“Faced
with the prospect of losing two
of his children to the progressive
Pompe Disease, John Crowley (the
versatile Brendan Fraser: The Mummy films; Journey To The Centre Of The
Earth) spends every moment he can
researching the illness in the hope that
he can find a medical breakthrough...”
HAVING READ A PAPER entitled Theory Of A Cure For Pompe, Crowley is frustrated
in his attempts to talk to the author, reclusive and eccentric medical researcher
Dr Robert Stonehill (Academy Award Nominee Harrison Ford: 1985 Best Actor in
a Leading Role for Witness), who works out of the University of Nebraska.
Time is running out for 8-year-old Megan (Meredith Droeger) and her 6-year-old
brother Patrick (Diego Velazquez) as Crowley's wife Aileen (Golden Globe winner
Keri Russell: 1996 Best Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series, Drama, for
Felicity) tries to keep eldest son John Jr (Sam M Hall) and the family
positive.
Then Megan is rushed into hospital with respiratory problems and John puts his
job at Bristol-Myers in jeopardy by walking out of a meeting with his boss Pete
(Alan Ruck) to drive to Nebraska to track down the hard-drinking, difficult
and volatile Stonehill. But fate takes a hand and these two unlikely allies
team up to battle for a cure for the disease. It is a hard-fought battle that
takes Crowley to the very edge and threatens his much-needed friendship with
Stonehill — and even his relationship with his children.
Events turn from hopeful to bad to worse as Crowley establishes the Pompe Foundation
For Children and connects to other families whose children are suffering with
the disease — the inevitable happens and the devastating news comes of
a child's death and yet another setback for the Crowleys.
Will Crowley and Stonehill — who opposes the seemingly vital idea of 'surrendering'
to the opposition — succeed in finding a cure against impossible odds?
Or will time run out before they have the chance to complete their clinical
trials? The inspirational, touching drama Extraordinary Measures centres
around a man who defied conventional thought and against great odds challenged
the medical establishment to pursue an avenue of hope for the lives of his children.
Extraordinary Measures is an outstanding film; portraying the hopes and
the disappointments of a family with two sick children whose life expectancy
is a maximum of ten years. Brendan Fraser is perfect in the part of John Crowley
and is a totally believable desperate father; Harrison Ford is suitably in character
as the difficult but kindly Bob Stonehill. The film never fails in its ability
to capture its audience until the credits roll and the cast, including the actors
who play the children, is commendable for its brilliant character development.
The film also features: Jared Harris as Dr Kent Webber; Patrick Banchau as CEO
Erich Loring; David Clennan as Dr George Renzler; Dee Wallace as Sal; Courtney
B Vance as Marcus Temple; Ayanna Berkshire as Wendy Temple; Michael Shamberg
as Renzler Venture Capitalist 1; and John Crowley as Renzler Venture Capitalist
2.
Extraordinary Measures is a CBS Films picture and was executive produced
by Harrison Ford and Nan Morales (Youth In Revolt), along with an all-star
team of producers comprising of: Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher (Freedom Writers,
World Trade Center, Erin Brockovich) and Carla Santos Shamberg (Erin
Brockovich). Music Is By Andrea Guerra; Director Of Photography is Andrew
Dunn BSC; and the Screenplay is Written by Academy Award Nominee Robert Nelson
Jacobs (2000, Best Writing, Screenplay Based On Material Previously Produced
or Published, for Chocolat) from the book The Cure by Pulitzer
Prize-winning Writer Geeta Anand. Tom Vaughan (What Happens In Vegas, Starter
For 1w0) is the Director and John Crowley is a Consultant.
• Extraordinary Measures, the remarkable
film about the power of love and courage against impossible odds and inspired
by a true story, arrives on DVD courtesy of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
on 21 June 2010. Certificate: PG | RRP: £19.99 | Running Time: 101 Minutes.
Special Features: Deleted Scenes | Meet John Crowley Featurette | Extraordinary
Measures: The Power To Overcome Featurette.
"Extraordinary Measures is an outstanding film; portraying the hopes
and the disappointments of a family with two sick children" —
Maggie Woods, MotorBar
“Faced
with the prospect of losing two