Whose Life Is It Anyway? (1981)

For all the hype it got I was expecting a lot more!

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

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Sane people can have the desire to die, it's an indisputable fact. In arguing why, "Whose Life Is It Anyway?" tries to balance a dispute so personal, that it seems bound to fail. And yet, it does not! The story features a sculptor who is left paralyzed after a wrecking car accident and ends up in a most undesirable situation. His status renders him incapable of being the person he once was and found in the impossibility to reconcile his former self with his current condition, Ken Harrison decides to die.His quest is, most obviously, a difficult one. The doctors do not support him in his decision and in this debate - doctor::patient - it is where the film conjures the most solid arguments in its plea. Going beyond the usual ethical components of this choice, the film manages to assert a very personal position to the main protagonist, which therefore makes the whole experience one of anguish on a very personal level. And this is where it makes its point: there is no universal justification for death and the world has no right to interfere in the sphere of anyone's consciousness. Perhaps it is at times overly dramatic and it treats the subject with tantalizing care, but in the end, I felt the film balanced all the facts concerned in a convincing and compelling way, vividly portraying the painful demise of a strong mind in face of the cruelty of destiny. It might seem to take a stance on every man's right to choose his fate, but in the matter at hand (whether death by will is right or wrong) it emits no absolute messages.Beyond everything, Richard Dreyfuss sustains an authentic feeling of intellectual pain, in his convincing performance. And it is only in pain and suffering that we can look into ourselves to understand how much we are willing to bear in this world and what makes us be. Suicide I do not believe a solution, but then again, I am on the other side of the river, where things seem filthy green, rather than nothing at all. We are so alone in death and pain, that nobody can truly claim to understand us.

i remember running into this film several times on TV but i've never actually watched it entirely until now. the movie is a very convincing plead for death. a man who argues with himself because nobody around him knows how to listen. very smart lines, a genuine Richard Dreyfuss, very intelligent (though sometimes dark) humor. i won't tell you more not to spoil the fun. a similar story (which now i think this movie inspired) you'll find in Alejandro amenabar's "mar adentro".since you find a lot of hollywoodian crap movies "flagged" 7.7 like "lucky number slevin" for example (which i think is a f...g aberation - who votes for these anyway? 4 votes at most not to consider the acting which is a total failure) i'd give this an 8 out of 10.it'll get you questioning about human reactions in desperate cases. i dearly recommend it to whoever hesitates seeing it and runs into this comment.

This film could have been great, except for some serious scripting and characterization problems. Many of the characters are stereotypical, wafer-thin portrayals, particularly the head doctor who wants to keep Dreyfuss's character alive. The "party scene in the hospital basement" is not only cliched, but nobody got fired or got in trouble (the Jamaican nurse in particular) for smoking dope in a hospital, and taking a quadraplegic patient out of their bed without permission in the middle of the night? Give me a break! Finally, Dreyfuss's decision to "remain in the hospital to die" at the end... the judge's ruling was specifically that he be released (writ of Habeus Corpus), not that he be allowed to die without treatment in the hospital!These serious problems (particularly the latter, where he decides to stay in the hospital) just about ruin the film for me. Never mind that there's never much of a real sense of suspense or genuine emotion here, and everything plays far too liberally off (melo)drama generated by the Dreyfuss character's decision. I'll give it 6/10, and I feel like I'm being generous. Comes dangerously close to trivializing the issues portrayed in the film, and occasionally crosses the line... if it weren't for much more honest films with subject matter just as difficult (like "Dead Man Walking") I might be more forgiving and just chalk it up to the best Hollywood can do with this sort of material, but I know better.

Before I start, let me say 2 things. 1. All names here are the original names, unchanged from the script that I have right here in my hand. It is Kay Sadler, not Mary Jo Sadler. In my Bye Bye Birdie cast list, it is not Rose DeLeon, but Rose Alvarez. 2. My opinions on Ken Harrison's argument shall not affect this cast list at all.KEN HARRISON-A sculptor who is crippled from the neck down in a car accident. Seeing as how he can not use his hands, he sues the hospital for the right to die.DR. MICHAEL EMERSON-A very professional doctor who has a God complex. Views himself as Ken's "father". He's quite opposed to letting Ken die, and will go to Hell and back to ensure that Ken doesn't.DR. JOAN SCOTT-Emerson's underling, she sympathizes with Ken much more than Emerson does. During the course of the movie, she begins a relationship with Ken's lawyer.HEAD NURSE ANDERSON-The nurse that oversees Kay Sadler in her training. She's developed a reputation as a cold-hearted person. PHILLIP HILL-Ken Harrison's lawyer who represents him in his bid to die. He begins a romance with Joan Scott.JOHN-Perverted orderly who will not stop flirting with Kay. The comic relief in the play, he agrees with Harrison.DR. PAUL TRAVERS-Resident psychiatrist at the hospital where Ken is staying. He examines Ken and pronounces him legally sane to stand trial.KAY SADLER-Nurse in training. She takes care of Ken's daily needs, but John won't stop flirting with her.MRS. GILLIAN BOYLE-Medical social worker that is sent in to try and cheer Ken up. She remains relatively detached from her patients and is sickeningly optimistic.DR KERSHAW-Phillip Hill's senior partner in his law firm. Examines Emerson at the hearing.DR. BARR-Psychiatrist who examines Ken Harrison and also find him legally sane.DR. EDEN-The hospital's lawyer. He also examines Harrison as well as Barr in the hearing.JUSTICE MILHOUSE-The judge called in to decide Ken's fate. He emphasizes the idea that neither side of the argument is right or wrong, and that nobody is the bad or good guy.Note to all potential performers of the play: If you find yourself having too many females or males, it has been decided that the following roles could be played by either male or female: Dr. Barr Dr. Eden Dr. Kershaw Dr. Travers Ms. Boyle (In extreme cases) Justice Milhouse (In extreme cases)