Awake (R)

Silly surgery thriller is bloody, convoluted.

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Common Sense rates it
1
Seen the movie? Review it
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Movie details
  • Studio: Weinstein Co., Weinstein Co.
  • Directed By: Joby Harold
  • Cast: Lena Olin, Hayden Christensen, Jessica Alba
  • Running Time: 84 minutes
  • Release Date: 11/30/2007
  • Video/DVD Release Date: 03/03/2008
  • Genre: Thriller
  • MPAA Rating: R
  • MPAA Explanation: language, an intense disturbing situation, and brief drug use.

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that even though this grim thriller stars teen favorites Hayden Christensen and Jessica Alba, it isn't meant for kids. There are many scenes of bloody open-heart surgery, with some explicit sound effects (cutting, sawing, ribcage cracking). Because Clay is conscious and feels pain during the surgery, there are some gruesome parts in which he internally screams, swears, and makes noises; it's essentially grisly torture (not unlike what passes for plot in the Saw movies). There are several kissing scenes, two of which lead to sex (though more is implied than shown). Expect lots of prescription medication use, some smoking (and discussion of it being bad for you) and drinking, and many uses of both "f--k" and "s--t."

Families can talk about what makes a movie a thriller. Do you think this qualifies? Why? What characteristics do most thrillers have in common? Families can also discuss what -- if anything -- the characters in the movie learn. How would you describe the movie's version of morality? Are the characters' sacrifices worth it?

Message

Social Behavior:

Scheming, careless doctors; anesthesiologist drinks on the job; an accidental murder appears in a flashback; mother and son relationship at first seems too intimate and codependent.

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Lots of prescription pills are taken and shown in bottles (Clay has a heart condition). Minor cigarette smoking. Drinking and toasting (one hallucination includes a room full of schoolboys lifting wine glasses in a toast). An anesthesiologist drinks from a flask during surgery. A drunken character snorts cocaine.

Violence

Much bloody and yucky imagery related to surgery. Incisions show blood, organs, and internal goo; operation shows rib separator, cuts into heart; bloody surgeons' gloves. As Clay is "anesthetically aware" during surgery, he yells, screams, and expresses much pain. Clay and Lilith discuss his memories of his father's death. A character is hit with a fireplace poker; the body falls over a balcony, and there's a shot of the crumpled corpse on the floor three stories below. Suicide by pill overdose (body shown). When the cops arrest a woman, they smash her face against the floor.

Sex

Clayton appears in bathtub, then pulls Sam in with him (they engage in "sexy" talk during the seduction, such as "I was picturing you soaking wet with all your clothes on"). They kiss and embrace passionately before the scene cuts (sex is implied). They stand side by side in front of a mirror, naked; she's brushing her teeth, and the outline of her naked breast is visible. Several scenes show passionate kissing between the two, and at least one other scene shows the side of her breast. She appears in her bra and underwear beneath Clay as they kiss, preparing for sex -- but the scene cuts away before they get all their clothes off.

Language

Many uses of "f--k" and "s--t" (some with "bull"); other language includes "hell," "ass," "damn," and "son of a bitch."

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Cynthia Fuchs

At 22, successful Clay (Hayden Christensen) is touted as a brilliant, social-minded businessman who creates jobs, looks after properties, and is a good son to his doing mother, Lilith (Lena Olin). But as his best friend Jack (Terrence Howard) makes clear at the start of AWAKE, Clay is in trouble. One, he has a bad heart -- in fact, he needs a transplant. And, two, his surgeon is Jack, who starts the film by describing the pain he feels at losing Clay on the operating table. What happened? Despite the fact that his friend was facing four malpractice suits and Lilith disapproved, Clay was perversely determined to have Jack perform the surgery. And Lilith became even more upset when she learned that Clay had a secret girlfriend, Sam (Jessica Alba) -- with whom he has several bouts of lively sex during the movie, despite his much-remarked weakened "condition." But even with all these pressures weighing on him, Clay was upbeat as he was finally wheeled into the operating room, imagining that he'd wake up on the other side with a new life. Or not.

