Family Men

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No trailer yet for Extraordinary Measures (CBS Films, 1.22.10), the Brendan Fraser-Harrison Ford true-life drama (based on Geeta Anand's The Cure) about a father teaming with a scientist to create a medical-establishment-defying cure for his ailing kids. But here's a video piece about the actual history that inspired the book and the film.

Harrison Ford, Brendan Fraser in Extraordinary Measures.

The appearance is obviously that of a medical procedural along the lines of George Miller's Lorenzo's Oil (1992), as both deal with finding medical cures for sick kids without the aid of FDA-approved remedies. I'm guessing that Measures probably delivers a bit more raging machismo, which you can pretty much count on with Ford playing a staunch maverick type.

Ford, who's also executive producing, clearly has a thing for dramas about families under threat. He's not playing the dad (i.e., Fraser's role) but it's a familiar line of country.

The director is Tom Vaughan (Starter for 10, What Happens in Vegas). Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher and Carla Santos Shamberg produced. The script is by Robert Nelson Jacobs (The Water Horse, Chocolat). The costars are Keri Russell, Courtney B. Vance, Dee Wallace (where's she been?), Jared Harris and Patrick Bauchau.

I don't remember Lorenzo's Oil all that vividly. (I saw it only once, and that was 17 years ago.) But I have a recollection of it being not half bad, and of better-than-decent performances by Nick Nolte (as an Italian) and Susan Sarandon. N.Y. Times critic Janet Maslin wrote that it's "not the maudlin television-movie version of such a tale. There are no false miracles; there are no self-congratulatory triumphs; there is no smiling through anyone's tears. [The] film has an appealingly brisk, unsentimental style and a rare ability to compress and convey detailed medical data."

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on November 3, 2009 at 6:19 AM

comment #1

Eloi Manning says ...

Brendan Fraser.

He's a strange one. He's one of those Hollywood stars who nobody even remembers exists. Like when he has a new film out, people are like, "Oh yeah, Brendan Fraser. I forgot about him." He seems to have no celebrity whatsoever. I mean that's not necessarily a bad thing; some actors' celebrity status outshines their actual work. But here's a guy who's been in a fairly successful trilogy and a few other family films and yet is almost certainly rock-bottom in people's minds when they think of what a Hollywood star is.

Posted by Eloi Manning at November 3, 2009 7:25 AM

comment #2

mutinyco says ...

Dee Wallace is in The House of the Devil...

Posted by mutinyco at November 3, 2009 7:34 AM

comment #3

M. Hulot says ...

George Miller is largely under-appreciated.

Lorenzo's Oil walks a very thin line between a Lifetime original movie and a serious, investigative medical drama. But it works for exactly the same reasons Maslin says. And It is successful due to Miller's ability to explain complex medical information without dumbing it down. And I'm sure the fact that hes was once a surgeon himself has something to do with it.

He's had a pretty good career as both a director and producer.

With the exception of Thunderdome, the Mad Max movies are great. As is The Witches of Eastwick, Babe, and Happy Feet (for which he earned as Oscar). That's a pretty eclectic resume, too.

I read the Extraordinary Measures script, Wells. It's a surprisingly good piece. It's taut and suspenseful, and yes, it's quite a bit angry, too. There's a lot of scenery for Ford to chew.

Posted by M. Hulot at November 3, 2009 7:46 AM

comment #4

NotImpressed1Yet says ...

Brendan Fraser is a total sellout hack but I still have a reservoir of good will for him, due mainly to School Ties, a favorite of mine as a teenager, and The Quiet American, one of my favorites period.

Posted by NotImpressed1Yet at November 3, 2009 7:46 AM

comment #5

bildeaux says ...

Will Harrison find his wife in this one?

Posted by bildeaux at November 3, 2009 7:56 AM

comment #6

jc says ...

Fraser's goodwill from me stems from George of the Jungle. A truly funny movie I would have skipped except I think Ebert praised it to high heaven so I gave it a shot and then watched it twice through.

Posted by jc at November 3, 2009 8:09 AM

comment #7

Scott Mendelson says ...

Brendan Fraser may not be at the top of anyone's radar, but everyone likes him and trusts him and that's why his adventure films generally do well. He balances that thin line between deadly-serious action heroism and 'aw-shucks/gee-wiz' befuddlement better than anyone outside of... well, Harrison Ford in his peak. If you think that's easy, take a look at the new Prince of Persia trailer.

