LIVING PROOF

US, 2008, 87 minutes, Colour.
Harry Connick Jr, Tammy Blanchard, Amanda Bynes, Jennifer Coolidge, Angie Harmon, John Benjamin Hickey, Regina King, Swoozie Kurtz, Paula Cale, Amy Madigan, Bernadette Peters, Trudie Styler.
Directed by Dan Ireland.

Living Proof is a portrait of American doctor, Dennis Slamon, his work at UCLA in the 1980s and 1990s, his research into finding medication, different from chemotherapy, something which will slow the growth of breast cancer. The film is a tribute to him and was screened on television 10 years after the acceptance of his breakthrough medication.

Harry Connick Jr seems an unusual piece of casting but is quite effective as Dr Slamon, always intense, committed to his research, sometimes neglecting his wife and daughter, always fighting for a good cause, and becoming very angry with those who hold up the progress of the research – including the board of Genntech, the pharmaceutical company, for whom he works.

Several women characters are introduced so that they will be candidates for the different phases for testing out his medication. Amongst them are Bernadette Peters, an older woman, who has given up on chemotherapy. There is Regina King as a designer and owner of a shop, finding that she has cancer, and finally wanting to become part of the program and put off by people saying that it is not ready. Trudie Styler is a British candidate. Jennifer Coolidge brings her broad humour to her role. Amy Madigan is a supporter.

The pioneer, the first woman to take the medication, is played by Tammy Blanchard, mother of children, urged on by her rather dominating wife mother, Swoozie Kurtz.

Amanda Bynes plays the student who becomes Dr Slamon’s assistant.

Made for television, this is a film which is informative – and an alert to what those who have cancer have to go through.

1. A true life story? The work of Dr Dennis Slamon? The research for medication for breast cancer? A tribute to the doctor, his team and their work? And their responses?

2. A television film, for the wide audience? Audiences identifying with the research, the cause, illness, healing?

3. The impact of the film for women, identifying with the characters, with the cancers, with stage IV and the prognostications? The possibilities for halting the cancer, shrinking the cancer, eliminating?

4. The strong cast, character actors, especially for Harry Connick Jr, and for the women for training those with cancer?

5. The portrait of Dennis Slamon at UCLA, 1988 the following years, his years of research, his memories of his past, healings, his wanting to be a doctor, his laboratory and research? The constant need for grant money? His clashes with the company, the personalities? His friendship with Blake Rogers, urging him on, clashes with him? Rogers’ support over the years? Dr Slamon at home, his long-suffering wife, her support, accepting the demands on him, over time, raising money, support in the emotional crisis over the years? His love for his daughter, regrets at not giving her more time? The image of his long-distance running at the opening – and at the charity at the end, applause and achievement?

6. His work in the laboratory, intensity, Jamie Mc Grath and her arrival, literature major, assigned to him, others not wanting to help? His wariness, urging her away? Her answering the phone, support, work with him over the years, efficient, learning, reading? The emotional impact of the women and their illnesses, possibilities of death and having to tell them? Her wanting to give up?

7. The moving between the laboratory and Dr Slamon home, seeing him as an ordinary person, seeing him as a professional, his confidence and causes in life? The continued tests? Trying to persuade the company?

8. The introduction to the women with cancer? The variety of stories? Their personalities, the experience of cancer, diagnoses, moving to stage IV? The scenes with the various doctors and their communicating with their patients?

9. Nicole, pregnant, her mother and her bossiness, the children, the husband sometimes absent? The birth of the child? The diagnosis of cancer? With the doctors, her mother’s determination, not to give up, reading about the test and the paper, the application? Fulfilling the criteria? The visit with Dr Slamon, her entering into the phase 1, the injection, the test, her improvement? Later not being eligible for the next phase? Her mother coming and pleading? Dr Slamon having to refuse? The doctor later meeting her son and husband, their gratitude, the memory of being the first in volunteering for the tests?

10. Ellie, designer, having her shop, with her friends, going to the doctors, the diagnosis of cancer, the chance encounter with Josh, the meals, the relationship, his proposal, having to refuse because of the limited time? The possibility of entering the experiment? The efforts in getting the documents, coming to the receptionist, saying she was too early, Ellie saying she was too late, his speech about people making the effort and then being given some excuse? Her going into the program?

11. Barbara, at home with her husband, the diagnosis, the facing it, the chemotherapy, the discussions with the doctor, her stopping the chemotherapy? The possibility of entering into the program? Going to Mexico for a diet cure? The doctor ringing during the night? Her accepting, part of the program?

12. The strict criteria, the board member opposed to Dr Slamon’s research, even the possibility of help? His being put in charge? Continual opposition and hindrances? The strict criteria?

13. The range of women, going into the program, Jennifer Coolidge and her wisecracks? Trudie Styler and her British manner? The one woman with the health ingredients? Their being together, the explanations, the chemotherapy, then the injection, the improvements, tumours going down? Yet some not eligible for the next phase?

14. The doctor’s speech to the board? The pressure on Blake Rogers? The interview with the Board? The reliance on Fran Visco and her organisation, the support of Dr Slamon? Her becoming part of the framework of the tests, her condition that those who did not fulfil the requirements were still given the medication – and the woman pleading for her life, her improvement, and her recovery after being allowed the medicine?

15. The background of finance, the continued need for grants, the pharmaceutical company, its attitudes towards health, making money, the board meetings, fear of some kind of fiasco and the danger to the company?

16. Lily, her gratitude for her husband’s health, friendly with Dennis? Her decision to raise money? The dinner, the discussions with the boss of Revlon, the meeting, the decision to give over $2 million? Lily and the continued fundraising? Dennis and his wife present? The need for such business sponsorships?

17. The final approbation for the next phase? The good results? Barbara cleared? The others improving?

18. The finale, the run, congratulations and applause? The film made 10 years after this breakthrough?