Lorenzo's Oil
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Movie Reviews of Lorenzo's Oil
Movie Review: A Must Have
Summary: 5 Stars
Lorenzo's Oil is one of my favorite movies. It is unique movie because it is a rare case study of people taking action in the face of the resounding "it can't be done". This movie expands the realm of the possible, it forces the viewer to wonder what assumptions am I taking for granted. What could we as individuals, institutions, companies and nations accomplish if we approached problem solving in an alternative fashion. The Odonai's story although very moving is a useful exercise in constructive problem solving. The motivating force for the Odanai's, of course, is the desparate battle for the life of their son. The Odanai's were not idealistic. They were educated and confident that anything someone else could figure out they could too. They proceeded methodically; they taught themselves the language of medicine, the processes involved, and most difficult of all they continued their project in spite of the naysayers, the hopeless, and the well meaning who created obsticales. The Odanai's also utilized the technique of cross pollination, raising money to assemble adepts in the field to focused seminars, on the condition that they, the Odonai's, be allowed to participate and ask questions. Hardest for them it seemed was getting others to take them seriously. A pitfall for all professionals is taking feedback from others outside their fields who may have some very constructive feedback or who can make useful "connections" in information.
Well, what can you accomplish when you put a group of experts together in a room and tell them solve a problem--an atom bomb? In this instance, in an environment where every expert said a cure for their son was impossible, the Odanai's went ahead and discovered a cure.
Best of all this is a true story. And the story's not over. The Odani's maintain a web site and you can follow the ongoing research of both the personal journey of this family and the progress of the disease. For any parent with a child in trouble this movie is an eyeopener. For educators, innovators and business people exploring how we bring ideas into the world this movie is a classic. And Susan and Nick are great actors. My thanks to them both for participating in this extraordinary movie.
Movie Review: The Critics of This Movie Are Ignorant
Summary: 5 Stars
Two of the people who gave this movie a bad review (one star) said that the movie was not factual, and even suggested that the oil doesn't work in most ALD patients. I did a web search of only .edu websites and found that the two reviewers are wrong. Lorenzo's oil only works in about 2/3 of ALD patients, that's true. And it only works if those patients start taking the oil *before* the onset of symptoms. But they couldn't be more wrong about the huge breakthrough that Lorenzo's oli represented in the study of ALD. It's just that the cure turns out not to be as simple as was initially hoped.
Do a .edu web search of the following:
Bradley J Stith PhD Lorenzo's oil
He is a professor of biology at Colorado University who thinks that the movie is a great teaching tool for getting students interested in the field of biology. He also discusses every aspect of ALD, the movie, and the oil itself.
Now, as to the charge that doctors and nurses are portrayed negatively in the movie. That's only partially true, because for every doctor and nurse who was portrayed negatively, there were doctors and nurses who were portrayed positively. The doctor who finally diagnosed Lorenzo (in the movie) is played entirely positively, as are all of his nurses and assistants. And the doctor who is in charge of the dietary studies (in the movie) is portrayed only partly negatively; later he even helps the Odones "off the record" in their unprecedented experiment with Lorenzo and the oil. Two of Lorenzo's home care nurses are portrayed partly negatively and partly positively. For that matter, Lorenzo's own mother was portrayed partly negatively because her obsession with Lorenzo was making her start treating her own family members badly in some ways. Of course, she can be excused because she was a panic-stricken and desperate mother.
Don't listen to the naysayers. All of their claims are off-target. This movie is on my list of top ten films ever made.
Movie Review: Intestinal Fortitude at its best!
Summary: 5 Stars
Susan Surandon at her best! If you are a mother you will sob your guts out and this movie will stick with you for a lifetime. I do not recommend watching this when you have to get up the next day because you will be puffy and emotionally drained from the roller coaster ride you'll never regret viewing.
This is the true life story of the Odone family, Augusto, Michaela, and Lorenzo, and their battle with Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), a disease that attacks the central nervous system by systemically destroying its protective cover, the myelin sheath. It is an extremely rare disease that is transmitted exclusively to males through a gene that is carried by the mother.
This is a film that will inspire anyone who sees it to never quit and not to be defeated when told that what they want to accomplish is impossible. When you are facing impossible odds and you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, this is the film to watch because it gives inspiration. This movie will turn a switch on about how difficult it is to keep renewing optimism and that intestinal fortitude is what keeps hope from ending. This earned more than five stars in the "stick with you for a lifetime" style of entertainment. It is almost fifteen years since this was made and every woman I have ever talked to about this movie has rated it 5 stars. Great CHICK-Gift.
RICH CHICKS specializes in media that is purchased by women. We read hundreds of books every year and are serious about or recommendations. We review materials that are of interest to our female demographic. We do not get a kick-back or commission for our reviews so they are left as an impartial judge.
Movie Review: INSPIRING! I had to find current info on Lorenzo, etc.
Summary: 5 Stars
On 07/20/04, I visited the web site http://www.myelin.org/ and clicked on ABOUT LORENZO & HIS PARENTS where I obtained the following excerpt:
"About Lorenzo, his Parents, and Oumouri
(in answer to the many questions we receive)
Lorenzo celebrated his 25th birthday on May 29, 2003. He is deprived of most of his functions, but his mind is still there. Lorenzo communicates through blinking his eyelids to say no and wiggling his fingers to say yes. He enjoys music and being read to. Lorenzo will not regain his speech or full mobility until we are successful with remyelination.
Michaela succumbed to cancer in June 2000. Augusto, who continues the fight for his son, works out of his office at Myelin Project Headquarters located in Dunn Loring, Virginia, just outside of Washington D.C.
Lorenzo likes to receive mail from his ?friends? and well-wishers. You may write to him c/o The Myelin Project, 2136 Gallows Road, Suite E, Dunn Loring, Virginia 22027."
I encourage you to visit this web site where you can get an update on The Myelin Project, make a donation to
The Myelin Project, read a letter from Augusto Odone dated 02/19/04, and see pictures of Lorenzo, his Parents, and Oumouri.
Movie Review: Black gold
Summary: 5 Stars
Lorenzo's oil is a treasure of emotion and fearless acting. It took a lot of commitment and emotion to pull off this tour de force. The story is heartwrenching and relentless and the cast never flinches. It can make a heart of stone bleed and care deeply. This is a public service as well as first rate entertainment. Lorenzo's oil is a tribute to the human spirit. There has never been a challenge as daunting as finding a cure to Lorenzo's illness. The final chapter hasn't been written in the saga but the family went a long way to move mountains and almost accomplish the impossible. It is hard to fathom the heartache suffered for the family afflicted with a cruel disease. The courage to face it head on is a tribute to the human spirit. In the end it gives us hope for Lorenzo and others like him as well as others afflicted with other cruel diseases. Life can be cruel but in the end love can conquer all. This film proves that beyond a doubt.