Euthanasia in Film: You Don't Know Jack

You Don't Know Jack is a look at the life and work of suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian.
Directed by Barry Levinson

Ever since The Godfather, Pacino has continually impressed us with his ability to transform himself into his characters. He just gets it. He gets into their mind - understanding their psychology and all their psychoses - and in doing so allows his physicality to undergo an entire transformation. We saw it with Corleone, with Sonny from Dog Day Afternoon, when he became Tony Montana, in Scent of a Woman to name but a sweet few. Al Pacino is a chameleon.

However, and maybe because we rarely see Pacino playing a known, real life character, we are yet to see him BECOME someone as adeptly as he has become Jack Kevorkian.

OBVIOUSLY I'm fascinated.

Euthanasia in Film: A Happy Ending

A Happy Ending
Writer/Director: Ross Hockrow

As a result of frequent forwarded groups on Facebook, I've learnt about an upcoming feature film of interest to us. I usually read the synopsis of a film because it's short and easy to do (I'm a film buff) and upon doing this realized that this film has a subject matter which is extremely similar to the topics discussed within this blog.

I think it's important that the performing arts take interest in the subject of euthanasia and it's my feeling that the topic itself has nearly been forbidden from public discussion. I applaud the efforts of young artists who have the courage and the confidence to challenge people's seemingly stubborn opinions on the matter.

I copied and pasted the synopsis:

"A Happy Ending" is a modern day Romeo and Juliet. This tragic, intense love story is centered around a young group of friends caught in the tangled web of an epidemic. "Jeremy" a young neuroscientist invents a new drug that gives a person 24 hours of absolute euphoria, enlightenment, and happiness, then you fall peacefully asleep for the final time. He invents this for people suffering on their death bed to give them a better transition into death. Jeremy knows this isn't going to be approved by the FDA so he involves his life long friend Jordan to help him sell it on the black market. They use doctors with the same ideologies as themselves to push the drug into the terminal wing of NYC medical center. After an entire floor of patients take their lives on the same night a media frenzy breaks out causing a serious FBI investigation. The pressure of the investigation causes Jeremy and Jordan to make rash decisions. Jordan's, get rich quick scheme, quickly turns into saving the love of his life at all costs, and Jeremy decides the only way out of trouble is to finish what he started. A revolution! This emotional thrill ride will keep you guessing until the credits roll. You just have to ask yourself one question, when your life comes to an end...don't you want "A Happy Ending?"

I'm gonna keep an eye on this one...