John Quincy Archibald is a father and husband whose son is diagnosed with an enlarged heart and then finds out he cannot receive a transplant because HMO insurance will not cover it. Therefore, he decides to take a hospital full of patients hostage until the hospital puts his son's name on the donor's list.
Acting
Denzel's trembling desperation is career-best vulnerable.
Direction
Cassavetes keeps the political preachy from drowning the human.
Director
Nick Cassavetes
Denzel Washington
John Quincy Archibald
James Woods
Dr. Raymond Turner
Kimberly Elise
Denise Archibald
Robert Duvall
Lt. Frank Grimes
Shawn Hatosy
Mitch Quigley
Eddie Griffin
Lester Matthews
Kevin Connolly
Steve Maguire
Ethan Suplee
Guard Max Conlin
Ray Liotta
Chief Gus Monroe
Anne Heche
Rebecca Payne
Laura Harring
Gina Palumbo
Heather Wahlquist
Julie Bird
Daniel E. Smith
Mike Archibald
David Thornton
Jimmy Palumbo
Paul Johansson
Tuck Lampley
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Released during peak HMO outrage; reportedly used in actual health policy debates. The 'Q' stands for nothing—screenwriter loved the letter.
The real 2000 Toronto hostage case that inspired this had a much darker ending—John's survival is pure Hollywood fantasy.
US
