Decoding Annie Parker (2013) User Reviews

Two Remarkable Women

[claudio_carvalho · 6/10 · 23 July 2018]

"Decoding Annie Parker" is a low-budget movie based on the stories of two remarkable women: Annie Parker, a woman that fought her three cancers with courage; and the geneticist Mary Claire King, who believed breast cancer would have a hereditary basis and researched cancer for decades with her team. The intentions are great; Samantha Morton has top-notch performance, but the screenplay is tiresome and vague. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Unidas pela Vida" ("United by Life")

Morton's great

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 6 August 2017]

Annie Parker (Samantha Morton) suffers many losses. Her mother, father, and older sister all died from cancer. It's the 1970's. She is obsessed with checking for lumps and eventually she also gets breast cancer. Her husband Paul (Aaron Paul) is a pool cleaner. Louise (Alice Eve) is her younger sister. Dr. Gold (Corey Stoll) suspects a genetic cause but he is refuted by more experienced doctor. At UC Berkeley, research genetic scientist Mary-Claire King (Helen Hunt) is trying to map the human genome but the task is overwhelming. Her team is on a long, winding search for the cause of breast cancer and the discovery of the responsible gene.

Morton and her side of the story is very compelling with surprising humor and infinite humanity. The Helen Hunt side is less compelling. I can think of several ways to increase the tension but her side is inherently less dramatic. It's more scientific and less humane. It could have enlightened some of the science but that may be asking too much. It leaves me to wonder if concentrating solely on Annie Parker would be more intriguing.

The inherent gene

[Prismark10 · 5/10 · 21 June 2015]

Decoding Annie Parker tells the real life story of two women. Toronto housewife Annie Parker, a three time cancer survivor who believes that the cancer she has got and has killed various members of her family was due to more than just bad luck and environmental factors.

Geneticist Mary-Claire King who led a team of researchers for more than twenty years and found the breast cancer BRCA gene mutation which showed that cancer can be hereditary.

Samantha Morton as Annie Parker gets to fast forward her life as she meets and marries rocker and pool man Aaron Paul has a son, loses family members to cancer and fights the disease herself while all the time going through a parade of 1970s and 1980s costumes and wigs.

Helen Hunt gets the less interesting story of her fight for research and trying to prove a genetic link to breast cancer but her story makes for less than enthralling viewing so the focus always remain with Morton's story.

The film is underwhelming and rather becomes a true life movie of the week with its inherent clichés. The film is served by a strong performance from Samantha Morton who rises above a weak script. Helen Hunt is poorly served by the screenplay and the meeting between the two women comes across as laughable and disappointing. The fault lies with the director for not making the best of this story.

Bravo to Bernstein who starts the important conversation about hereditary cancer with "Annie Parker".

[BRCAresponder · 1 May 2013]

Bravo to Steve Bernstein for making this important film that starts the conversation about hereditary cancer. Bernstein manages to weave the "remarkable" Annie Parker's personality and humor throughout this film of serious subject matter; ultimately providing bursts of laughter just when you are thinking you might need to reach for that huge handkerchief to wipe your tears. "A" rated performances from Samantha Morton (Annie) and Aaron Paul. Rashida Jones shines brightly in her supporting role. Heartfelt, humorous, and honest...you will go home thinking about your family and family history. Knowing it is a true story, you will find yourself thinking about the "real" Annie Parker and her incredible spirit--at the very least, for the rest of your week.

Half movie, half documentary, the story of most crucial scientific discovery.

[Reno-Rangan · 7/10 · 14 August 2016]

The film was inspired by the real life stories of the two women from the same timeline who had no connections, except theirs involvement with something. That means there are two sets of stories that's told one after another in parts which covered the events from nearly the three decades. So it all begins in the 1960, where two little sisters promise to each other about something, but 10 years later one of their's life changed forever when another one dies of cancer. So this is the story where the other sister begins her fight against the disease that took her family away.

