I have to applaud both the real Patch Adams and the late Robin Williams for
bringing his story to the screen for us. I really identified with the character, but
that kind of approach to your job has its pitfalls.
Back in my working days at Crime Vicims Board in New York State I thought as
did Patch Adams not to just take a bureaucratic approach to helping victims at a
crisis point in their lives. Think of them as human beings and not just claimants.
It was rewarding, it put me at odds with some of my colleagues and supervisors.
That kind of approach can also take its toll mentally on the individual. For any
number of reasons I was glad to take an early retirement.
But I didn't have nearly the educational requirements to enter that profession.
And getting too much involved could make you a basket case. Look at how on
MASH those doctors deal with the hell of war and the absurdities of their
situation. How much more so with someone who already had mental health
issues?
Saying all that Patch Adams is a remarkable man and Robin Williams did a remarkable biographical film about him. Fictionalized a bit, but I think he got
the right spirit for the part. Some other good performances are that of Carol
Potter as the love interest, Daniel London as Williams's medical sidekick and
Michael Jeter as the mental patient who awakens Patch Adams to his new
approach to healing.
Patch Adams got one Oscar nomination for musical scoring. Should have
rated a couple of others including one for Williams.
A fine film about an interesting man.
