Whose Life is it Anyway? (1981)

**** out of ****

When people talk about the great actors of the aging generation (actors that started in the 1960s), you usually get the standard names: De Niro, Pacino, Nicholson, et al. A wild card may throw in a Robert Duvall or Dustin Hoffman.

But for my money the most underrated actor of that entire generation is Richard Dreyfuss, and his turn in “Whose Life is it Anyway?” is the performance of his career. This one, along with Adrien Brody's in “The Pianist” (2002) are the single greatest achievements in acting that I have ever seen.

Dreyfuss is Ken Harrison, a gifted and popular sculptor who is involved in a terrible car accident in the film's opening sequence. After months in the hospital being nursed back to health, he finds himself a quadriplegic with no hope of ever walking, using his hands or being self sufficient. As a man whose entire life depended on his being able to express himself through sculpture, this is too much for him to bear. He decides that he prefers to leave the hospital's care and die rather than live out his days in this condition.

Unfortunately for him, the doctors don't agree. Given that Ken is a bright, lively and intelligent man they decide to keep him alive, certain that he will thank them for it later. But Ken is determined, and is able to put forth very reasonable and coherent arguments for him to be allowed to meet his fate in the manner he prefers. Eventually it ends up in a court hearing, where the hospital tries to have him deemed incapable of deciding for himself, and Ken arguing for his right to self-determination. It is fascinating from start to finish.

But what makes this film so astounding is Dreyfuss's performance. He BECOMES Ken Harrison, a man tormented by his own imagination and inability to express it anymore. He delivers each of lines from a prone position (either in bed or in a wheelchair) and can only use his face to convey his emotions. He is sweet, funny (often hilarious), angry and miserable, and you feel every moment of his pain. Richard Dreyfuss is nothing less than amazing in this film.

And that isn't the only wonderful thing the film has going for it. The dialogue is beautifully written, and virtually every exchange seems totally authentic. Ken's friendship and bantering with his Jamaican orderly John (Thomas Carter) alone would make this film worth seeing. Add to that absolutely stellar performances from Christine Lahti and John Cassevettes as Ken's two primary doctors, and a riveting one from Kenneth MacMillan as the judge, and you have a film that couldn't possibly be more heart wrenching or entertaining.

I literally cannot say enough about how absolutely magnificent this movie is – it's one of my 5 favorites of all time. You will laugh, cry, and be torn about Ken's decision to die – you like him so much you kind of hope the hospital will win the case. Ken's own lawyer (Bob Balaban) even says to Ken at one point, “You know, this is a case I could stand to lose.” Ken's reply, typical of his succinctness and intelligence is, “You do.... and it's a life sentence for me.”

This film isn't easy to find these days. But find it. Watch it. Your life will be enriched by it.