Article 99

Set in a VA hospital, this movie illustrates what happens when "red tape" gets in the way of helping people. An enjoyable mixture of comedy and drama, it is reminiscent of the Altman classic M*A*S*H, staring Sutherland's father Donald. In fact, there's a nice salute to the elder Sutherland, during a scene between Keifer and an older hospital patient.

Those who didn't "get" this movie were perhaps looking for the wrong things. I won't say this movie was meant to inform, though perhaps it was. But it definitely makes you think. Is a medical system where doctors have to steal supplies and schedule proxy operations really what our country's heroes deserve? Moving and entertaining, I would definitely recommend this movie.

Consider the recent developments of the alleged "cooked books", "deleted patient lists" and "dieing patients" at several VA Facilities through-out the entire United States. In addition, the Inspector General (OIG) in involved in an investigation of "deleted" surveillance videos of alleged patient abuse at the Las Vegas VA Emergency Room. With these and many more "concerns" about the Department of Veteran Affairs and the on-going problems at their facilities, this movie should be re-released. Perhaps it would be prudent for all Staff at the Department of Veterans Affairs to view this movie as part of their "Welcome to the VA". It appears not much has changed at the VA since 1992 - 22 years ago.

Article 99 displays a side of the medical profession seldom seen by society. The humor and over the top antics of the doctors, although extremely over done, are only the surface. Ray Liota's performance as the struggling ring leader of a rag tag group of vigilante doctors was not only strong, but honest. His ability to stay in character the entire time was a difficult feat, but he pulls it off sincerely. Kiefer Sutherland's performance was as equally well portrayed as Liota's, even though Sutherland's character is the polar opposite of Liota's. His portrayal of an upper class, arrogant, young intern was right on the money. However, it is not just their great performances, but the supporting cast is equally as fantastic. The dialogue is full of well written and delivered witty banter and the cast seem to play off each other well, but there is a serious under tone to the humor. The VA hospital in which all these caring individuals work is suffering badly from governmental cutbacks, a crooked administration and red tape as far as the eye can see. For those who are able to understand or "get this" film, it is a funny, poignant yet honest look at a different side of the medical field. In other words, this ain't ER or Chicago Hope, it's a whole new ball game.

I was surprised when I found this movie as it's a bit forgotten today despite having a cast of famous actors of those years. And when I finished it I was shocked at how much I liked it since despite its subject it had also some very funny moments.

In the beginning Pat Travis (Troy Evans, who is a bit forgotten today) is a military veteran that one day leaves his farm house as he has to go to a VA hospital. Once there, he finds a chaotic labirint of crazy obstacles and various funny characters. Luther (Keith David) is a veteran forced on a wheelchair used to the dysfunction in the place and he tells Pat ''There is always Article 99''. This is also Dr. Peter Morgan (Kiefer Sutherland)'s first day. He soon meets doctors Ruby Bodrick (John C. McGinley), Richard Sturgess (Ray Liotta) and Sid Handleman (Forest Whitaker) that take him under their wings and are surgeons who do unapproved operations. Nurse Robin van Dorn (Lea Thompson, Lorraine from BACK TO THE FUTURE) is a bit disgruntled towards Peter because she sees him as a dilettante. After a while Morgan rallies Luther and all the other veterans and they plan on a hostile takeover at the hospital for attending the patients without the administration's interference. Luther menaces the police with Polasky's automatic rifle and the police can't remove the veterans as the hospital is under federal jurisdiction. Soon the press arrives and the FBI goes there for assessing the situation. Under Luther's command, the veterans drop a massive banner in the hospital with written ''No surrender''. After they win this first battle, after a while there is another one as the new director wants to keep the old policies. Morgan and Sturgess will organize the last stand.

This film is like a document movie as it tackles the subject of what could happen if bureaucracy would rule supreme: there would be lack of medical equipment even for serious situations, the hospitals would be over-crowded (with long queues obviously) and many patients would risk their lives. What I liked most was the unintentional humour that came in three moments that I'll mention: 1) When Shooter Polaski drives to the hospital's entrance and starts a shooting rampage as he complains about a article 99 issue (2) When Luther is on an upper floor and two nurses want to take him back in his room but since he is in a wheelchair he grabs them with his arms and swirls them around in the corridory (3) When the veterans plan their rebellion and they scare the s**t out of the policemen and FBI agents in various ways as the officers try to break in,

While this is an underrated movie, it should be rediscovered for the subject and its cast, and I would recommend it also for the funny moments. And I just can't believe that it has a score of 6,1 as I am writing this review.

I liked this film because it not only was entertaining but also enlightening. The film essentially explores the obstacles that veterans have to go through to get medical care and to what length some doctors will go to provide it. It brought me into an awareness that the Veterans Administration may not adequately care for our soldiers once they leave the service. Ray Liotta turned in an endearing performance.