“Flowers For Algernon” is one of the most emotional, thought-provoking and terrifying films I’ve seen in a long time. It’s light on the science-fiction but still, it presents concepts that are as fascinating as the best episodes of “Star Trek”. The only disappointing thing about the film is that because it’s a tv film, the production values look a little cheap.

Charlie Gordon (Matthew Modine “Full Metal Jacket”) is a mentally handicapped man given the chance to be ‘normal’ after undergoing brain surgery. He quickly starts to catch up on the years of learning that he has been missing out on. It soon becomes clear that he’s now no ordinary man, he’s a real genius. However, this presents problems for him socially and emotionally as he struggles to adjust to the rapid changes.

Matthew Modine is totally believable as both Charlie when he’s mentally handicapped and when he’s an intellectual. This performance is even better than Tom Hanks in “Forrest Gump”. Algernon is a mouse that previously underwent the same surgery as Charlie. Charlie eventually finds it easier to have a friendship with the mouse than with the people around him. Pretty much everybody in this film gives a good performance.

I feared that this would end up being something like “Lawnmower Man” but the terrific script helps make “Flowers For Algernon” a true masterpiece. This isn’t a long film but it successfully explores a lot of ideas about the relationships between intelligence and happiness. For a film that features only the tamest depictions of violence, this is a seriously disturbing picture. Again, that’s due to the great writing. The movie reminded me a lot of both “A Beautiful Mind” and “Gattaca” and those are two wonderful films. Definitely make sure you check out “Flowers For Algernon” but be prepared for some very emotionally and intellectually intense material.