A Mistake

I love New Zealand and its people, I really do. But we are a very safe and predictable people, and so we tend to write terrible books (I should know I was forced to read a number of them in school) and make extremely bland films. 'A Mistake' is no exception. Sure, we got some Hollywood talent across the Pacific for this one, but the result was the same.

In fairness its not all bad. I quite like a film that bases itself around a simple concept, or one minor event that leads to a number of consequences. For a film like that, this is about as good as you can expect. Yes a lot of the drama feels very forced and the characters are absolutely ridiculous and in no way resemble how normal people act, but hey, I guess you have to jazz things up a bit for the sake of the film.

I don't know, I guess it's just disappointing because you almost always know exactly what you're going to get with a New Zealand made film. I keep waiting for the day someone breaks the mold, but this wasn't that occasion. A generous 6/10.

I was touched by this movie. It compassionately illustrates the complexities of medicine and the people practicing it- it makes a striking point without painting a black and white portrait of a hero or villain. I enjoyed the acting from all of the cast, especially Banks. The actors portraying the deceased patient's parents did an amazing job too.

I was also moved by the juxtaposition of veterinary and human medicine, including points made about medical intervention and death with dignity.

It makes you wonder how anyone survives in the healthcare industry at times. It's easy to see why a healthcare worker might develop a hardened exterior.

Started off slow, Elizabeth Banks as a top surgeon in her field operates while teaching in a gone a bit wrong operation. The patient Lisa ends up dying in intensive care after the operation.

Then the hospital needs to find a guilty party. Her poor intern Richard takes this as a massive career loss.

For me it makes me really think about Surgeons who daily try their very best to keep us alive. Sometimes people die. It haunts them I'm sure.

Elizabeth does not a good job with her accent. Other then that it's a sad somber movie that takes a look at one case ... Heartbreaking as it is, I believe our Doctors try their very best to save us. If it can not be done then it was your time to go...not the surgeons .

It has been a while since I was pleasantly surprised by what I call a "small movie," which is by no means a negative term. Suffice it to say, A Mistake achieved just that.

I admire directors who dare to tackle heavy, genuinely sad, and often depressing topics. But these are the stories that need to be told. They matter. They carry a message.

A Mistake is brilliant because it resonates on so many levels. It sheds light on the immense pressure hospitals and their staff endure, but what makes this film so universally relatable is its exploration of humanity. We, as individuals, are the sum of our choices, and no one wants to be defined by a single mistake. At its core, this movie is about loss, responsibility, and-above all-forgiveness, beautifully conveyed through the outstanding performance of Elizabeth Banks.

Love medical dramas and this movie was perfectly cast while also showcasing a great understanding of a socialized healthcare system.

That all being said, Elizabeth Banks's obsession with women being the target of "toxic masculinity" in both her personal life and body of work as an actress and director is getting tedious.

IE; She cited that people hated her directorial performance in the Charlie's Angels reboot because of misogyny against female action movie leads and Spielberg never cast a female lead in his career.

Both assertions are categorically incorrect and just sad statements on her capacity for self-pity.

She doubled-down on this position in this movie where her character was some kind of flawless creature that is above making mistakes and any attempt to hold accountable for her medical care can only be attributed to sexism.

Yawn!