When You Remember Me (1990) (TV)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Harry Winer

Writers (WGA):

Rena Dictor Le Blanc (article)
Jerry McNeely (written by) ...

Release Date:

7 October 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Plot:

Fact-based story of Mike Mills, a teen with muscular dystrophy, who is placed in a state nursing home by his destitute single mother...

Plot Keywords:

Disability | Young Boy | Wheelchair | Hospital | Based On Article

Cast

Fred Savage	...	Mike Mills
Kevin Spacey	...	Wade
Ellen Burstyn	...	Nurse Cooder
Richard Jenkins	...	Vaughan
Dwier Brown	...	John Harlen
Lee Garlington	...	Joanne
Virginia Capers	...	Nurse Blandings
Dana Anderson	...	Harriet
Grand L. Bush	...	Scott
Ving Rhames
Zachary Throne	...	Clay
Geoffrey Rivas	...	Ray
Christine Avila	...	Candy
Deborah Benson	...	Lucy Matson
Kari Geller	...	Tracy

Runtime:

Germany:91 min | USA:91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Netherlands:AL

Company:

Warner Bros. Television

Quotes:

Mike Mills: When you remember me. Think about the ocean, fields and mountains. Think about the wind and you'll know that I'm free.

Not so bad

This was the 2nd time I saw this, 1st since an early repeat of it 6 or 7 years ago. I actually passed up watching an early 40's Jimmy Cagney picture when I found out this was on TV last night! (My primary reason being that I'm a Deadhead, there's a connection to the Grateful Dead in this movie, and 'cause of that I've wanted to see it again!) Anyway... aside from the brief connection to The Dead, I didn't think this story could fulfill me enough being told in such a short period of time. Compared to films, rarely do any TV-movies accomplish that. To add some depth to the story, it could easily have been written and filmed 20-30 min longer, without painfully draaaagging on with non-sensical & non-pertinent content as many TV-movies tend to do. It would have only gotten better, though, the 85 minutes they had to work with here flowed along okay and ended up nicely. I thought the directing to be decent and Fred Savage & Kevin Spacey turned in inspired performances!

A better TV-movie this is, better than most that are ever shown. If you're a Deadhead, surely don't miss it!!! If you're a Kevin Spacey fan, this is a fine piece of his early work. If you're a Fred Savage fan, this is something different for him... would be something different for anyone! See this one when it's on TV again someday. Quite contrary to what you may have read or will read, When You Remember Me wasn't bad at all... go ahead and check it out when you have a chance!