A Dangerous Method

I would gladly play with Miss Spielrein and smoke a cigar with Freud, but I’d rather sit down by Lake Zurich than take a part in his long-winded dialogues with the malleable and indecisive Jung. Viggo Mortensen is great and the visual esthetics delicious, but there are no emotions. A film where mainstream stars recite phrases only a few viewers will understand. Compared to this, Polanski’s Bitter Moon was far more poetic and passionate in its testimony about the dark corners of human sexuality. (02/26/2012)

Sinfully unexciting. Formally, A Dangerous Method is a film with very little to reproach, and it will probably delight film theorists, but I’d be lying to myself if I gave it a higher rating. I just didn’t like it, I didn’t find it interesting in the least and the idea of having to watch it again is pretty terrifying. Cronenberg’s old perversion and subversiveness have disappeared under a ton of academically precise make-up, and now just bubble peacefully deep beneath the surface. And looking for it is not fun. (01/29/2012)

David Cronenberg is known for often dealing with human sexuality in his films. However, in this case, he approaches this topic not as explicitly as in his older works, but rather dissects it quite professionally and focuses mainly on the psychological aspect of this matter. I have never been particularly interested in Freud or Jung, so I am not familiar with their work and references in detail, so I have no choice but to fully trust Cronenberg in what I have learned about these two personalities through his film. The topic is more than interesting, but I had to pay close attention while watching so as not to miss anything. Practically the whole film is just dialogue, so I sometimes got a bit lost in the conversations, which was also due to the fact that they were often conducted in a more complex and professional language, but I managed. At least I learned a few new English expressions and words, which is always useful. I was absolutely captivated by the directorial precision, beautiful interiors, and the gorgeous setting in which the story unfolds. Overall, visually the film is very impressive. In this aspect, Cronenberg is an absolute extra class. Even in terms of acting, I have nothing to criticize. Fassbender confirmed that he is among the best actors of today, and the others, led by Keira Knightley and Viggo Mortensen, were brilliant. However, despite all the positives, A Dangerous Method is a film that is difficult for me to grasp. If I were more interested in psychoanalysis and analytical psychology, I would definitely appreciate it much more. As it is, it is a quality film for me, which has enriched me in an interesting way, but it has not deeply affected or appealed to me. (05/19/2018)

Cronenberg gives a brief insight into the core ideas of Freud and his pupil Jung in an audience-friendly and simple form, which is a rare and welcome gift compared to complexly worded lectures on psychoanalysis or literary scholarly attempts to interpret their work. Yet, thanks to the breathtaking performances of all three leading characters and the masterfully written dialogues that often provide a hidden point, I find Cronenberg's film also attractive for the audience. (02/06/2012)

I would expect some wild in the form of decapitated heads or at least explicit sexual creations from David Cronenberg, but there is nothing like that in this film. Well, there is a certain effort towards the latter, but it's more of an artistic walk around it rather than something happening. So, as viewers, we're left with nothing else but to rely on the superb performances, the sensitive film aesthetics, the excellent period setting, and exceptionally well-handled psychology, skillfully transferred onto the big screen. When philosophical debates don't come across as boring or complicated, but quite the opposite, and they even have some pretty excellent points. It's just that the whole thing feels a bit cold and too overly contrived. (12/15/2013)