Extreme Measures (1996)

A young doctor confronts with 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

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, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$17,305,211, 15 November 1996

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

First of Hugh Grants two movies with Sarah Jessica Parker, the other one was " Did you hear about the Morgan's?"(2009)

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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: [the Half-Mole stops at the top of a staircase, deep underground] Is it down there? Well I'm not paying you until I get there.
Half-Mole: [after a long pause and speaking for the first time] I don't go down there
Dr. Guy Luthan: How do I know you're telling the truth?
Half-Mole: You're still alive
Dr. Guy Luthan: [Guy hands him the money]
Half-Mole: To the bottom and through

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Connections

References Coma (1978)

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Soundtracks

ON MY MIND
Courtesy of MasterSource

User Reviews

Above-average thriller.

While it hardly offers any twists that we haven't seen before, "Extreme Measures" is a well-made, well-acted thriller that has an unusual air of believability. The most effective set piece, which doesn't have all that much to do with the main plot, is the hero's descent into the underground lairs beneath the Grand Central Station. Hugh Grant is very convincing and unaffected in one of his most serious roles, and the ending is not as cut-and-dried as you might expect it to be. But the most memorable moment, for me at least, occurs early on, when a very ill and frightened man, barely able to speak, looks straight into Grant's eyes, pleading for help. (**1/2)