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:

Ekstreme metoder

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

Alec Baldwin was considered for the role of Dr. Guy Luthan.

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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. Guy Luthan: [is speaking on phone] Judith, it's Guy. Listen. I've been shot. Listen, they're hijacking people from the hospital and using them as some sort of research... I'm pretty sure that's what Triphase is, it's a kind of research program and someone at Grammercy is working for them! Listen, there's a cop, called Stone, call him, he might believe me, Judith please pick up...

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Connections

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

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Soundtracks

ON MY MIND
Courtesy of MasterSource

User Reviews

A Thinker's Thriller…Contrived But Commanding…Hugh Grant is a Standout

With an Above Average Script from Tony Gilroy and a Surprisingly Effective Against Type Performance from Hugh Grant, this is an Intense Thriller with Ethical Questions and Moral Dilemmas that have No Easy Answers.

It's those Difficult Questions the Movie Asks that makes this the kind of Movie that isn't made often. The Thriller Format is much more Popular and Easily Digested when this Type of Thinking is Not Required. Taxing the Brain is Not Formulaic for the Popcorn Crowd and it doesn't Sell Tickets.

This one is Noble in its Efforts and some Suspension of Disbelief is Required. There are a Few Scenes, most Notably when Grant's Doctor Submerges to the Bowels of the City, that Strain for Realism and one of the Few Times when the Film seems a bit too Hollywood.

But Most of the Movie Plays out some Twists and Turns that are Surprising and the quick Pacing Helps the Film Deal with the Malpractice Elements and the "God Complex" more Easily.

Overall, it is a Thinking Man's Thriller with Good Performances and Good Writing and is only Brought Down a Bit by the Contrived Situations Necessary to make it all Fit into a Two Hour Running Time.