Posted by Scott Mendelson at November 3, 2009 8:14 AM

comment #8

Pynchon8 says ...

Oh snap! It's the Dry Erase Marker of Doom!

Odds on Jared Harris playing an unctuous/scheming government/hospital functionary?

Posted by Pynchon8 at November 3, 2009 8:19 AM

comment #9

BurmaShave says ...

I HAVE TO SAVE YOUR FAMILY!!!!!!

Posted by BurmaShave at November 3, 2009 8:32 AM

comment #10

bulltron says ...

bildeaux,

Don't know if his wife is in danger, but good to see he's sporting the same Wranglers he broke in during Clear and Present Danger. Those jeans show up in every movie he's done since then (except Indy).

Posted by bulltron at November 3, 2009 8:53 AM

comment #11

lazarus says ...

I can't wait for the scene where Ford sternly points his finger at a petrie dish.

Posted by lazarus at November 3, 2009 9:05 AM

comment #12

The Winchester says ...

Weird to see a picture of Indy and his successor with no hats or torches around.

M Hulot, while not nearly as good as what came before it,Thunderdome has some great moments that are on par with the series.

Scott M- I was trying to put my finger on my problem with the Prince of Persia trailer, and I think you nailed it.

Posted by The Winchester at November 3, 2009 9:26 AM

comment #13

DeeZee says ...

Hulot: Too bad Miller's going to kill his streak with Mad Max 4.

Posted by DeeZee at November 3, 2009 11:22 AM

comment #14

Floyd Thursby says ...

Fraser's one of those people who would be likable if he was my next-door neighbor, but I have no interest in seeing him in movies.

Posted by Floyd Thursby at November 3, 2009 11:35 AM

comment #15

Noah Cross says ...

And don't forget "Gods and Monsters". Fraser has probably made better movies over the last decade than Ford. I admit, not too high a bar.

Posted by Noah Cross at November 3, 2009 11:58 AM

comment #16

Bilge says ...

LORENZO'S OIL is one of the greatest films ever made. CERTAINLY the most underrated film of the 90s, and George Miller's masterpiece.

Don't let the disease-of-the-week plot fool you, it's rigged with more style than even THE ROAD WARRIOR, and Miller turns the whole thing into a kind of medical action opera.

It also features Susan Sarandon's greatest performance.

I've seen it -- I'm not kidding -- at least 25 times.

Posted by Bilge at November 3, 2009 12:46 PM

comment #17

Gordon27 says ...

"With the exception of Thunderdome, the Mad Max movies are great."

I prefer 'Thunderdome' to 'Mad Max', but 'Road Warrior' is the one that casts its shadow in both directions.

I'd also throw on his segment from 'The Twilight Zone' movie, the only one that actually feels like it's part of a movie.

Posted by Gordon27 at November 3, 2009 12:48 PM

comment #18

Lady says ...

Brendan Fraser has been in all of my favorite movies: Gods and Monsters and Quiet American for Drama, Mummy I and II for Adventure and Bedazzled for Comedy. I do agree, however, he is very underrated and part of it is because he is not a famewhore like other celebrities. Last year two of his movies made 700 Million dollars in the box office and he had hardly any publicity. If this was one of the other stars, we would have hear about their dogs, their kids, their islands, their silly religions, their love affairs etc...It is sad we complain about famewhores but when an actor does his job quietly and professionally, we just forget about him. Regardless, he will always have my respect for being so low key and a very lovely person by everyone's account who worked with him. He has been around for 20 years and I hope he will be around for the next 20.

Posted by Lady at November 3, 2009 6:26 PM

comment #19

Spacesheik says ...

At least LORENZO'S OIL had the classy, ever-watchable Peter Ustinov.

Posted by Spacesheik at November 4, 2009 2:16 AM

comment #20

Rich S. says ...

I could see Fraser's career arc following Jeff Bridges'. Hunky guy that no one really takes seriously because he's so good looking, but with a twinkle in his eye showing there's more depth there than you'd think. Gets older and more distinguished and starts to broaden his range. Achieves character actor status and suddenly everyone loves him.

Posted by Rich S. at November 4, 2009 6:01 AM

comment #21

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comment #22