Is it any good?

1
The gimmicky premise of Awake is the fact that one in 700 patients experience what's called "anesthetic awareness" during surgery: Feeling every cut, every rib crack, and every stitch during surgery, but being paralyzed and unable to communicate the agony. Ouch. But this pain, uncomfortable as it is, has nothing on the pain of the movie's increasingly convoluted and contrived plot.

First of all, Clay's unfortunate condition is discovered by an out-of-body version of himself, who proceeds to run around the hospital in scrubs (why is never explained, as he lies on the table in a hospital gown), yelling at various relatives and doctors in an effort to get them to see that he's "awake." What's more, there are so many betrayals by so many characters that it's hard to care much about what happens to them -- unless you worry about the careers of folks like Howard and Olin, who outclass this silly material in every imaginable way. By the time Lilith has to explain to Sam how she can "feel" something is wrong in the operating room ("He's not just my son: we grew up together"), you've got the feeling that something is indeed very wrong -- with this film.

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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 8 reviews.

4


Posted on 07/26/08 by Mishmashley93 Kid contributor, age 14

Love It!

This movie tells the story of a wealthy socialite that needs open heart surgery. We the anasetesia does not work he can hear and fell ever thing happening around him (though he is paraylzed) including an plot to have him killed. I think it is okay for kids my age if they are mature!
Age 17+
4


Posted on 03/23/08 by Spud Adult contributor

For a movie centered around an open-heart surgery, it was much less bloody then I assumed it would be. Aside from one close-up shot of the first incision, there is practically no violence at all. On the other hand, the language is WAY too excessive. Someone cusses at least once every three minutes, and that's before they get to the operating room. After the operation starts there's around two obscenities per sentence. At least four "G" words were used, and literally dozens of times when obscenities were said (or yelled). The sexual innuendo isn't as strong as the language, but it's still a bit excessive. Also, the ending is very sad and tragic, and most kids will find it very upsetting.
3


Posted on 03/15/08 by savvyanna13 Kid contributor, age 13

realistic!!!

Awake was a really cool movie,i wanted to see it ever since it was in theaters. The characters were real and decieving it showed what really happened during surgery as well as the characters emotions and state of mind. There wasn't a lot of violence(as in fighting) but there was some blood and a heart shown but it was real it wasn't murdering people. There were several uses of the word f--k but it was totoally needed, b//c unfortunatley he was awake and i would say exactly what he said. But, i do have to say that some of the kissing scenes weren't needed in the movie to make it a good medical thriller. (no nudity) i think it was interesting with a good ending and is okay for any mature teen 13+!
Age 13+
5


Posted on 02/24/08 by jsams49 Adult contributor

Completely fun/twists you haven't seen before

Really enjoyed this movie. Truly fun/riveting stuff. if you missed it in theaters, get it on dvd!
3


Posted on 12/08/07 by Stanley Kid contributor, age 12

It was hard to stay Awake...

I've heard alot of critics totally bash this movie, and I don't know why. The film is just OK, that is true, but I don't think it deserves to TOTALLY bomb. The acting was wooden, the storyline dragged, and yet...the twists still got me. The ending was actually pretty good, and even though Jessica Alba's hotness went to waste (no nudity, parents), I still think this movie was worthwhile...keeping in mind that 'worthwhile' means about 80 minutes, and that ain't a long time. As for the violence in the film - it really isn't "violent", just very yucky at times.
5


Posted on 12/05/07 by jldroulers Kid contributor, age 14

2 plot twists in 1 movie? Awesome

This is a thriller that will undoubtebly be under-appreciated. I honestly dont see whats so bad about it. It has one star for what? It's got an amazing plot and a cool surreal "before death scene." Its really well thought out and expressed. I felt chills and betrayed and I felt pain like the character did. The drug use is medication or neccesary for the plot and the violence is just surgery which you can see on the Discovery Channel and a brief hit on the head with a metal firestick. there is no sex only kisses and language... well it... ok there is language but hey... its everywhere. WATCH THIS MOVIE!
Age 13+
1


Posted on 12/03/07 by butta Adult contributor

Age 17+
5

Posted on 12/01/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Wonderfully Suspenseful

Like Roger Ebert, I was enthralled by the plot. A good old fashioned Hitchcock-like thriller. Hayden Christesen and Jessica Alba were marvolous in thier roles!