This is a small budget film that shot entirely within a month of time. There are lots of actresses in this, even for the small roles. I thought Helen Hunt would lead the narration, but then there were Maggie Grace, Alice Eve, Aaron Paul and others. Great dedications by all, but this was Samantha Morton's film.

I did not know what this story is about when I decided to watch, but I'm pretty happy for the film. Except the material was more a documentary suitable kind, especially the story of Helen Hunt's character. Moreover feels like it is a short film with a decent story. I think it is worth a watch because of unfolding an important scientific discovery of our time. So a big yes on that perspective, but entertainment wise it is just an average. Now you can decide this on what you're seeking.

7/10

I recommend this. A very important movie but not a movie to rent for straight entertainment. Morton is great.

[cosmo_tiger · 7/10 · 24 August 2014]

"If you knew those codes could you change your future?" Annie Parker (Morton) has watched her mother, father and sister all die of cancer. After dealing with all of that she is told that she too has breast cancer. While going through treatment she begins to wonder why she got it. She starts off on a life long research project to find out if breast cancer is hereditary. At the same time Dr. King (Hunt) is trying to figure out the same thing, only she has to deal with not getting the funding she needs. This is a true story of the almost cure for cancer. Obviously the fact that this movie deals with cancer it will be emotional but not in the way you expect. This movie will make you mad, very mad. Knowing how close Dr. King was getting but at the same time being blocked at the funding level because the powers that be didn't think it was important enough. This was in the 70's when she started. Just imagine where we would be today if she got what she needed! This is an important movie that should be seen. I recommend this. Overall, a very important movie but not a movie to rent for straight entertainment. Morton is great. I give it a B+.

An awareness movie !!!! Not to be missed !!!!

[sureeya-bro · 7/10 · 30 January 2015]

At first i thought it was a conversational/comedy movie based on the title and i didn't even read the story line before watching and i had no idea about ,how the movie will go. It's totally a different subject. Taking a serious issues that caused/causing many problem among the Americans and they bought it to the big screen with their best. Annie Parker is a brave women . what she went through was totally unbelievable. Believe in the cause and try your best. May be something will turn your way. Don't lose self confidence. So much of inspiration, pain, frustration, anger played a vital role to the key story line. An awareness movie. Not to forget Aaron Paul role. He gave his best once again. Underrated movie. A movie not to be missed .

The first 30 minutes of this film is complete garbage / The rest is wonderful.

[Tristonordway · 4/10 · 8 June 2013]

Saw this movie during the Seattle International Film Festival and was lucky enough to hear Steven Bernstein speak about his six-year labor of love. Steven's passion was so true and inspiring; unfortunately his movie fell a little flat.

The first 30 minutes of the film are a mixture of unnecessary narratives and irrelevant scenes that seem like outtakes. They are meant to serve as a back story to help you understand where Annie Parker is coming from, but unfortunately they set the tone to make Annie seem like a fragile and emotional woman. The scenes and emotions are so rushed that as a viewer, it's hard to relate to the protagonist. During the screening, parts that were supposed to be funny were overshadowed by the haunting beginning of this film - it made the audience uncomfortable and not in a good way.

Personally, I felt that Steven had dumbed down the beginning of the film so much that it actually was borderline insulting. I felt like he had created a made-for-TV film that was meant to dump the entire storyline on you within the first 30 minutes so you didn't need to pay attention to the rest. It's too bad cause this movie has a lot of potential.

I'm hoping that during the final cut of this film, Steven will consider tightening up the beginning of the film and fleshing out the story about Annie's struggle.

Decoding Annie Parker Wins Top 5 at SIFF and Samantha Morton Wins Best Actress

[sidneypowell-511-2350 · 10/10 · 9 June 2013]

This film has it all! Humorous, heart-touching, authentic performances of the real life struggles of genius geneticist Dr. Mary-Claire King in her tireless efforts to find the genetic link in breast and ovarian cancer--the BRCA gene--and Canadian Annie Parker, a young woman who must face one of the greatest fears of all women. Samantha Morton's portrayal of Annie Parker is brilliant, heart-felt and sometimes, painfully real.

