Article 99 (1992)

Fresh and Exciting

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

I liked this film because of the great performances; Ray Liotta, Kiefer Sutherland, Keith David, and John C. McGinley and others too numerous to mention.It makes you wonder if our veterans are truly treated this badly, they gave their souls and their bodies for the various wars and paid the price The details in this film of short supplies and doctor's steal from other departments to help patients is often funny, but is also sad I loved all the performances except Lea Thompson who if she never won an Academy award I wouldn't be surprised!! She should stick to TV comedies where she is moderately interesting Keith David has made a career out of the Pysco-vet(See Men At Work") and he is funny; Ray Liotta is more the band leader, and Kiefer Sutherland is the sentimental doctor An Excellent Film experience!!

I didn't make it all the way through this movie, and that's a shame. The main issue "Article 99" attempts to address is an important one, one close to my heart because of several veteran relatives & friends. It shines an accusatory light on the sub-par (at best)treatment provided the men & women who served our country. Almost every single face we see in just the first 30 minutes belongs to an actor/actress who has garnered accolades in television (especially) or film. Kiefer Sutherland, Forest Whitaker, Eli Wallach... even the guy who plays "Frank" on "ER" (Troy Evans). Over the years I've enjoyed almost every single actor/actress in this movie. It's depressing to watch them all be crushed to death under the crappy dialog and undecided direction of "Article 99".This movie tries to blend the seriously horrid state of care in VA hospitals with the chummy banter of their long-suffering, comrade-in-arms doctors and nurses. It does an abysmal job of it. The schlocky repartee detracts mightily from the issues it attempts to address. This is one of those movies you watch hoping it'll get better and puzzling over why things went so horribly wrong.

This is a terse drama with its moments of comedy. Keifer Sutherland is a young doctor signing on at a Veteran's Hospital where Ray Liotta leads a renegade group of doctors going against hospital rules and lack of funds to provide help to ailing veterans. You won't get what you want...and what you do get ain't worth *#^t. That attitude is easy to take when you're a victim of Bureaucratic Red Tape. This is an eye opening movie, but not evocative of the majority of VA Hospitals. The very talented cast includes: Forest Whitaker, John Mahoney, Lea Thompson and Keith David. Along with Liotta, John C. McGinley and veteran actor Eli Wallach seem to add a special touch. Worthwhile even if it is sometimes stretching the boundaries of reality.

Set in a VA hospital, this movie illustrates what happens when "red tape" gets in the way of helping people. An enjoyable mixture of comedy and drama, it is reminiscent of the Altman classic M*A*S*H, staring Sutherland's father Donald. In fact, there's a nice salute to the elder Sutherland, during a scene between Keifer and an older hospital patient.Those who didn't "get" this movie were perhaps looking for the wrong things. I won't say this movie was meant to inform, though perhaps it was. But it definitely makes you think. Is a medical system where doctors have to steal supplies and schedule proxy operations really what our country's heroes deserve? Moving and entertaining, I would definitely recommend this movie.