Complete credited cast: | |||
Sean Connery | ... | Dr. Robert Campbell | |
Lorraine Bracco | ... | Dr. Rae Crane | |
José Wilker | ... | Dr. Miguel Ornega | |
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Rodolfo De Alexandre | ... | Tanaki (as Rodolfo de Alexandre) |
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Francisco Tsiren Tsere Rereme | ... | Jahausa |
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Elias Monteiro Da Silva | ... | Palala |
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Edinei Maria Serrio Dos Santos | ... | Kalana |
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Bec-Kana-Re Dos Santos Kaiapo | ... | Imana |
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Angelo Barra Moreira | ... | Medicine Man |
José Lavat | ... | Government Man |
An eccentric scientist working for a large drug company is working on a research project in the Amazon jungle. He sends for a research assistant and a gas chromatograph because he's close to a cure for cancer. When the assistant turns out to be a "mere woman", he rejects her help. Meanwhile, the bulldozers get closer to the area in which they are conducting research, and they eventually learn to work together, and begin to fall in love. Written by Ed Sutton <esutton@mindspring.com>
A fine movie, not to be judged on the basis of Hollywood's usual recipe for storytelling. The eccentric scientist Robert Campbell (Connery) who has found a cure for cancer out in the jungle, is not able to reproduce its exact composition. Biologist Rae Crane (Bracco) biologist has dropped in from academia to be his judge and jury and decide on Campbell's continued funding.
The film pays a fair amount of attention to scientific detail (such as "running baselines" and using "experimental controls") interspersing it throughout with lively and shrewd exchanges between Campbell and Crane. To that they add mildly sarcastic observations on field work and fund-raising committees. Whilst this scientific sub-story line runs along, we are shown glimpses of life in a sympathetic tribe for which Campbell has become a sort of sugar daddy. Ethics and personal choice confront both scientists as they struggle with the decision to reserve the last bit of serum either for the good of humanity or the life of one of the tribe's children.
McTiernan has weaved all these elements excellently and Connery and Bracco play their roles so convincingly that you could be excused for thinking they may have scientific backgrounds in real life.
The film is a feast for educated people - which is probably the reason why many of the critics have missed the fine points and proceeded to rattle off some vitriolic commentary more aimed, in my view, at self-aggrandizement than constructive film criticism. One even complained that Medicine Man didn't quite match up to Die Hard. Now there is a proper comparison for you.