Rent The God Committee on Amazon Video (paid link)
Written by: Austin Stark (written for the screen by), Mark St. Germain (based on the play by)
Directed by: Austin Stark
Starring: Kelsey Grammer, Julia Stiles, Colman Domingo, Janeane Garofalo, Dan Hedaya
Rated: NR [PG-13]
Watch the trailer
Plot
An organ transplant committee has one hour to decide which of three patients deserves a life-saving heart. Seven years later, the committee members struggle with the consequences of that fateful decision.
Verdict
This poses a moral question about life and death, creating a complicated situation without clear answers. That's what makes the original question so difficult. There isn't enough here to make that a full length movie so the plot jumps forward to see how the decision affects a few characters. That's not necessarily bad, but it piles on a bit for added drama. Unfortunately this doesn't do much past just asking the question. There aren't any standout performances or any characters really arguing their point.
It depends.
Review
The hook of this movie is intriguing. What criteria do you use to determine which patient deserves a heart transplant? The staff has to choose between three people, each with their own issues that make the decision murky. The youngest person is rich but prone to substance abuse. The middle aged man has a family but has a few health issues. The elderly woman doesn't seem to even want a transplant, but she'll die without a heart.
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| Julia Stiles, Peter Kim, Janeane Garafolo, Kelsey Grammer |
This is a level of power few people get to experience. This adds some drama among the board members. Two doctors are secretly dating. Due to circumstances, they have to decide in one hour. If they choose the young guy the hospital gets twenty-five million dollars. That's the wrinkle I wish this delved into more, but I also like this movie's restraint. It doesn't need to spell things out. If they sacrifice the middle aged guy or elderly woman to give the young guy the heart, the hospital will get a huge grant that will allow them to help many more people. While I want a character to give an impassioned speech for or against that, I like that this movie doesn't push too hard and lets the viewer think about the issue.
This skips back and forth to the meeting and seven years after. We know fates were decided, but this waits to tell us who got the heart. This does a great job of aging the characters without extensive prosthetics. You can feel the toll of the years on Dr. Jordan Taylor (Julia Stiles). Her first day on the committee is the meeting we're watching, and seven years later she's head of the committee. Boxer (Kelsey Grammer) certainly looks rough years later, the hotshot doctor that is going private sector and hiding his relationship with Dr. Taylor.
I really liked Colman Domingo's performance as Father Dunbar. He's a priest with a shady past who's first day is also the meeting. He seems to be a stooge for the hospital board to ensure they choose the 'right' patient and get the grant.
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| Kelsey Grammer, Colman Doming, Patricia R. Floyd |
Everyone has a bias and millions of dollars on stake makes it even more complicated. There's great tension and a countdown clock heightens that. I do like how casually this eventually reveals what happened with the heart. You can't say it's the wrong choice. The question in this movie ultimately comes down to whether you help the few or the many. You can argue it both ways.
I really like the ending of this even if it's a bit emotionally manipulative. It's a great success moment, but this movie had always been so restrained, keeping a step back even when you wanted characters to exhibit some passion. This ending does involving peering into a body for a few minutes. As much blood and interior as we see it doesn't feel that gross, but your mileage will certainly vary.
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