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Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story

  • TV Movie
  • 2009
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
20K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,851
488
Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story (2009)
Medical DramaBiographyDrama

Biography of Ben Carson who grew up to be Dr. Ben Carson, a world famous neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins.Biography of Ben Carson who grew up to be Dr. Ben Carson, a world famous neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins.Biography of Ben Carson who grew up to be Dr. Ben Carson, a world famous neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins.

  • Director
    • Thomas Carter
  • Writer
    • John Pielmeier
  • Stars
    • Cuba Gooding Jr.
    • Kimberly Elise
    • Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    20K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    4,851
    488
    • Director
      • Thomas Carter
    • Writer
      • John Pielmeier
    • Stars
      • Cuba Gooding Jr.
      • Kimberly Elise
      • Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor
    • 61User reviews
    • 9Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 4 Primetime Emmys
      • 8 wins & 16 nominations total

    Photos19

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    Top cast84

    Edit
    Cuba Gooding Jr.
    Cuba Gooding Jr.
    • Ben Carson
    Kimberly Elise
    Kimberly Elise
    • Sonya Carson
    Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor
    Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor
    • Candy
    • (as Aunjanue Ellis)
    Alora Adams
    • Alexa Courtney
    Harron Atkins
    Harron Atkins
    • Teen Carl
    Ele Bardha
    Ele Bardha
    • Dr. Long
    Loren Bass
    • Yale Professor
    Geoffrey Beauchamp
    • Dr. Freeman
    Tajh Bellow
    Tajh Bellow
    • Curtis - Child
    Lesley Bevan
    • Miss Williamson
    Jesse Christian
    • Hospital Staff
    Ron Coden
    • Professor
    Angela Dawe
    • Augusta Rausch
    Gregory Dockery
    • Teen Curtis Carson
    • (as Gregory Dockery II)
    Zac Douglass
    • Mark Buckley
    Ithamar Enriquez
    Ithamar Enriquez
    • Jose Gonzalez
    Jaishon Fisher
    Jaishon Fisher
    • Bennie
    Michael Fitch
    • Mark Buckley
    • Director
      • Thomas Carter
    • Writer
      • John Pielmeier
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews61

    7.419.5K
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    Featured reviews

    9intelearts

    Dignified and understated and thus deeply inspirational

    The Ben Carson Story never set out to a major film: this is obviously a film that appealed to Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr and he plays it very straight, and underacts, without underplaying.

    As I am deeply fascinated by all things neurological this was a really easy film for me to get into - but even if you have no real interest, the human side of this will really sideswipe you.

    It is incredibly and really frustratingly slow in places, but bear with me - the surgeries are amazing and very moving.

    Overall I'm giving this a 9, not for the production writing filming or direction which are at best 6 or 7 at most, but because films like this deserve to be made, should be made, and should be what we want to be made...

    Good, Moving, and Inspirational...
    10froglady99

    Amazing story!

    I grew up hearing about some of Ben Carson's amazing surgeries and remember reading about him when I was a teenager, probably, so I was excited when I heard about this movie. I just watched it for the first time, and it's one of the best movies I've ever seen. I can't believe it was a made-for-TV movie! This movie tells the story of how Ben Carson went from being a kid who was a failure in school and had a very low self-esteem to a famous, gifted surgeon. It tells some about his family life and about two of his famous surgeries. This movie kept me glued to it all the way through--it was like a good book you can't put down!
    10spursnsaddles

    Great Movie...

    We just finished watching Gifted Hands and can't believe this was a made-for-TV movie and not for theatrical release. It is one of the better biographical movies we have ever seen.

    Inspiring storyline - beautifully acted. What a wonderful message for young people that they can do anything they set their mind and heart to.

    This is better than many of the movies you will pay to see.

    Just sent out and email to friends and family to make sure they don't miss it.

    Watch with Kleenex handy. Kudo's TNT...
    10Blossom0777

    Fabulous True Story That Leaves You Amazed!

    Tremendous movie of taking what's thought impossible and showing how to try and then do it. Of how Ben Carson went from believing he was stupid to understanding we can do miracles. How that belief put him on a path few get to have as he impacts lives. I'm watching it the second time around on it's TNT premiere tonight and give it 10 stars for transformative potential, excitement, drama, character development, subject and actors. Thank you for this movie! I called my friends & told them to watch. Cuba Gooding is so good as lead character that I forget he is acting:-) The mother character keeps people on their toes as she hides her secrets. Others are also excellent. I laughed, cried, was awed and at times sat on the edge of my seat not knowing what came next. Am touched throughout this movie as I wonder if spirit trumps all. Everyone should watch this!
    9killaloth

    Fascinating story

    A good friend of mine advised me to watch this movie, so I did after he pushed me a lot.

    It's a fascinating story to watch and while watching the tension increased and it kept me sitting at the edge of my seat till the end. And the fact that this movie is based on a true story, makes it even more fascinating.

    The acting in this movie has been done wonderfully, as expected from Cuba Gooding Jr.

    Normally I don't watch these kind of movies, but I'm glad I watched this movie. As for anyone else who doubts about this movie, don't. Just watch it, it will be worth it!

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    Related interests

    Patrick Dempsey and Ellen Pompeo in Grey's Anatomy (2005)
    Medical Drama
    Ben Kingsley, Rohini Hattangadi, and Geraldine James in Gandhi (1982)
    Biography
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Cuba Gooding Jr. (Ben Carson) and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (Candy Carson) are both the same age as Kimberly Elise, the actress who portrays Ben Carson's mother in the film.
    • Goofs
      The shot of the cityscape appearing at the beginning, after Ben Carson accepts to perform surgery on the twins, is presented as ULM (Germany) but actually shows Hamburg.
    • Quotes

      Sonya Carson: I didn't say they weren't expensive clothes. I said they're cheap. Most folks that wear cheap clothes on the outside are dead on the inside. The folks I work for, they buy clothes that last. That's what I try to get you.

    • Connections
      Referenced in Late Night with Seth Meyers: Josh Brolin/Martin O'Malley/Judd Winick/Abe Laboriel Jr. (2015)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 7, 2009 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Gifted Hands
    • Filming locations
      • Detroit, Michigan, USA
    • Production companies
      • Johnson & Johnson Spotlight Presentations
      • Magna Global Entertainment
      • Sony Pictures Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 30m(90 min)
    • Color
      • Color

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