Last night, I watched "You Don't Know Jack", starring Al Pacino as Dr. Jack Kevorkian, or Dr. Death, as he was called.Al Pacino was perfect in the role. After the first few minutes, you think you're really watching Kevorkian. He sounded exactly like the doctor, too. I have seen Kevorkian on several talk shows, before and after his unfortunate incarceration, and Pacino must have spent a tremendous amount of time listening and learning the doctor's speech patterns.
John Goodman played Kevorkian's long-time medical technician, the guy who turns on the gas. He came across as someone who didn't particularly relish what he was doing. I don't know if the real-life med-tech felt that way, or if Goodman was letting his own feelings show. But, the med-tech abetted Kevorkian for years, and if he didn't approve, surely he would have left.
This is one of Dr. Kevorkian's paintings. I'd feel a whole lot more sympathetic if he just painted landscapes. All of his paintings are full of blood and gore. Shudder.I think we were supposed to come away with a better understanding of what drove Dr. Kevorkian, but, frankly, I didn't buy his reasoning. He made some interesting points, but I still believe the man was the most successful serial killer in history, and deserved every minute of prison time he served, and maybe more.
Stay tuned.
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11 comments:
I also think Dr. Kevorkian had a few loose screws instead of a brain.
What came from the Kervorkian experience, that I think was good, was the need for people to be able to choose how they die when they are diagnosed with a terminal illness.
If I should be diagnosed with ALS I want the option to choose how I will die.
I'm pleased Oregon, and now Washington state, have laws that allow people to choose how they will die when they come to the end of their lives.
That law has now been voted on twice in the state of Oregon and upheld by the Supreme Court. I like that.
It has not been abused, in spite of what some thought would happen. Often just knowing the drugs are available is enough. The positive is how end of life healthcare improved in the state of Oregon after the passage of this bill.
If Kevorkian is at the root of all that then I say he did some good, in a twisted way.
Like Linda, I do believe in death with dignity and the right to choose. However, I have a hard time believing Kervorkian was being a humanitarian. That painting is just plain scary.
I watched an interview with Kevorkian recently. I suppose I was more shocked with his disrepect for those with alternate views of life as he is an atheist.
He is entitled to his beliefs, but ridiculing religious types who believe in afterlife was distasteful.
Many major religions belief in after-life or eternity, not just Christians. He accused Christians, and others of creating fear of death.
I just returned from a family member's death. He had no fear of death and more than once during his final weeks he affirmed he was ready, but regretted his beloved wife could not go with him.
I will have to watch that movie. I have the impression JK was kind of a twisted zealot, but for his raising awareness about end of life care, I believe, was a good thing.
I have not seen this movie, but now I plan on watching it, stay tuned! Oh and for the record, I agree with Linda's opening sentence :)
when i first heard the title, my immediate response was, they made a movie about a computer game? and then i realized it was kevorkian. i haven't seen the movie, but i will asap. xoxo
(i am so glad i found you again. of course, why i didn't ask jay for the url earlier is beyond me, sugar! but, i've got you on my blogroll now.))
I agree with all who say we should have the option to end our life if living becomes hell. A death with dignity is most desirable.
However, I do believe that we should be declared terminal before using that option and Dr. Death did not observe that proscription. I think he was a seeker of notoriety and not a humanitarian.
His painting is very scary. It appears that a few loose scews were rattling around up there.
Haven't seen the movie, thanks for the input about it and I agree with you that if the med tech didn't agree, he should have left. Could've been the actor putting his own twist on it :)
I believe in death with dignity; however, Jack's a little on the scary side. I haven't even heard him speak much, so I really don't have as good an insight as some might have. I'm looking forward to seeing this movie. Thanks Betty. ~Joy
I read some where that jack k. was a serial killer and I think he might be.
The first person that Jack did was a woman with Alzheimer's. Working in a nursing home for so many years and seeing how the alzheimer effected the family, I understood why the woman wanted to end it before it got so bad for her family. But as he went on after to others and some of his actions... I had a hard time accepting him.
I do believe there should be choices. Could I do it? I don't really know... if I could... everyone has to chose for themselves.... But I sure would want the choices there.
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