Reviews (9)

Entertaining plot sets Hugh Grant in fine serious drama role
We loved the book by Michael Palmer, on which this movie is "officially" based - but except for experimentation on unknowing human subjects, the two stories bear little more similarity than Palmer's name as "author". Nonetheless, Hugh Grant as Dr. Guy Luthran does a quite competent job in a serious part that's a departure from his normal romantic comedies. Gene Hackman also stars as the "evil" doctor who it turns out is doing illegal surgeries on homeless subjects who get "selected" by special ID work at the hospital where our hero works. A missing victim soon sends Luthran on a scary search for homeless people deep in the city's subway bowels, where David Morse ("Hack", et al) is stalking him for some unknown "FBI" reasons. Sara Jessica Parker serves as a supporting mild love interest but shows up later as part of the insidious plot. Some ethical issues near the end of the film raise some interesting points to ponder, and leave us guessing 'til the end which way things might go.

A decent plot, good acting, and sustained suspense, with some credible acting by all the name actors, add up to an entertaining movie. The DVD itself has no extra features and comes in a cheap cardboard "keepbox", with only Dolby Surround Sound, not 5.1 Digital. Aside from these quibbles, an enjoyable hour-and-a-half awaits!

TERRIFYING MEDICAL THRILLER - GREAT TRANSFER
"Extreme Measures" is the story of Dr. Guy Luthran (Hugh Grant), a physician working at Grammercy Hospital, whose personal and professional life seem to be right on track until one of his patients unexpectedly dies of mysterious circumstances. Was it medical malpractise, an accident or something much more sinaster? Not since Michael Crighton's "Coma" have we seen a medical suspense/thriller told with such skill and timely shock value. Sarah Jessica Parker, as Luthran's nurse/friend and Gene Hackman, in a diabolical role, that will have you losing sleep the next time you need to go in for check up, both deliver stellar performances in this edge-of-your-seat thriller.
Originally released under the Castlerock label, which used to belong to Columbia Tristar, this movie is now the property of Warner Brothers Home Entertainment and it looks marvelous on DVD. Colors are well balanced, bold and rich. Flesh tones are infinitely more accurate on the DVD than on the previously released laserdisc or VHS versions from Columbia. Contrast and shadow delineation are superb with great background and fine detail visable, even in the darkest scenes. The disc is 2:35:1 and anamorphically enhanced. The audio is a 5.1 mix and nicely balanced with a very aggressive bass in the subway chase scenes and special effects sounds, like gun shots. No extras.
I could fault Warner for not giving us extras but I won't since their transfer is so good.
BOTTOM LINE: A great suspense movie in a snappy looking transfer. YES! - TODAY, IF POSSIBLE!

Is this the same movie as the book?
First of all, LOVED the book. However, the movie might as well have had a different title. The two plots are so different it isnt even funny. If you're expecting this movie to even look a fraction of what the book was, you'll be sorely misled. However, if you havent read the book, and just watch the movie, you may very well be happy. The movie could stand alone rather well on its own accord, but if you read the book, you're just opening yourself to disappointment. I couldnt wait after I read this book to see the movie. I blinked several times to see if I was hallucinating at this poor copy of the book.

I've never been this harsh in a review before, but I was just so disappointed in this movie I had waited through reading the book and waiting for it to come out on HBO, to get this poor excuse of an interpretation.

Read the Book
After having read the book and waiting in anticipation when it first came out, I was extremely disappointed. The movie very well could be alright on its own merits, but the books plot is very different and much more suspenseful.

This Film is Deffirent
Extreme Measures is a different kind of Hugh`s films ..
It`s a serious role but he act it very well :) ... Read more