Playing God (1997)

reviewed by
David Sunga


Review: Playing God (1997)
Rating: 3.0 stars  (out of 4.0)
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Key to rating system:
2.0  stars         Debatable
2.5 stars        Some people may like it
3.0 stars        I liked it
3.5 stars        I am biased in favor of the movie
4.0  stars        I felt the movie's impact on a personal level or it stood
out                                                 markedly from other movies
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A Movie Review by David Sunga
Directed by:
Andy Wilson
Written by:
Mark Haskell Smith

Starring: David Duchovny, Timothy Hutton, Angelina Jolie

Ingredients: washed-up surgeon, software pirate, beautiful moll, 70s-style action music, bantering 'Pulp Fiction' goons

Synopsis: In the opening scene, drug-addicted loser Eugene Sands (David Duchovny) goes to a bar to score some synthetic heroin, but thugs burst in and shoot the man next to him. Using a knife, tubing from a beer tap, and a plastic water bottle, Eugene instinctively drains blood from the punctured lung of the victim, establishing himself as a gifted former surgeon. Philosophical insights in the form of voice narration and a flashback inform us that the talented young Eugene is banned from the the medical profession due to a stupid mistake: he botched an operation while under the influence of drugs. During the rest of the movie, Eugene performs surgery on wounded thugs and meets a series of assorted inept criminals and bungling FBI agents. Eugene also falls in love with Claire (Angelina Jolie), the girlfriend of Raymond (Timothy Hutton), a smalltime software pirate. The end of the movie involves a predictable car chase between Eugene and Raymond. Will the failed doctor be able to get his life back on track?

Opinion: If you are expecting a serious drama, an action extravaganza, or a suspense flick, 'Playing God' isn't any of these. Try to imagine Humphrey Bogart as a doctor on the skids making philosophical quips through voice narration, and you'll get the picture. The Doc's redemption is the theme, but somehow two-bit software pirates and a beautiful gangster moll are thrown into the mix, not quite effectively.

The good news is that Angelina Jolie does a fine job as the beautiful gangster moll. David Duchovny's deadpan wit and boy next door face are just right for the down and out doctor. Timothy Hutton somehow breathes needed life into the cardboard character of Raymond the crook.

The bad news is that the film hasn't much sharpness or dramatic punch. This is a redemption story about a failed doctor, but though much of the film time is spent painting a fuzzy background subplot concerning the plans of Russian, Chinese, and American software pirates, these plans never get clarified. A scene where Sands is supposed to be undergoing withdrawal symptoms from trying to kick his drug habit looks like he's simply snoozing in bed with a lot of nearby chocolates. Small potatoes villains don't seem very dangerous or threatening, and there are no high stakes involved if anybody wins or loses. The ending is predictable: a mediocre car chase.

Despite this, if you're in the mood to watch a downed but decent doctor redeem himself, the movie succeeds on the strength of its message.

Reviewed by David Sunga

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