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Robert De Niro and Robin Williams were paired together in 1990’s poignant drama Awakenings, a film that won critical praise and three Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actor, yet has largely disappeared from public discourse. Directed by Penny Marshall and adapted from Oliver Sacks’ memoir, the film is the true story of Dr. Malcolm Sayer (played by Williams), a serious-minded 1960s neurologist who discovers a potential cure for catatonic patients who suffer from a rare form of Parkinson’s disease. De Niro delivers an extremely strong performance as Leonard Lowe, the first patient for this test treatment.
When it was released, Awakenings was widely praised, with an 81% critical score and an 89% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics singled out its emotional depth, with Roger Ebert describing it as “an intelligent examination of a bizarre human condition” and praising De Niro’s performance as Leonard as moving and thought-provoking. Despite these honors, though, the movie has been overshadowed by De Niro’s more famous gangster roles in Taxi Driver and The Godfather Part II, and by Williams’ legendary roles in Good Will Hunting and Dead Poets Society.
One of the main reasons that Awakenings has been largely underappreciated is its quiet, reflective tone. Unlike the over-the-top narratives of crime dramas or the friendly charm of Williams’ comedies, this film recounts a highly personal and poignant medical journey. And yet it is precisely this understated narrative that makes it so engrossing. Williams sets aside his comedic persona to play a character devoid of his usual sense of humor, proving his incredible range as an actor. Meanwhile, De Niro masterfully captures the joy and sadness of a man finding life again after decades of catatonia.
Apart from its concerts, Awakenings remains timely because of the hope, the human contact, and the issue of medical ethics. It invites one to confront questions about medicine’s limits, the unpredictability of life, and the moral value of sympathy. The message of the movie—that even with seemingly insuperable odds stacked against us, hope and empathy matter—just as much still resonates now as it did in 1990.
For those who have not seen Awakenings, it can currently be streamed on websites like Netflix. A re-view of this movie offers a chance to relish its gentle performances and powerful message and understand why some tales should not be allowed to fade from memory.