I've seen the movie three times, and each time I get more from it. Helen Hunt's performance of Dr. King is right on target, and the entire cast adds even more depth, warmth and personality to this important work. Steven & Adam Bernstein's script, Steven's direction, excellent cinematography, and an all-star cast combine to create a film that is exploding the awareness of people around the world in a way that both entertains and educates.

On top of that, this movie is changing lives every day. Audiences are giving it standing ovations, and for the next several months at least, the producers have authorized charitable screenings of the movie to raise awareness and funds for breast and ovarian cancer research and patient support. It couldn't be any better! CONGRATULATIONS to all involved.

What an emotional movie! 6/10

[leonblackwood · 6/10 · 13 February 2016]

Review: This movie really did touch me, because a couple of my family members have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. The emotional strain that this terrible disease puts on a family, was shown in this movie and I must admit, it did bring a tear to my eye. The fact that they haven't found a cure for this disease, is extremely worrying for everybody in day to day life, so when Mary-Claire King found a connection through the family gene it was truly an amazing thing. More and more people are testing for the disease, especially if it's in there family, so this movie brought to light how certain cancers are passed through our siblings, genetically. The performance from Samantha Morton is excellent, especially when she was going through chemo the second time and the technical side of Mary-Claire's work is easy to understand and interesting to follow. It did seem like the film was made for TV, mainly because I have seen a lot of movies that cover this subject matter on TV but it's still an emotional drama which I thoroughly enjoyed. I will warn you to have a box of tissues next to you when you watch this film because it's an touching roller-coaster that a lot of people can relate to. Enjoyable!

Round-Up: This is the first movie written and directed by Steven Bernstein, who done a great job by bringing a medical milestone to light. It didn't get the big distribution treatment like a lot of uninteresting movies that I have seen lately, which is a shame because the subject matter is becoming more popular to households across the world. I must admit, you do have to be in the right frame of mind before you watch this film because it does touch many issues which can be a bit too  emotional for people who are suffering with cancer. With that aside, it's still worth a watch, just to see what Marie-Claire had to go through to bring her findings to light.

I recommend this movie to people who are into their dramatic movies starring Rashida Jones, Aaron Paul, Helen Hunt, Samantha Morten, Alice Eve, Maggie Grace, Corey Stoll and Ben McKenzie. 6/10

Great story, wonderful woman, lousy directing

[john119 · 2/10 · 15 December 2014]

Somewhere buried in this film is a story worth telling. Unfortunately it cannot fight its way through the unfortunate directing efforts. Samantha Morton, as Annie Parker, demonstrates formidable acting skills and deserves, on the basis of this production alone, to receive wider acclaim and challenging roles.

Annie Parker's story is both appealing and important, an engaging tale of a woman with humour and determination, prepared to take on the world and the medical establishment to prove her point that cancer can be and often is the product of a genetic flaw. It changed not only the medical profession's view of the disease, but altered our own, and she fills the role of a hero (heroine) in making her case. Helen Hunt, as the scientist who confirm's Parker's suspicions, is more than adequate, but this is Samantha Morton's vehicle.

All well and good, but stories need to be told well to make an impact, and in movies this falls on the shoulders of the director, former cameraman Steve Bernstein. Bernstein may know how to handle apertures but he sure can't handle actors - not when it comes to telling a story without employing a car load of clichés, both visual and literary (he and his con collaborated on a screenplay - one more example of why the chore of writing and directing should be separated.)

In the hands of a Sarah Polley or someone with her insight and sensitivity, this could have been a wonderful moving and educational tale. In Bernstein's hands it's more like a high-priced episode of As The World Turns (the star is for Ms Morton's work).

