Filmknitter

A Dangerous Method

A Dangerous Method is a film about the birth of modern psychology, and the two men who conceived it: Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. Freudian theory was well-established when Jung emerged onto the psychoanalysis scene and (arguably) improved upon his mentor's rather one-sided theories. The two men met for the first time in 1907 and became fast friends despite their differing theories. However, their antagonism towards each other eventually bore out and they parted ways in the next decade. This film tells the story of their friendship as well as their relationship with Sabine Spielrein, one of Jung's patients who eventually became a psychotherapist herself after he successfully resolved her mental health problems using 'the talking cure' he and Freud developed.

I've been aware of Freud's and Jung's theories for a long time so I was excited to see a film that looked like it would not only have a good story, but would also present a fascinating insight into the lives of two of the most powerful men in the history of psychology. Plus it stars a triptych of my favourite actors: Michael Fassbender as an enigmatic Jung, Keira Knightley (and her chin) as transformational mental patient Spielrein, and Viggo Mortensen hamming it up ever so slightly as a charismatic Freud. I was feeling circumspect owing to my most recent cinema visits not quite living up to expectations, however I needn't have worried about this one, it's incredibly enjoyable and a satisfying portrait of the two theorists. I was fascinated to discover more about Spielrein, who I knew next to nothing about, and she serves a useful purpose in this film uncovering the inner workings of Jung who at first appears rather too self-assured. Fassbender is a delight as Jung, not least because he spends half his scenes eating - I can recommend you take some nibbles along as watching Jung wolf down cakes, cream, and dinner at every opportunity made me rather peckish. Keira Knightley is perfect casting as Sabine, an excellent complex female character who is in stark contrast to Jung's angelic baby-obsessed wife. Having been warned beforehand of the chin-thrusting I have to say I felt that her portrayal of one of Jung's most difficult patients does not descend into stereotype. Spielrein's story is inspiring, and ultimately tragic (stick around for the explanatory paragraphs at the end).

Mortensen could be accused of over-egging Freud slightly but then he has become such a caricature that it's difficult to get at the actual man beneath the serious beard, cigars, and sexual pre-occupation. He's undeniably having fun and he adds levity to what could easily have been a rather dark film. That's really what I liked about this film, it presents a good grounding in the history of psychology and an insight into Freud and Jung but remains entertaining and enjoyable. I'm not saying it's for everyone - as you might expect there's a healthy dollop of sex in there: heaving bosoms, unlaced corsets, spanking and *ahem* cigars. However it treads the line between lechery and propriety and really a film about Freud that didn't include some of the above would be rather disappointing.

See this film if you're interested in psychology, good acting, beards, Switzerland, or watching Michael Fassbender enjoy a nice bit of cake.

J Edgar & Chronicle

J Edgar is a detailed biopic of the man who created the modern-day FBI. J Edgar Hoover was a fiercely commited and ambitious man, dedicated to his mother and his work, to the exclusion of any other personal commitments. As a boy he runs errands on his bike and after spotting a police investigation where the officers fail to notice the most basic of clues or observe good practice at the crime scene he resolved to being a new crime-fighting force that will supersede the police and rescue the country from the communists he despises so much.

The spoof poster for J Edgar in this little collection of gems is pretty spot-on about this film. It's a very worthy biography of a controversial figure in America's history but as with many Oscar contenders it all gets a bit too serious. There's a lot that's interesting about J Edgar Hoover, and I did approve of the fact that director Clint Eastwood has included the close 'friendship' that Hoover had with his right-hand man Clyde Tolson. Growing up in a household ruled by his domineeringly Catholic mother you have to feel for poor Hoover as she warns him away from a full relationship with Tolson with the delightful phrase "I would rather have a dead son than a daffodil for a son." Thanks to Mother Hoover J Edgar lives a life that revolves solely around his job and his final days are rather tragic as he refuses to let go of an organisation that no longer needs its founder. It's an interesting story and I'm glad I know more about the man but in general this film didn't blow me away. It's also far too long at 2hours 20 mins, by the 1hr50 mark I was ready for a swift finale, not another half hour of looking at poor Armie Hammer's abysmal old-man makeup.

Chronicle was last week's Orange Wednesday pick, after the sad revelation that not one of the many cinemas in Oxford was showing Young Adult, which would have been my first choice. Sadly it seems I shall have to wait for the DVD to see Diablo Cody's well-received dark comedy. So, my experience of Chronicle may have been slightly tinged with disappointment but it was a definite improvement on the dour J Edgar of the week before. Chronicle is an 'alternative' superhero movie that, in the grand tradition of Blair Witch Project and Cloverfield, uses shaky video cameras in the hands of exitable teens to add some realism (and motion-sickness) to the story. Three high school cliches (sorry, boys) discover a mysterious blue crystal in a pothole which gives them nose-bleeds and magical powers of telekinesis. With great power comes great responsibility, and predictably loner Andrew (Dane DeHaan - currently giving good hillbilly in True Blood), who is all bitter and twisted inside thanks to an abusive father at home and bullies at school, is overcome with new-found confidence and ultimately all three boys pay the price for poking around where they shouldn't be.

Chronicle may be full of cliches but I did genuinely enjoy it. It brings something new to the superhero genre, not being as comicbooky as Spiderman et al and possessing far more grit than the glossy TV serial Heroes. Thanks to the shakycam and aforementioned excitable teens it does have rather too many elements of the traditional horror movie, but there's just enough story and excitement to hold your interest. Clever but low-key special effects add to the realism of the movie. I especially enjoyed the flying sequences, which were as exhilarating as Iron Man's, but in sensible waterproof clothing. The films one failing for me is that it is made by teenage boys for teenage boys so not only are there gratuitous shots of girls at parties but also a distinct lack of good dialogue or interesting female characters. It's not my film of the year but in a town devoid of Young Adult it turned out to be a fair substitute.