To me, this movie is perfection.

Pretty Good

best movie i've ever seen.

Clever, believable, and super fun to watch. It totally has replay value.

Jack Kevorkian (Al Pacino) is the Michigan doctor who started assisted-suicide with his sister Brenda Vaccaro (Margo Janus) and his friend Neal Nicol (John Goodman). He encounters political opposition and charged in court. He is helped by Janet Good (Susan Sarandon) who leads a support group and lawyer Geoffrey Fieger (Danny Huston). He is a child of Armenian genocide survivors.It's a good biopic by director Barry Levinson. Pacino is masterful. The title "You Don't Know Jack" is accusational and suggests a more in-depth psychological examination of the man. There is nothing wrong with this but it doesn't dig that deep into his origins. The most insightful scene is a passing conversation between Janet and Brenda about the Kevorkian parents. It would have been a great addition to have them talk to a child Jack about the death and destruction of the genocide. It would be a great pairing with his rantings about the Nazis. It needs some tying together.

It's no surprise that Jack was a controversial figure, he had a different mindset from the majority of society in a time still shrouded in old superstition. You could call him a lot of things, (I know the media sure did) but I choose to call him an activist. I don't want to use the word "martyr" because to me that implies that he put himself on a pedestal. It's interesting how in the next 40 years or so, what Jack set into motion could be realized, if not at least advanced somewhat. I guess you could say this is one-sided, but to me, the only side is Jack's. I'm not saying that opposition to euthanasia is dumb or stupid or anything like that, but put yourself in these patient's shoes. Would you want to have constant pain as the result of an illness until you died? I wouldn't. Would you want to slowly forget everything you've ever known and loved, and then die? I wouldn't. I know that the opposition has it's roots based in religion and "playing God", but beings I don't believe in God, that argument isn't valid to me. The politics aside though, this movie is very well acted, very well shot, and a very good story, give it a try, it might even open your eyes or introduce you to a new viewpoint.

This is one of those rare hi-impact, makes-you-squirm-while-watching films that cannot be reviewed on its own without commenting on the underlying social issues. So here we go: THE MOVIE Directed by Barry Levinson (one of the top directors of the last century) and starring one of the top actors of the last century giving one of the best performances of his career (understated and self-aware, NOT the over-the-top Pacino we have come to expect) ... was there ever any doubt? The only oddity that this reviewer found is that Pacino's agency still uses 40-year-old photos of him in their PR kits, so a novice (think, alien film reviewer from another planet) looking at this film for the first time might spend the length of the film trying to find the lead actor identified in the kit ... and never locate him.Brilliant, touching, revealing, and horrifying. In other words, a perfect reflection of what passes for intelligent civilization in our world.THE SOCIAL GESTALT For the first time, the script makes it clear that the lawyers acting for the state TOOK IT AS A PERSONAL AFFRONT that Dr. K was so forthright about what he had done ... and why ... and MADE IT THEIR PERSONAL MISSION to bring him down ... and USED A TECHNICALITY IN THE LAW (adjusting the indictment to a one narrow charge, a charge which could not be defended by a full look at the surrounding facts, as one might otherwise expect in a capital case).Which pretty much summarizes how our Justice system works. Forget the theories they teach in law school, forget the statue of the lady with the blindfold over her eyes, when they REALLY WANT TO GET YOU, they are going to get you.

Al Pacino is great at what he does, and with age, he has only become better at his role as the defeated man of stubborn reasoning. Like in many of his previous films (such as The Son of No One and Insomnia), Al Pacino is the obvious highlight. His captivating acting and eccentric personas are enough to push ratings up a whole level. In the case of You Don't Know Jack, Al Pacino doesn't lift up a terrible movie to become bearable, but a good movie to become great. While the film may have very depressing tones (it's about assisted suicide after all), it doesn't mean that it lacks entertainment value in any way.Jack Kevorkian (Al Pacino) is nicknamed the "doctor of death" for his involvement in many assisted suicide cases. His sister (Brenda Vaccaro), Neal Nicol (John Goodman), Janet Good (Susan Sarandon), and his lawyer (Geoffrey Fieger), help him avoid the law as he aids people who are in too much pain to continue living. The film sends a strong, legal message about how people should have the right to choose whether or not they want to pull their own plug. The message gets you thinking about your own life and the people you care about, which easily makes the film a lot more of a personal experience than one might expect.The entertainment values that are to be expected from this TV film are along the lines of an educational journey and heart wrenching acting. Al Pacino sells his role very well, as if he himself is advocating for the rights. Also, his slight Midwestern accent is compelling to see. John Goodman's existence in the film relieves the overbearing darker moods and helps humanize Jack. The other supporting actors are all great additions to the cast as well.The story may take a while to develop, but if you stick it out, you are sure to learn a thing or two.