An acting tour de force for Garner and Moore, HEARTSOUNDS features possibly the frankest, most realistic depiction of the flaws in institutionalized medicine ever captured on film, let alone in TV moviedom. This is far from a warm and fuzzy laff-fest, so those expecting a wise-cracking Jim Rockford / Bret Maverick or a happy-go-lucky Mary Richards should probably pass. However, despite the disturbing ordeals this movie documents, there are many heartwarming moments as well. Don't be scared by the downbeat subject matter if you enjoy quality stories and quality characters, because there are many rewards here.
Based on a true story, the helplessness of well-off Dr. Garner to get any real compassion or service from people in his own profession is an eye-opening experience. Anyone who has ever spent time in a hospital will probably relate and everyone else will likely be scared to death. It's somewhat surprising that the troubling theme of this TV-movie could get sponsored. Despite shows like ER, Chicago Hope and St. Elsewhere, this movie damningly suggests that public (and even private) medicine is less peopled with young, vital, compassionate doctors and more comprised of jaded, exhausted, emotionless civil-servant drones with the "I don't know; I just work here" mentality. That may not be such a big deal at the DMV, but when your life hangs in the balance, it obviously begins to matter.
More than an indictment of medicine, however, HEARTSOUNDS is also an indictment of the conceit most of us walk around with that we will live forever. Garner's recovery is full of fits and starts, where we think he is sick and then he recovers, and vice-versa. Ultimately, the movie is as much about accepting the life condition as it is about exposing problems in the healthcare system. On that score, it's one of the better explorations you'll ever see on TV.
CODE BLUE: SPOILER BELOW
In a movie full of great ensemble work, there is one exceptional scene. Overcome by an attack, Garner limps to the hospital and thinks he's made it just in time. However, he soon learns that budget cuts have pared hospital staff so there is no one available to literally keep Garner alive. In order to survive, Moore has to coax Garner to breathe and keep his heart rate calm while they wait for the staffer to come on duty at a certain random time. This simple set up leads to one of the most intense and harrowing sequences I've ever seen on TV, and it's played mostly between Moore sitting in a chair and Garner lying down in bed, basically never moving. Moore is an underrated actress forever linked to her lighter sitcom work but she has since made quite a cottage industry playing tough-as-nails SOBs (ORDINARY PEOPLE) and tough-as-nails righteous ragers (HEARTSOUNDS). The viewer cannot help but be totally riveted by Moore's performance in this amazingly powerful sequence, which will encourage anyone under the age of 50 never to age and those over 50 never to be hospitalized.
END SPOILER
All in all, HEARTSOUNDS is a movie anyone who plans to get sick and die someday should probably see. It's not always pleasant but it's never less than realistic and moving. 9/10
Based on a true story, the helplessness of well-off Dr. Garner to get any real compassion or service from people in his own profession is an eye-opening experience. Anyone who has ever spent time in a hospital will probably relate and everyone else will likely be scared to death. It's somewhat surprising that the troubling theme of this TV-movie could get sponsored. Despite shows like ER, Chicago Hope and St. Elsewhere, this movie damningly suggests that public (and even private) medicine is less peopled with young, vital, compassionate doctors and more comprised of jaded, exhausted, emotionless civil-servant drones with the "I don't know; I just work here" mentality. That may not be such a big deal at the DMV, but when your life hangs in the balance, it obviously begins to matter.
More than an indictment of medicine, however, HEARTSOUNDS is also an indictment of the conceit most of us walk around with that we will live forever. Garner's recovery is full of fits and starts, where we think he is sick and then he recovers, and vice-versa. Ultimately, the movie is as much about accepting the life condition as it is about exposing problems in the healthcare system. On that score, it's one of the better explorations you'll ever see on TV.
CODE BLUE: SPOILER BELOW
In a movie full of great ensemble work, there is one exceptional scene. Overcome by an attack, Garner limps to the hospital and thinks he's made it just in time. However, he soon learns that budget cuts have pared hospital staff so there is no one available to literally keep Garner alive. In order to survive, Moore has to coax Garner to breathe and keep his heart rate calm while they wait for the staffer to come on duty at a certain random time. This simple set up leads to one of the most intense and harrowing sequences I've ever seen on TV, and it's played mostly between Moore sitting in a chair and Garner lying down in bed, basically never moving. Moore is an underrated actress forever linked to her lighter sitcom work but she has since made quite a cottage industry playing tough-as-nails SOBs (ORDINARY PEOPLE) and tough-as-nails righteous ragers (HEARTSOUNDS). The viewer cannot help but be totally riveted by Moore's performance in this amazingly powerful sequence, which will encourage anyone under the age of 50 never to age and those over 50 never to be hospitalized.
END SPOILER
All in all, HEARTSOUNDS is a movie anyone who plans to get sick and die someday should probably see. It's not always pleasant but it's never less than realistic and moving. 9/10