“Critical Care” (1997)
Drama
Running Time: 107 minutes
Written by: Steven Schwartz
Directed by: Sidney Lumet
Featuring: James Spader, Kyra Sedgwick, Helen Mirren, Margo Martindale, Jeffrey Wright, Wallace Shawn, Anne Bancroft, Albert Brooks, Philip Bosco and Colm Feore
Dr. Butz: “When those lawyers start crawling all over you, that’s when you know you’re a doctor.”
Sidney Lumet’s Critical Care is one of those interesting little films that seems to have slipped through the cracks over the years. This 1997 black comedy takes a rather dark and cynical look at the American healthcare system, where money, insurance companies and legal battles can become more important than the patients themselves.
James Spader stars as Dr Werner Ernst, a young hospital resident who finds himself caught up in a bitter dispute between two sisters over the future care of their wealthy, comatose father. What follows is an increasingly bizarre mixture of medical drama, social satire, black comedy and outright absurdity.
The film boasts an impressive cast, including Helen Mirren, Albert Brooks, Kyra Sedgwick, Jeffrey Wright, Wallace Shawn and Anne Bancroft. Spader is excellent as the increasingly frustrated doctor trying to maintain some sense of professional ethics in a system that seems to have forgotten what medicine is actually supposed to be about. Albert Brooks is particularly entertaining, delivering his cynical observations with his trademark deadpan humour, while Helen Mirren provides a welcome touch of warmth and humanity.
This is certainly not one of Lumet’s most accessible films. The tone occasionally wanders, and the mixture of fantasy, comedy and serious social commentary doesn’t always come together as successfully as it might. Nevertheless, there is plenty to appreciate here, particularly its surprisingly relevant observations about the business of healthcare. It’s a film that deserves a second look.
The Imprint Blu-ray
The big attraction here is that Critical Care finally receives its worldwide Blu-ray debut, courtesy of Imprint Films, as part of their Directed By… Sidney Lumet: Volume Two (1978–1999) collection.
The 1080p presentation is a very welcome improvement over the old DVD releases. The picture is generally sharp, with pleasing colours and good overall stability. However, this isn’t quite the pristine presentation one might have hoped for. There are signs of digital noise reduction, with some waxy-looking skin textures and occasional softness in finer details. It appears to use an older HD master rather than a newly created restoration. Even so, it remains a perfectly watchable presentation and a worthwhile upgrade.
Sound is provided in both DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and LPCM 2.0 stereo. Both tracks perform well, with clear dialogue and a faithful reproduction of the film’s soundtrack. The 5.1 track occasionally has slightly low dialogue levels, so the stereo option may be preferable for those watching through television speakers.
Special Features:
- Audio commentary with Howard S. Berger and Nathaniel Thompson.
- Original theatrical trailer.
The commentary is a worthwhile addition, offering some interesting background information and discussion of Lumet’s film, although the delivery can occasionally become a little repetitive. The original trailer is also a nice inclusion.
Final Verdict
Critical Care may not rank among Sidney Lumet’s greatest achievements, but it is an ambitious, unusual and often very funny film with a terrific ensemble cast and a subject that remains remarkably relevant.
Imprint has done collectors a favour by bringing this overlooked title to Blu-ray for the first time. While the picture quality isn’t reference standard and the extras are fairly limited, the overall package is a welcome addition to any Sidney Lumet collection.
A worthwhile release for fans of Lumet, character-driven black comedy and thought-provoking cinema.
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