Great movie

[soundsound-725-297679 · 10/10 · 29 June 2013]

I recently had the opportunity of seeing Decoding Annie Parker at a charity benefit screening. It's a heart felt, inspirational movie about the journey of a cancer survivor and the scientist who discovered the gene mutation responsible for hereditary breast cancer. (The same gene mutation Angelina Jolie has). A tough subject handled deftly by the film maker. The story is an accurate and truthful depiction of a cancer patient's journey and had the audience both laughing and crying and eventually left them feeling uplifted and hopeful. No melodrama here. The acting performances were superb especially those of Samantha Morton who plays the cancer survivor and Aaron Paul who plays her husband. Helen Hunt was as always terrific. Rashida Jones was great too. Kudos to the film makers for making a movie on this subject which has unfortunately effected too many families.

An Impressive Feature Debut!

[carolynrodneyhome · 10/10 · 9 June 2013]

Director Steven Bernstein's feature debut, which he co-wrote with his son Adam Bernstein and physician Dr. Michael Moss, is based on two true stories and weaves together the fifteen year journeys of two women both struggling to overcome insuperable odds. Annie Parker (Samantha Morton) is on intimate terms with breast cancer, having watched both her mother and sister succumb to it. When she herself is diagnosed with the cruel disease, she bravely struggles to hold herself and her family together, displaying a force of will that contradicts the odds. Meanwhile, geneticist Dr. Mary-Claire King (Helen Hunt) is researching the hereditary link between DNA and breast cancer, a process that finds her scrambling for both funding and the support of her disbelieving colleagues. How the paths of these two women intersect is funny, irreverent, and heartwarming without sentimentality or melodrama. Bernstein, both in his direction and writing, deftly balances the seriousness of the situation with the all too human response, finding unpredictable grace notes of beauty and wit during even the darkest of times. Featuring award worthy performances by Morton, Hunt, and an equally impressive supporting cast including Aaron Paul, Rashida Jones, Alice Eve, Bradley Whitford, and Maggie Grace, Bernstein's film pays tribute to one of the most important scientific discoveries of the 20th century as well as the people forever changed in its wake.

Phenomenal!

[judyfeldman · 10/10 · 27 September 2013]

This is an extremely powerful movie filled with compassion and humor. The movie provide deep insight into the emotions of those battling cancer balanced with an element of humor to keep the movie lighter along the movie's journey. Decoding Annie Parker will appeal to a broad audience; I strongly recommend the movie to anyone whether battling cancer or those not exposed to this disease.I was privileged to attend the viewing in Buffalo, NY. What an honor it was to have Annie Parker, her husband, and Steven Bernstein on hand to share their personal stories in making the movie. Our panel of cancer experts from Roswell Park confirmed the validity of the research presented. The cast is strong with an especially inspiring performance by Helen Hunt. Two thumbs up.

The new Erin Brockovick Movie

[nebrdeb · 9/10 · 26 July 2013]

I just saw a screening of the movie in Chicago last night. Loved the dual story telling. Director did a great job of combining these two people's lives into a story in which you can not stop watching; in hopes throughout, that they will find some answers. Both women and men should see this movie!!! Everyone knows someone who has had cancer and we all should be informed. A very empowering movie. Samantha Morton was perfect as Annie Parker. Never once did I see her as an actor. She just slipped into the part and made you route for her all the way through the film. Helen Hunt as Dr. King had just the right nuances. The rest of the supporting cast were well chosen and all felt real. I would highly recommend this film for both men and women.

Serious and Heartwarming

[pstraub-820-432510 · 9/10 · 17 October 2013]

The subject matter is quite heavy but is told with sincerity and real-person humor. The title may seem a trifle misleading since the contact between Annie and the researcher is tangential at best -- they meet only once. The the "decoding" goes beyond finding and sequencing the BRCA1 gene. We witness the unwrapping of emotions and the development of a life-fulfilling spirit in Annie and many of the people to whom she is connected. Some relationships work, other don't, but at its core the film remains true to its belief in Annie's undying spirit. The only negative that keeps my review from being a 10 is that a few of the scenes in which the finding the BRCA1 gene proceeds are stiff and almost formulaic, in stark contrast to the reality of the rest of the film. Go see it and you will be talking about it to many of your friends.

