Extraordinary Measures (PG)
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The fact that it's based on Geeta Anand's book, The Cure: How a Father Raised $100 Million – and Bucked the Medical Establishment – in a Quest to Save His Children, should warn you what to expect, as well as telling you the plot.
Fraser plays the real-life John Crowley, a drug-marketing businessman, two of whose children have Pompe, an incurable disease that causes muscular disintegration: their life expectation is nine years, and Megan, the older, is now eight. On the internet Crowley discovers a brilliant Pompe theorist called Robert Stonehill and tracks him to Nebraska, to find a surly, slobby, chronically unsocialised figure watching the ballgame in a beer joint. The two men make common cause and form a biotech company to find a cure for Pompe, but every time Crowley raises more research money, Stonehill screeches abuse and screws things up. Harrison Ford, after a lifetime acting unsmiling-but-cool heroes, from Han Solo in Star Wars to John Book in Witness, meets his match playing Stonehill: looking both physically knackered and emotionally stricken, he makes the scientist impossible to admire. The film's combination of gloopy sentiment, macho horns-locking and recondite enzyme research isn't a winner; and the slushy music, by Andrea Guerra, has you begging for mercy.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments