Al Pacino has done it again, not only fully inhabiting a real-life character we knew from TV reports but also investing his portrayal with late-life bravado, amusing eccentricity and stubbornness, and a caring and sensitivity towards the sick that must be present in order to understand the man once dubbed by the media as "Doctor Death," Jack Kevorkian. In the early 1990s, Kevorkian, a retired pathologist born to Armenian immigrant parents and situated in Michigan, assists in the suicide of a woman diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, a woman who was lucid long enough to express her wish to die with dignity. A proponent on the ethics of euthanasia, the doctor--with the help of his housemate, his loyal sister, his lawyer (whom his sister discovered in a TV commercial) and a right-to-die advocate--would go on to fight endless battles against the legal system in order to keep assisting terminally-ill patients in their right to die, despite being surrounded himself by the deaths of colleagues and family. Although lengthy, this HBO presentation is masterfully written by Adam Mazer, who based his teleplay in part on Neal Nicol and Harry Wylie's book, "Between the Dying and the Dead", and beautifully directed by Barry Levinson, who shows a keen eye for small details, but isn't fussy about them (he doesn't linger over his points, which is in keeping with the personality of his story's champion). Terrific supporting performances by John Goodman, Brenda Vaccaro, Danny Huston and Susan Sarandon compliment Pacino's sterling work, while the film manages to be a testament to the human heart as well as an evocative document of our times.

A look at the life and work of doctor-assisted suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian. You Don't Know Jack is a great HBO Film that showcases the life of Jack Kevorkian also known as Doctor Death who allows his dying individuals the right to determine how their lives will end. Some people accused him as a murderer others as a savior and from what i see in this film i think he is a savior he believes that people who are very sick and die day by day deserve a shot like this so he somehow helps them kill themselves he is not a god he is just doing his job in his own way and Al Pacino's performance is fantastic, charismatic and very thrilling the same goes for John Goodman and Danny Huston. It's not one of his best movies ever but it's definitely very strong and has a very powerful performance by Pacino although in my opinion Danny Collins was way better it was more optimistic and even more fun and thrilling but still a very good film 9/10

It's no surprise that Jack was a controversial figure, he had a different mindset from the majority of society in a time still shrouded in old superstition. You could call him a lot of things, (I know the media sure did) but I choose to call him an activist. I don't want to use the word "martyr" because to me that implies that he put himself on a pedestal. It's interesting how in the next 40 years or so, what Jack set into motion could be realized, if not at least advanced somewhat. I guess you could say this is one-sided, but to me, the only side is Jack's. I'm not saying that opposition to euthanasia is dumb or stupid or anything like that, but put yourself in these patient's shoes. Would you want to have constant pain as the result of an illness until you died? I wouldn't. Would you want to slowly forget everything you've ever known and loved, and then die? I wouldn't. I know that the opposition has it's roots based in religion and "playing God", but beings I don't believe in God, that argument isn't valid to me. The politics aside though, this movie is very well acted, very well shot, and a very good story, give it a try, it might even open your eyes or introduce you to a new viewpoint.

Dr. Jack Kevorkian was known as the doctor of death. He was an advocate for doctor assisted suicide or euthanasia. This film is based on his life as the man who assisted in over a 170 deaths of terminally ill patients at their request. Al Pacino did a fantastic job in bringing this man's eccentric life to the screen. John Goodman, Brenda Vaccaro, and Susan Sarandon are also excellent in their performances as Jack's inner circle. Goodman played Neil Nichols, Jack's best friend. Vaccaro played his beloved sister, Margo Janus, and best friend. Sarandon played Janet Good, head of the Michigan Hemlock Society. Whether you agree or disagree with Kevorkian's point of view, this film showed him as an eccentric artist, painter, frugal, brilliant but yet lacking common sense. Danny Huston also is wonderful in playing his attorney. I enjoyed the relationship between Margo and Jack most of all. This is why HBO wins awards because of films like this where they go the extra mile. Rondi Reed is also great as the judge. The film will have you talking about euthanasia, the right to die, or perhaps Kevorkian's life and legacy. Whether you agree or disagree with him, this film offered an insightful view of what made him who he was.