Excellent movie! A positive outcome from a devastating disease

[bcwarrior40 · 10/10 · 25 November 2013]

As a breast cancer warrior dedicated to creating HOPE for breast cancer survivors throughout the world, I enjoyed a private showing of this movie immensely! I enjoyed meeting Annie Parker and commend her for her contributions to the world of breast cancer. My message to other survivors is that we can all find the rainbows through the storm of breast cancer, which Annie Parker has done so poetically. Kudos to Steven Bernstein, the cast and crew for this movie. It made me laugh, cry and reminded me of what I hope all breast cancer survivors remember: we are not alone! I love watching the Facebook updates with people throughout the US and Canada begging for this movie to be released in theaters. I can't wait to see it again with my family when it is released.

Decoding Annie Parker

[valerielandis · 10/10 · 26 July 2013]

Decoding Annie Parker is an amazing film that not only touches your heart with the core message of breast cancer awareness, but shows us our history of how far we have come in research and medicine to change the face of breast cancer. This amazing combo of Dr. Mary-Claire King's incredible non-stop life work research and with Annie Parker's brave untouchable determination and amazing spirit, they both shines through this truly master piece of a film for a resounding feeling of HOPE.

It took a very serious sensitive topic and showed us the humanistic view of it all. We are people ... it could happen to any of us ... how wonderful is the human spirit when we work together and help each other! We can make a difference! Every person, no matter who you are, we have the ability to make a difference.

Hats off and bravo to the amazing director Steven Bernstein for this labor of love and remarkable devotion to this project! More films like this should be produced! Such a great job everyone.

What a fantastic actor/actress cast on this film! Helen Hunt just shines with a perfect recap of Dr. King. Samantha Morton was a true star as the warrior that Annie Parker really is. Rashida Jones was fantastic as always - love her BRAVE acting abilities! Aaron Paul was a classic perfect rocker fit!

Take away point: A MUST SEE THIS MOVIE!!! Tell everyone you know to watch it!

Amazing - Must See - I LOVE MARSHALL!! HE'S MY HONEY!

[cschildgen · 10/10 · 26 July 2013]

A really heartfelt, funny, informative movie about a women's story of surviving cancer three times, a cheating husband (with her best friend), subsequent divorce and the loss of her mother, father and sister while fighting for answers in a male dominated world. It's almost too hard to believe it's real but Annie Parker was present at the move and I was able to meet the real LIFE Marshall. Helen hunt plays an amazing Mary-Claire King. I was surprised at the cast!!! The movie does a really good job of tracking how some people (Mary-Claire King and Annie Parker) thought that certain breast cancers were genetic in spite of many nay-sayers who did not agree with that position at the time. Hurray to Mark-Claire King for pushing for this discovery.

You don't have to be touched by breast cancer to be touched by this movie.

[mgallece · 10/10 · 3 September 2013]

Excellent! One of the most truthful treatments on the topic delivered with passion and humor. You don't have to be touched by breast cancer to be touched by this wonderful film.

The history of Annie Parker and her family are beautifully meshed with the story of the search for the genetic mutations that increase cancer risk. It's spot on and educational without being preachy or glossing over the very real issues that researchers and patients face. It's interspersed with humor at all the right moments to prevent it from becoming a dark and depressing experience.

Congratulations to all who had the tenacity and passion to step up and make this film. We need more films like this!

Words cannot describe...

