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Blog by Don Kennedy

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Extraordinary Measures

Extraordinary Measures reads like a disease of the week TV movie with desperate parent putting their live on hold and risking everything to procure a miracle for their terminal child. Here the disease is Pompe a form of muscular dystrophy and its victims don’t survive past single digit years. The Parents are and Oregon couple John Crowley (Brendan Fraser) and his wife Aileen (Keri Russell) who have not one but two children afflicted by the disease (not uncommon with Pompe) and running out of time. Their faint hope is Dr. Robert Stonehill (Harrison Ford) an irascible Nebraskan research scientist with a cure but only in theory. What takes the tale out of the realm of commercial filler and worthy of the silver screen treatment is the engaging drama that unfolds. The parent’s agenda is obvious but unlike the objectionable personality of Stonehill, what is not clear at first is his ulterior motive. Like many scientists he lacks business acumen and sees in Crowley a potential for funding. Meantime Crowley is big success in the business of selling so the symbiosis would seem prefect. However egos and agenda’s often bring the two into conflict putting the project in peril as the clock ticks mercilessly. The story is based on true events so you’re pretty sure of the outcome but what makes it play well is the story of how disaster faced head on at every turn was overcome.

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