Extreme Measures
Encyclopedia
Extreme Measures is a 1996 thriller film based on Michael Palmer
's 1991 novel of the same name
, about the ethics of how far we are willing to go, and how much we are willing to sacrifice, in order to cure the world's ills.
) is a New York emergency room doctor who one night comes across a strange patient: a homeless man who has a wristband from a hospital he's not familiar with, mentioning a drug he's never heard of, and with strange symptoms, including a wildly fluctuating heart rate. When the man dies, Guy attempts to follow up and find out more about the patient - only to find that the body and all records have disappeared, and he's told by his superiors to drop the case.
As he continues trying to find out what happened, his personal and professional life get suddenly sidetracked. His home is ransacked and cocaine is planted near his bedside. The police arrest him and he is convicted and in the process he loses his job, the ability to ever practice medicine anywhere in the world and virtually all of his friends. In desperation, he manages to get the help of some homeless men who lead him to their underground home
. His ER patient who died also had lived there. Through them he's led to an organization, led by Dr. Myrick (Gene Hackman
), that performs spinal experiments on the homeless people, all of whom have died thus far, in an attempt to find a cure for paralysis.
Myrick attempts to sway Luthan to join his team telling him that these people are heroes and losing one to save millions is worth the sacrifice. Dr. Luthan admits that while there is some truth in what Myrick says, he states they have not chosen to be heroes, which makes Myrick a murderer. Myrick is shot and accidentally killed by rogue FBI Agent Frank Hare (David Morse
). Later, Mrs. Myrick hands the discs and documentation regarding the research to Luthan telling him "my husband was trying to do a good thing, but in the wrong way". He opens the package, views the materials and proceeds towards the neurology building where he is now working.
Michael Palmer (novelist)
Michael Stephen Palmer, M.D. , is the author of 16 novels, often called medical thrillers...
's 1991 novel of the same name
Extreme Measures (novel)
Extreme Measures is a thriller novel by Vince Flynn. The novel was a New York Times best seller. The book is the ninth in a series featuring counter-terrorism agent Mitch Rapp. In this story, Rapp works with CIA agent Mike Nash to battle a Taliban jihadist....
, about the ethics of how far we are willing to go, and how much we are willing to sacrifice, in order to cure the world's ills.
Cast
- Hugh GrantHugh GrantHugh John Mungo Grant is an English actor and film producer. He has received a Golden Globe Award, a BAFTA, and an Honorary César. His films have earned more than $2.4 billion from 25 theatrical releases worldwide. Grant achieved international stardom after appearing in Richard Curtis's...
as Dr. Guy Luthan - Gene HackmanGene HackmanEugene Allen "Gene" Hackman is an American actor and novelist.Nominated for five Academy Awards, winning two, Hackman has also won three Golden Globes and two BAFTAs in a career that spanned five decades. He first came to fame in 1967 with his performance as Buck Barrow in Bonnie and Clyde...
as Dr. Lawrence Myrick - Sarah Jessica ParkerSarah Jessica ParkerSarah Jessica Parker is an American film, television, and theater actress and producer.She is best known for her leading role as Carrie Bradshaw on the HBO television series Sex and the City , for which she won four Golden Globe Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and two Emmy Awards...
as Jodie Trammel - David MorseDavid Morse (actor)David Bowditch Morse is an American stage, television, and film actor. He first came to national attention as Dr. Jack Morrison in the medical drama St. Elsewhere from 1982 to 1988...
as FBI Agent Frank Hare - Bill NunnBill Nunn-Early life:Nunn was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of William G. Nunn, Jr., a well-known journalist and editor at the Pittsburgh Courier, as well as an NFL scout. Nunn's paternal grandfather was the first African American football player at George Westinghouse High School.Nunn was a...
as Det. Bob Burke - John Toles-Bey as Bobby
- Paul GuilfoylePaul GuilfoylePaul Guilfoyle is an American television and film actor. He is currently a regular cast member of the forensic television drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation where he plays Captain Jim Brass.-Early life:...
as Dr. Jeffrey Manko - Debra MonkDebra MonkDebra Monk is an American actress, singer, and writer.Monk was born in Middletown, Ohio. She was voted "best personality" by the graduating class at Wheaton High School in Silver Spring, Maryland. She graduated from Frostburg State University in 1963...
as Dr. Judith Gruszynski - Shaun Austin-Olsen as Claude Minkins
- André De Shields as Teddy Dolson
- J. K. SimmonsJ. K. SimmonsJonathan Kimble "J. K." Simmons is an American actor. He is best known for his roles on television as Dr. Emil Skoda in NBC's Law & Order , Assistant Police Chief Will Pope in TNT's The Closer, neo-Nazi Vernon Schillinger in the HBO prison drama Oz, on film as J...
