Tuesdays with Morrie (1999) (TV)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Mick Jackson

Writers (WGA):

Thomas Rickman (teleplay)
Mitch Albom (based on the book by)

Release Date:

5 December 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Mitch became caught up with his career as a sport commentator and journalist. He ignored his girlfriend...

Plot Keywords:

Lou Gehrigs Disease | Based On Novel | Based On True Story

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 10 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Jack Lemmon	...	Morrie Schwartz
Hank Azaria	...	Mitch Albom
Wendy Moniz	...	Janine
Caroline Aaron	...	Connie
Bonnie Bartlett	...	Charlotte
John Carroll Lynch	...	Walter
Cloud Michaels	...	Morrie's Mother
Terri Hanauer	...	Eva / Stepmom
Kyle Sullivan	...	Young Morrie
Charles Homet	...	Rob
Mark Eric Charbonneau	...	Jon (as Mark Helm)
Carlton Wilborn	...	Eddie (as Carlton Wilton)
Ivo Cutzarida	...	Sergio
Dan Thiel	...	Shawn Daley
Kimble Jemison	...	Baseball Player

Also Known As:

Oprah Winfrey Presents: Tuesdays with Morrie (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Ambassador Hotel - 3400 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Carlton America

Trivia:

Last credited film role of 'Jack Lemmon'.

Quotes:

Morrie Schwartz: The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Will & Grace: There But for the Grace of Grace (#2.21)" (2000)

Soundtrack:

Something's Always Wrong

I liked it, even though I don't usually like this kind of movie

Based on a quick summary, a movie about a man slowly dying of a terminal illness, I would expect to hate the movie. Most such stories are painful to watch, as if a movie maker thought that making viewers suffer to watch the movie would give them sympathy for the suffering of those stricken with the featured disease. But this one is an exception. It's not about the dying man's disease, it's about the man himself, and about the former student who visits him every week.

Morrie is dying of ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease. He is a retired teacher, and was Mitch's revered favorite teacher. Mitch visits him once a week, and reawakens their friendship. He finds Morrie's words so wise that he asks to tape their conversations so he might remember them better. Well, I appreciate Mitch's efforts, because I was happy to hear Morrie's words of wisdom also. Some of his advice is sappy, particularly taken out of context, but as a whole he presents very positive messages. Part of it is the idea that although he's sick, dying, and often in pain, he's not afraid of death, but rather interested in getting as much as possible out of the life he has left. There's much more to it than that, but that's the biggest part of his message.

But there's more to the movie than the message -- a movie with nothing more than a message (even one worth presenting) is bound to be boring. The real pleasure in watching this is that the characters are interesting along the way. The two stars' acting is first class. A regular "disease movie" would just make me feel guilty about not caring about its sick main character. This movie made me care about Morrie and Mitch.