See all 8 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 4 reviews.

Age 17+
4


Posted on 03/23/08 by Spud Adult contributor

For a movie centered around an open-heart surgery, it was much less bloody then I assumed it would be. Aside from one close-up shot of the first incision, there is practically no violence at all. On the other hand, the language is WAY too excessive. Someone cusses at least once every three minutes, and that's before they get to the operating room. After the operation starts there's around two obscenities per sentence. At least four "G" words were used, and literally dozens of times when obscenities were said (or yelled). The sexual innuendo isn't as strong as the language, but it's still a bit excessive. Also, the ending is very sad and tragic, and most kids will find it very upsetting.
Age 13+
5


Posted on 02/24/08 by jsams49 Adult contributor

Completely fun/twists you haven't seen before

Really enjoyed this movie. Truly fun/riveting stuff. if you missed it in theaters, get it on dvd!
Age 13+
1


Posted on 12/03/07 by butta Adult contributor

Age 17+
5

Posted on 12/01/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Wonderfully Suspenseful

Like Roger Ebert, I was enthralled by the plot. A good old fashioned Hitchcock-like thriller. Hayden Christesen and Jessica Alba were marvolous in thier roles!

Kids Reviews

There are 4 reviews.

4


Posted on 07/26/08 by Mishmashley93 Kid contributor, age 14

Love It!

This movie tells the story of a wealthy socialite that needs open heart surgery. We the anasetesia does not work he can hear and fell ever thing happening around him (though he is paraylzed) including an plot to have him killed. I think it is okay for kids my age if they are mature!
3


Posted on 03/15/08 by savvyanna13 Kid contributor, age 13

realistic!!!

Awake was a really cool movie,i wanted to see it ever since it was in theaters. The characters were real and decieving it showed what really happened during surgery as well as the characters emotions and state of mind. There wasn't a lot of violence(as in fighting) but there was some blood and a heart shown but it was real it wasn't murdering people. There were several uses of the word f--k but it was totoally needed, b//c unfortunatley he was awake and i would say exactly what he said. But, i do have to say that some of the kissing scenes weren't needed in the movie to make it a good medical thriller. (no nudity) i think it was interesting with a good ending and is okay for any mature teen 13+!
3


Posted on 12/08/07 by Stanley Kid contributor, age 12

It was hard to stay Awake...

I've heard alot of critics totally bash this movie, and I don't know why. The film is just OK, that is true, but I don't think it deserves to TOTALLY bomb. The acting was wooden, the storyline dragged, and yet...the twists still got me. The ending was actually pretty good, and even though Jessica Alba's hotness went to waste (no nudity, parents), I still think this movie was worthwhile...keeping in mind that 'worthwhile' means about 80 minutes, and that ain't a long time. As for the violence in the film - it really isn't "violent", just very yucky at times.
5


Posted on 12/05/07 by jldroulers Kid contributor, age 14

2 plot twists in 1 movie? Awesome

This is a thriller that will undoubtebly be under-appreciated. I honestly dont see whats so bad about it. It has one star for what? It's got an amazing plot and a cool surreal "before death scene." Its really well thought out and expressed. I felt chills and betrayed and I felt pain like the character did. The drug use is medication or neccesary for the plot and the violence is just surgery which you can see on the Discovery Channel and a brief hit on the head with a metal firestick. there is no sex only kisses and language... well it... ok there is language but hey... its everywhere. WATCH THIS MOVIE!
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