Lorenzo's Oil

Name: Lorenzo's Oil
Genre: Drama
Released: December 30, 1992
Duration: 129 min
Rating: 80
Cast: Ann Hearn, Gerry Bamman, James Rebhorn, Kathleen Wilhoite, Maduka Steady

1992

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 21 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 16 Ratings

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8.2

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8.2	User Score Universal acclaim based on 16 Ratings

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Lorenzo's Oil

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Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: December 30, 1992 | PG-13

Starring: Ann Hearn, Gerry Bamman, James Rebhorn, Kathleen Wilhoite, Maduka Steady, Margo Martindale, Mary Wakio, Nick Nolte, Peter Ustinov, Susan Sarandon

Summary: A boy develops a disease so rare that nobody is working on a cure, so his father decides to learn all about it and tackle the problem himself.

Director: George Miller

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 129 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Roger Ebert

You may have heard that Lorenzo's Oil is a harrowing movie experience. It is, but in the best way. It takes a heartbreaking story and pushes it to the limit, showing us the lengths of courage and imagination that people can summon when they must. Read full review

100

David Ansen

You could trust that Miller would not shoot this tale in the sentimental style of a TV movie of the week, and he hasn't. He has made an impassioned medical thriller as energized as an action movie, as emotionally and stylistically flamboyant as the operas heard on the soundtrack. [04 Jan 1993, p.50]

Kenneth Turan

Where most movies lie, Lorenzo's Oil tells the truth and pays the price. In a genre rife with romantic sentimentality, this film won't trifle with its integrity and ends up not artificially uplifting but heart-rending and exhausting. Based on a true story, it shows how dreadfully hard you have to fight to make a difference, and how grueling it can be to save even a single human life. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

Lorenzo's Oil is as grueling a medical case study as any audience would ever want to sit through. A true-life story brought to the screen intelligently and with passionate motivation by George Miller, pic details in a very precise way how a couple raced time to save the life of their young son after he contracted a rare, always fatal disease. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

An unusual piece of work that combines almost thriller-style suspense with an intelligent, neo-documentary approach to its harrowing subject. Read full review

Dave Kehr

Miller's finely crafted, highly moving new film, seems meant as a new beginning, grounded in an entirely different kind of material and told in an entirely different manner than anything Miller has attempted before. Read full review

Rita Kempley

Lorenzo's Oil, which is further encumbered by its funereal pacing and woebegone score, is definitely a remarkable story, but as told by Miller it isn't really an uplifting one. Read full review

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User Reviews

April22

Jun 13, 2019

Beautiful, really good movie, I love it! Maybe its best movie!!! Good job!!!

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Kai82

Nov 5, 2021

A remarkable and unique movie. It won me over back in my youth when I neither liked drama movies nor was sensitive for the topic. Here was something unlike I had seen before. It was fascinating, had strong actors and a story that creates emotions. Also it is based on real events. LorenzoA remarkable and unique movie. It won me over back in my youth when I neither liked drama movies nor was sensitive for the topic. Here was something unlike I had seen before. It was fascinating, had strong actors and a story that creates emotions. Also it is based on real events. Lorenzo Odone and the struggles with Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) were real. The story is based on events from 1983 up to 1992. The story is about Lorenzo Odone who has ALD. ALD is a genetic disorder mostly appearing in infancy. It is rare and deadly. Most people only life a few years after the diagnosis and it is a cruel deterioration process. The doctors cant help as it is rare disease and are also indifferent as they see ALD as incurable. His parents decide to take matters into their own hands. They will become experts in the matter and will leave no clue unchecked. This is the set up for the movie. It works really well. The great performances of the actors enhances the story. Both together create a remarkable, immersive and emotional experience. It made me feel the struggles and I could relate to the characters. Firstly I want to praise director George Miller. He is normally just the guy who made Mad Max as it is his most famous work. However he made also other movies I consider hidden gems. This and “The Witches of Eastwick” are underappreciated. Lets continue with the excellent cast. We have Nick Nolte as Auguste Odone and Susan Sarandon as Michaela Odone. Both made an amazing performance. They deliver all emotions that go along with the struggles and I often forgot it was a movie to use a valid description. Then we have Zack O’Malley as Lorenzo Odone. Good child actors are scare and he was one. Excellent performance and amazing as he was just 6 years old. For the rest we got good additional actors with Sir Peter Ustinov, Kathleen Wilhoite and Gerry Bamman to name the most popular. I must mention that Peter Ustinov is always excellent and the others deliver a good performance too. I praise the whole cast but especially the main characters. They show a performance that grabbed my attention and made me feel the movie. Overall I already said that I do not like drama movies. This is an exception and I recommend this with passion. An easy 10/10 form me as the story and actors create an amazing experience.… Expand

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