Denzel Washington’s thriller “John Q.” is a must-see

How far would you go to save your sick child?

That is the central question of the American thriller drama from 2002 John Q. starring Denzel Washington that will tug at your heart strings. I was a kid when this movie was first released, so I decided to watch it again last week. I have been told before that this film is a one-and-done film that can only be watched once due to its emotional depth. And while I definitely understand that point of view, I would argue that Washington’s performance is enough to bring you back, even if the film is actually very sad. I also believe that it should have been this film for which Washington would have won the Oscar (his first and only win as a lead actor) as opposed to Training day. Admittedly, these two films were not in the same nomination cycle, with the former hitting theaters in early 2002, but we all know the “politics” that come with the Academy, and very rarely does an actor receive an Oscar back-to-back. So if I had to choose between the two roles, I think Washington should have won this one, even if it meant waiting another year.

Even if you don’t agree, John Q. is still very worth seeing. Here are some reasons why.