John Q. Archibald (Denzel Washington) is struggling through a recession trying to provide for his son Mikey (Daniel E. Smith) and his waitress wife (Kimberly Elise). Mikey collapses at a Little League game and is rushed to a hospital. The situation is bleak. Only a heart transplant will save Mikey's life. John's HMO refuses to cover the expensive surgery. With the hospital and his insurance provider unwilling to help and his wife pleading with John to act, he takes matters into his own hands, holding the hospital's renowned heart surgeon (James Woods) and several others hostage in an emergency care wing until the surgery will be performed.
Nick Cassavetes directed this attack on the American health care system. Like his previous feature, SHE'S SO LOVELY, Cassavetes proves adept at mining the political ramifications out of human drama. The film criticizes hospitals and health care providers for working in collusion against the working class. This moving drama is propelled by the intense lead performance by Washington as one man against an unjust system.
DVD Features:
Region 1
Snap Case
Single Side - Dual Layer
Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.85
Letterbox - 1.85
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Additional Release Material:
Deleted Scenes
Audio Commentary: Nick Cassavetes - Director, James Kearns - Screenwriter, Mark Burg - Star, Rogier Stoffers - Director of Photography
Trailers: Original Theatrical Trailer
Featurette:
1. BEHIND THE SCENES OF JOHN Q.
2. FIGHTING FOR CARE
Text/Photo Galleries:
Trivia Facts
DVD-ROM Features:
Weblinks
Script-to-Screen
Director of Photography
Rogier Stoffers:
Costume Designer
Beatrix Aruna Pasztor: Costume Designer, BASIC INSTINCT 2 (2006)
Review 1:
"...Mr. Washington manages to be fittingly morose without losing his powerhouse quality..."
Source: New York Times
p.E19 02/15/2002
Review 2:
"...[The film] raises genuine, sobering questions....Washington performs with a tearful, righteous anger..."
Source: Entertainment Weekly
p.55 03/01/2002
Review 3:
"...JOHN Q. is unafraid to speak the plain truth..."
Source: Los Angeles Times
p.C11 02/15/2002
Review 4:
"...[Washington] puts in another strong performance..."
Source: USA Today
p.13B 02/15/2002