as Dr. Mingus - Peter Appel as Det. Stone
- Diana Zimmer as Helen
- Nancy Beatty as Ruth Myrick
- Gerry BeckerGerry BeckerGerry Becker is an American actor.In addition to theater appearances in the chicago area, he appeared in many films;, sometimes in a leading role, as in Man in the Moon.- Filmography :*Meyer, The Killing Floor, PBS, 1984...
as Dr. Gene Spitelli - Gene Ruffini as Izzy
- Bill MacDonaldBill MacDonaldWilliam "Bill" MacDonald was a Scottish heavyweight wrestling champion. He died in 1964, and was the father of actor Kenneth MacDonald ....
as Det. Stone's Partner - Simon ReynoldsSimon ReynoldsSimon Reynolds is an English music critic who is well-known for his writings on electronic dance music and for coining the term "post-rock". Besides electronic dance music, Reynolds has written about a wide range of artists and musical genres, and has written books on post-punk and rock...
as Simon - D. Garnet Harding as E.R. Doctor
- Derwin Jordan as E.R. Doctor
- Tara Rosling as E.R. Doctor
- Martin RoachMartin RoachMartin Jamie Roach is a Canadian actor. He is perhaps best known for his roles on Aaron Stone as T. Abner Hall and in the films Cube Zero, Diary of the Dead, and The Lookout.-Filmography:* Producing Parker as Dr...
as E.R. Doctor - Bernard Browne as E.R. Doctor
- Sanjay Talwar as E.R. Doctor
- Christina Collins as E.R. Nurse
- Arlene DuncanArlene DuncanArlene Duncan is a Canadian singer/actress from Oakville, Ontario. She is currently in the CBC sitcom Little Mosque on the Prairie. Her half brother is Canadian Olympic sprinter Donovan Bailey.-External links:...
as E.R. Nurse - Cheryl Swarts as E.R. Nurse
Plot
Dr. Guy Luthan (Hugh GrantHugh Grant
Hugh John Mungo Grant is an English actor and film producer. He has received a Golden Globe Award, a BAFTA, and an Honorary César. His films have earned more than $2.4 billion from 25 theatrical releases worldwide. Grant achieved international stardom after appearing in Richard Curtis's...
) is a New York emergency room doctor who one night comes across a strange patient: a homeless man who has a wristband from a hospital he's not familiar with, mentioning a drug he's never heard of, and with strange symptoms, including a wildly fluctuating heart rate. When the man dies, Guy attempts to follow up and find out more about the patient - only to find that the body and all records have disappeared, and he's told by his superiors to drop the case.
As he continues trying to find out what happened, his personal and professional life get suddenly sidetracked. His home is ransacked and cocaine is planted near his bedside. The police arrest him and he is convicted and in the process he loses his job, the ability to ever practice medicine anywhere in the world and virtually all of his friends. In desperation, he manages to get the help of some homeless men who lead him to their underground home
Mole People
Mole people is a term used to refer to the homeless people living under large cities in abandoned subway tunnels and shafts.- Urban folklore :...
. His ER patient who died also had lived there. Through them he's led to an organization, led by Dr. Myrick (Gene Hackman
Gene Hackman
Eugene Allen "Gene" Hackman is an American actor and novelist.Nominated for five Academy Awards, winning two, Hackman has also won three Golden Globes and two BAFTAs in a career that spanned five decades. He first came to fame in 1967 with his performance as Buck Barrow in Bonnie and Clyde...
), that performs spinal experiments on the homeless people, all of whom have died thus far, in an attempt to find a cure for paralysis.
Myrick attempts to sway Luthan to join his team telling him that these people are heroes and losing one to save millions is worth the sacrifice. Dr. Luthan admits that while there is some truth in what Myrick says, he states they have not chosen to be heroes, which makes Myrick a murderer. Myrick is shot and accidentally killed by rogue FBI Agent Frank Hare (David Morse
David Morse (actor)
David Bowditch Morse is an American stage, television, and film actor. He first came to national attention as Dr. Jack Morrison in the medical drama St. Elsewhere from 1982 to 1988...
). Later, Mrs. Myrick hands the discs and documentation regarding the research to Luthan telling him "my husband was trying to do a good thing, but in the wrong way". He opens the package, views the materials and proceeds towards the neurology building where he is now working.