John Q (2002) review

This one hits close to home for me because I lost my conjoined twins due to heart complications. That desperation of a parent willing to do absolutely anything just to save their child feels very familiar. Once your child’s life is on the line, morality suddenly becomes much more complicated. The healthcare system is really at the center of the story, and that makes the situation even more frustrating because this is not some villain he can simply defeat. It is a system standing between a father and his dying child. It is a hospital drama, crime drama, and family drama all at once, but the family aspect is what really got me. I completely broke when John started saying his farewell to his son. That scene stopped being about the hostage situation or the crime for me. It was just a father preparing to give everything he had left so his child could live. Superb acting from the entire cast. Everyone sells the desperation of the situation, but Denzel and Kimberly especially makes John’s and Denise's fear and helplessness feel painfully real.