Extreme Measures (1996)

A young doctor confronts a famous colleague; when he learns about the true methods of his work.

Director:

Michael Apted

Writers:

Michael Palmer (book), Tony Gilroy (screenplay)

Stars:

Hugh Grant, Gene Hackman, Sarah Jessica Parker

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Hugh Grant	...	Dr. Guy Luthan
Gene Hackman	...	Dr. Lawrence Myrick
Sarah Jessica Parker	...	Jodie Trammel
David Morse	...	FBI Agent Frank Hare
Bill Nunn	...	Det. Bob Burke
John Toles-Bey	...	Bobby
Paul Guilfoyle	...	Dr. Jeffrey Manko
Debra Monk	...	Dr. Judith Gruszynski
Shaun Austin-Olsen	...	Claude Minkins
André De Shields	...	Teddy Dolson
J.K. Simmons	...	Dr. Mingus
Peter Appel	...	Det. Stone
Diana Zimmer	...	Helen
Nancy Beatty	...	Ruth Myrick
Gerry Becker	...	Dr. Gene Spitelli

Storyline

Thriller about Guy Luthan (Hugh Grant), a British doctor working at a hospital in New York who starts making unwanted enquiries when the body of a man who died in his emergency room disappears. The trail leads Luthan to the door of the eminent surgeon Dr Lawrence Myrick (Gene Hackman), but Luthan soon finds himself in danger from people who want the hospital's secret to remain undiscovered.

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Plot Keywords:

hospital | doctor | neo noir | based on novel | homeless man | 

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Taglines:

Not all surgery is intended to cure. Don't move a muscle.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence, language, some nudity and graphic ER activity

Details

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 September 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Extreme Measures

Filming Locations:

Lower Bay Station, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$38,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,906,546, 29 September 1996

Gross USA:

$17,380,126

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$17,380,126

Company Credits

Production Co:

Castle Rock Entertainment, Simian Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Marked the first production of partners Hugh Grant and Elizabeth Hurley's short-lived "Simian Films."

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Goofs

Arriving in The Room Dr. Luthan's lips clearly moves, but the words "...if someone's there listening" can be heard seconds later.

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Quotes

Dr. Lawrence Myrick: I've seen your chart, it's a terrible thing. I'd like to try to help.
Dr. Guy Luthan: [not looking at him] If you want to help me... let me die.
Dr. Lawrence Myrick: That's a common request.
Dr. Guy Luthan: Please... 400 of potassium chloride in my IV.
Dr. Lawrence Myrick: ...What if there was hope?
Dr. Guy Luthan: No. There isn't.
Dr. Lawrence Myrick: [more pointedly] What if there was hope? What would it be worth, to be able to walk again, to be able to feed yourself? To go back to your old life, to be a doctor? What would you endure?
Dr. Guy Luthan: [finally looks at him] What are you talking about?
Dr. Lawrence Myrick: I'm asking you a ...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Seinfeld: The Little Kicks (1996)

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Soundtracks

ON MY MIND
Courtesy of MasterSource

User Reviews

standard entertainment

Entertaining, but a lot like "coma" with Michael Douglas. Nothing really original in the movie, apart from the fact that the main person doesn't happen to get into a relationship during the movie and all that sort of sideline nonesense. Funny to see Hugh Grant just cannot help playing an insecure character even if he is playing someone who succeeds in at a very difficult task by being very determined. Moral issues, goodies & baddies with a little nuance, violent climax, happy end.