Word: nelsoned
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...catalyst for all this action is Nelson Wright (Kiefer Sutherland); it is Nelson's idea to experiment with death. His friends allege he is motivated by his craving for medical celebrity, not "truth and wisdom," as he claims. But his true motivation--nihilism--seems painfully obvious. "Philosophy has failed, religion has failed," Nelson tells them. "Now it's up to the physical scientists." Because he values nothing, least of all himself, Nelson goes to ridiculous lengths to satisfy his unsatiable curiosity. He is the first to medically die, the first "flatliner...
...anesthesia. It is not that oversight, but the oversight of hospital regulations--students cannot operate--that gets the young doctor suspended from medical school. He then reluctantly becomes involved in the experiment because, as he says, he has nothing else to lose. More likely, Labraccio becomes involved because Nelson says he needs...
Labraccio wants to be everyone's personal savior, and in this film, he fares pretty well for himself. Nelson calls him a remarkably talented doctor, and Labraccio is blessed with healing hands. For reasons the audience does not understand, he administers more effective CPR than the other students. But unlike Nelson, Labraccio does not limit his healing powers to "the physical sciences." He is paternalistic and solicitous, especially of the lovely Rachel Mannus (Julia Roberts...
...that matter, it also never understands how the experiment sprung into Nelson's head in the first place, or how he stumbled upon the specifics in his formula for death. But this is certainly an ambitious and lengthy film, and necessarily starts in media res. And Flatliners more than compensates for its faults. The deft directorial manipulation of largely unsympathetic characters, and the fine, full characterizations by the actors so involves the audience that it cannot maintain critical distance...
...Komplot," so dubbed by the Afrikaans press, may at least temporarily derail the fragile talks and even sour the personal relationship between De Klerk and Nelson Mandela, which seems so crucial to the success of the peace process. The affair goes to the heart of the impasse that has been holding up negotiations: the A.N.C. refuses to suspend its armed struggle until the government lifts tough security measures and releases political prisoners, but De Klerk is reluctant to take such steps while the threat of violence remains...