MEDICINE MAN 1992

There's a dearth of cinematic characters I identify with and "Medicine Man" is a surprisingly progressive film for its time. I appreciated the intelligent storyline and the fact that the female protagonist wasn't sexualized. (There are arguably a few scenes where she's getting dressed or is slightly unclothed, but these moments are almost clinical and very normalizing.) And while there's the potential for romance to develop between the protagonists -- mainstream audiences need a little something to keep their attention -- there's are no sex scenes. Some aspects of the film are problematic. Produced in the early 90s, the indigenous community isn't credited with the discovery. It's possible that Sean Connery's accidental "replacement" of the village medicine man, and the grudge he holds towards him, is a symbolic nod from the writers. There are also some head-scratching moments where the scientists "instruct" their indigenous collaborators in the extraction of a medicine that comes from their own medical knowledge. We also know very little about the community itself, which is a missed opportunity. Although the writers do attempt to draw a [self-interested] link between biodiversity and sovereignty, failing to name the tribe or historicize them makes watching this film a bit like scrolling through the evening news. We become scope-sensitive. The problem feels too generic, too big, too non-specific, too overwhelming for us to take action. This is just another community impacted by deforestation and climate change. Too bad. Finally, the scientist-turned-native trope is a bit uncomfortable to watch. I think that the female lead's transformation from a laboratory to field scientist, and her decision to save the child, are sufficient evidence of her character's development. But of course, the film ended with her receiving a head tattoo and a feather earring. Out of curiosity, I tried to research tribal aesthetics. This may be just be some uninformed costumer's decision. I still rated the film 5/5 because the motivation and integrity of the narrative were sincere, it kept my attention, there's a strong female lead, and this was a cool, science-driven storyline. (Yeah, some of the dialog about "joint authorship" are a little cringe, but just roll with it.) A solid film for its time.

Very good movie

I first saw this movie over twenty years ago and had a hankering to see it again after the recent death of Sean Connery. Medicine Man came out in 1992 and was directed by John McTiernan who also directed Predator and The Hunt for Red October. Connery plays Dr. Robert Campbell a researcher working deep in the Amazon jungle who stumbles across a cure for the plague of the 20th century, cancer. The only problem is he can't reproduce it and he has very little of the original sample left. Campbell sends word back to his company asking for a research assistant and a gas chromatograph enter Dr. Rae Crane played by Lorraine Bracco. She joins Campbell per his request but is also there to judge his work (little does he know) and to decide whether or not to pull the plug on his funding. Campbell's former research assistant (who was also his wife) had left him because of some issues he was dealing with concerning the decimation of an indigenous tribe they had been living with. Crane and Campbell appear at odds with each other when they first meet basically because he was expecting one of several male research colleagues he had requested and all he got was Crane who admits to him that she had only done a month of field research while in school. He goes on to give her the business about attending fund raisers and hobnobbing with socialites more than performing actual research but she turns out to be an able field researcher. Once she discovers that he has the cure for cancer she can't wait to get more help to him which he absolutely refuses. He doesn't want a repeat of the tragic situation that befell the other tribe he was living with namely death of the tribe from disease brought in by none other than himself. As the movie progresses Campbell and Rae slowly warm up to each other but wouldn't you know it though just as they discover the secret missing ingredient to the cancer cure along comes tragedy in the form of loggers who are building a road right through Campbell's adopted tribe's territory which also happens to be one of the few places this secret ingredient can be harvested. A scuffle ensues between Campbell and the loggers which ends in a forest fire but don't worry both Campbell and Rae survive as does the tribe. The movie ends with Campbell, Rae and the tribe moving on to new living territory with Campbell and Rae on the search again for the missing ingredient of the cancer cure. All in all the movie was very entertaining with a mildly hilarious part where Crane is suffering from a headache and is given a natural extract to help deal with it which produces some very funny side effects. Jerry Goldsmith's soundtrack also helped make this one of the few movies outside of Connery's James Bond roles that i really enjoyed. There is a bit of the save the rain forest theme but it's not overly done. Definitely well worth the price and a good movie whether you're a Connery fan or a Bracco fan.

Great movie ! Recommend for date night

Very funny

good movie

I love this movie. It's got a great theme and it's timeless. A great plot and cute actors. I think it's a chick flick but if not, it's easy for a chick to watch Sean Connery in his earlier years. There's a part in the movie that really makes you think about what you would do in that situation. 10 out of 10

I really enjoyed this movie. Sean Connery and Lorraine Bracco worked off each other very well. Lots of good humor among the natives. One of the good kind of movies you will remember.

Super bon film

It was agreat movie ,very entertaining

Good movie to watch. Nothing special could even be a 'b' movie but still worth it.

Un très bon film de Connery, méconnu

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