[sue-paish · 10/10 · 8 November 2013]

Decoding Annie Parker will make you laugh, move you to tears, inspire, excite, challenge and change you. Most of all this movie helps every one of us appreciate the value of each day and power of living each day to its fullest. The movie tells the remarkable story of two women's perseverance and determination to follow their hearts and their hunches, leading eventually to one of the breakthrough medical discoveries of of our generation. Samantha Morton and Helen Hunt are terrific...Morton is Oscar worthy for her portrayal of Annie Parker. Congratulations to the entire cast and crew for producing one of the most impactful, enjoyable, joyful and moving movies in decades.

The journey of cancer revealed, lived with, & a soul that triumphed!

[valerie-larsen · 10/10 · 9 September 2013]

After attending the premiere of this newly introduced movie in Boise, Idaho, I new simply by the applause at the end that it did indeed, triumph! Steven Bernstein's 6 years in the making of this film,has certainly created a rouse. A rouse of the meticulous journey that cancer can take on one's soul. He spared no details in capturing the viewpoints of the victims and the victor.

The victor, Annie Parker, who was played so delicately, so raw, and ever so convincingly by Samantha Morton, was and will always be one of my favorite "stand-out" performances by an actress. She so exquisitely captured cancer's journey which can be summarized by a simple quote from George C. Scott, "The human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it."

Being that this is the first review that I have taken time to write, I'm am very pleased, dare I say proud too, that it is for this movie. And, although it is a review with a few small paragraphs, I hope that it is enough to convince any and all that Decoding Annie Parker is truly a "Must-See!"

Outstanding Direction / Script / Cast

[vickravindran · 10/10 · 10 April 2014]

This film hits the mark in every aspect of production. Decoding Annie Parker has a solid foundation in its excellently crafted screenplay; weaving humor with drama, love with lust and hope with fear.

Given the film's budget and subject matter, the fact that the cast is brimming with A-List talent is a welcome surprise. Academy Award nominee Samantha Morton brings Anne Parker to life with ease, giving every up and down of her character's journey a believable and endearing charm. Academy Award winner Helen Hunt elegantly owns the role of Mary Claire King with conviction and a nuanced emotional core. Aaron Paul adapts to the big screen with grace and having followed his Breaking Bad career, his portrayal of Paul clearly demonstrates his range as an actor.

Those are just the leads! The supporting cast includes Maggie Grace, Rashida Jones, Alice Eve, Corey Stoll, Richard Schiff and many more all delivering strong turns thanks to strong direction by writer/director Steven Bernstein.

There are so many reasons to see this film. The cause, the cast, the story - All of them are major draws. I can't wait to see it hit the big screen so I can share the experience with my friends and family!

Life is about learning how to laugh in acceptance not denial

[jmbwithcats · 10/10 · 11 May 2014]

I watched a beautiful, touching, and powerful real life story of a film about trying to find a cure for breast cancer and map the BRCA-1 gene in the '70s called Decoding Annie Parker, whose mother and father, and sister succumbed to cancer at a time when computers were too slow to compile any real data.

A brilliantly touching movie, I highly recommend.

As a child growing up in the '70s, I found the movie remarkably visceral and stirring.

My life was a comedy. I just had to learn to laugh. ~Annie, Decoding Annie Parker

I highly recommend this movie, we are going through a pandemic of cancer in our history, and we must find the cause, whether it's our industrialization, genetic disposition, a combination of a great many things, I feel someday we'll have eradicated cancer, looking back at all those who suffered and died, may all beings be free of suffering.

Remarkable achievement - truthful, educational and entertaining

[RonPaulusMD · 10/10 · 23 October 2013]

Had the privilege to review this film last night at an Asheville, NC fundraiser.

Simply put, the film was remarkable - a unique combination of education and entertainment.

The juxtaposition of the personal, challenging and heartfelt story of Annie Parker with the relentless pursuit of science and discovery by Mary-Claire King was inspirational and amazing.

Broad distribution of this film is a must - both for movie-going audiences, for survivors, for previvors and for everyone who has ever loved, laughed and sustained.

Kudos!