As the movie begins, Mort Kondracke is shown testifying before a Senate committee in 2000. As he describes his life with Milly, we see them meeting in Chicago in 1966 when she is leading a college protest and he is a Sun-Times cub reporter. They end up dating, but the relationship appears to be over when he gets transferred to Washington.
Later, they meet by chance and end up getting married. Kondracke in 2000 continues to narrate, and we see the couple's life shortly after Watergate, when Mort is co-hosting a talk show and Milly is a therapist. Mort is becoming increasingly annoyed that his wife can reach movers and shakers more easily than he can, and about the fact that she tries to save the world at the expense of their marriage.
The couple experiences several problems including daughter Andrea's learning disability. But these are nothing compared to Milly finding out she has Parkinson's disease. She has been such an independent person and can't stand the possibility she might need to be taken care of someday, but her determination will help get her through the experience, along with the love and concern of her husband and two grown daughters.
Madeleine Stowe does an outstanding job convincing us she is sick, and showing a wide range of emotions and mental states. Early in the movie, though, Milly starts out as pleasant yet determined but ends up seeming pushy, and the movie seems to focus too much on the couple's problems. Later, it becomes clear we were seeing why Mort and Milly wife mean so much to each other. Bruce Greenwood does a capable job as Mort.
Since the Family Friendly Programming Forum was mentioned when sponsors were listed, I should say this seems to be an appropriate movie for families. Young children might be frightened by watching Milly's condition go downhill, but I think the educational value of the movie should outweigh many parents' concerns. Though the movie was rated TV-PG-L, I only remember one curse word, and Milly certainly had a right to say one of her doctors must have been born out of wedlock. The couple's problems early in the movie may also be a concern, but there is nothing offensive here.
This is required viewing for anyone wanting to know about Parkinson's.
