? The only oddity that this reviewer found is that Pacino's agency still uses 40-year-old photos of him in their PR kits, so a novice (think, alien film reviewer from another planet) looking at this film for the first time might spend the length of the film trying to find the lead actor identified in the kit ... and never locate him.

Brilliant, touching, revealing, and horrifying. In other words, a perfect reflection of what passes for intelligent civilization in our world.

THE SOCIAL GESTALT

For the first time, the script makes it clear that the lawyers acting for the state TOOK IT AS A PERSONAL AFFRONT that Dr. K was so forthright about what he had done ... and why ... and MADE IT THEIR PERSONAL MISSION to bring him down ... and USED A TECHNICALITY IN THE LAW (adjusting the indictment to a one narrow charge, a charge which could not be defended by a full look at the surrounding facts, as one might otherwise expect in a capital case).

Which pretty much summarizes how our Justice system works. Forget the theories they teach in law school, forget the statue of the lady with the blindfold over her eyes, when they REALLY WANT TO GET YOU, they are going to get you.

In the 1990s, it came out that Detroit physician Jack Kevorkian was helping his patients end their own lives. What was the whole story? Barry Levinson's "You Don't Know Jack" looks at Kevorkian's career, mostly from Kevorkian's viewpoint, but also making sure to present opposing views. Al Pacino really gets into the role of the medical professional who became known as Dr. Death. As the movie makes clear, Kevorkian always believed that he was doing the right thing, and always let the patients themselves make the final decision.

Without a doubt, it is probably impossible to be neutral about Jack Kevorkian. But regardless of one's opinion of him, you can't deny that Al Pacino does a great job playing him, as can be expected. Equally great are Brenda Vaccaro as Kevorkian's sister, Susan Sarandon as a patient, and Danny Huston and John Goodman as colleagues. Definitely one that I recommend.