Directed by:
David CronenbergCinematography:
Peter SuschitzkyComposer:
Howard ShoreCast:
Michael Fassbender, Keira Knightley, Viggo Mortensen, Vincent Cassel, Sarah Gadon, Katharina Palm, André Hennicke, Arndt Schwering-Sohnrey (more)VOD (1)
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Seduced by the challenge of an impossible case, the driven Dr. Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender) takes the unbalanced yet beautiful Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley) as his patient in A DANGEROUS METHOD. Jung's weapon is the method of his master, the renowned Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen). Both men fall under Sabina's spell. (official distributor synopsis)
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David Cronenberg is known for delving into human sexuality in his films, but here he takes a more intellectual approach, focusing on the psychological aspects rather than the explicit details seen in his earlier works. I’ve never been particularly interested in Freud or Jung, so I’m not deeply familiar with their work or legacy. Thus, I have to trust Cronenberg’s portrayal of these two iconic figures. The subject matter is fascinating, but it required my full attention to avoid missing anything. The film is dialogue-heavy, and the conversations are often conducted in complex, technical language, making it easy to get a bit lost at times. I was absolutely captivated by the directorial precision, beautiful interiors, and the stunning settings. Visually, the film is incredibly impressive, showcasing Cronenberg’s top-tier craftsmanship. The acting is also top-notch. Michael Fassbender proves once again that he’s one of the best actors of his generation, and Keira Knightley and Viggo Mortensen deliver brilliant performances as well. Despite all these positives, A Dangerous Method remains a somewhat challenging film for me. If I had a deeper interest in psychoanalysis and analytical psychology, I’m sure I’d appreciate it much more. As it stands, it’s a high-quality film that broadened my knowledge, but it didn’t profoundly impact or resonate with me.
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Art Nouveau pure filmmaking about dirty things inside a person. A comprehensive network of relationships man vs. woman, father vs. son, Freudianism vs. Jungianism - yet very simple and accessible... Masterful direction, the breathtaking Mortensen, precise Fassbender and surprisingly demonic Keira Knightley (probably in the role of her life). And a script with dialogues so brisk, funny and intelligent that I consider this film to be one of the top experiences of recent months.
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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.
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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.
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A rather logical step (forward) in Cronenberg's filmography. From practice, i.e. obscure, low-budget independent horror movies (Shivers, Rabid, The Brood), and obscure, bigger-budget horror movies (Videodrome, The Dead Zone, The Fly), the director worked his way up to theory and started making polished dramas with capital from major Hollywood studios. The subversiveness of the earlier metaphysical body horror movies (a genre for which he holds the copyright) has not disappeared from his more recent films, but it is more artfully hidden and thus all the more dangerous. Just like the dark ideas. Safely tucked away in our subconscious until two gentlemen began to ferret them out at the beginning of the 20th century. Contemporary observers perceived the method employed by the fathers of psychoanalysis as talk therapy. Patients talked; Freud and Jung listened. The Dangerous Method adopts this approach, but with the difference that Freud and Jung talk through most of the film while we listen. Cronenberg’s favourite themes of sexual repression and the destructive power of sexual desire are addressed using a straightforward yet refined vocabulary and subtle hints. The most fascinating development takes place in the case of the father-son relationship between two men for whom each other’s existence gradually becomes both a driving force and something that they would rather deny. In the spirit of the axiom that a doctor must get sick in order to know what illness he is treating, The Dangerous Method is a clinical study of an unorthodox love triangle. The base of that triangle is Jung, a man with an admirable appetite who, with regard to others, does not place restrictions on himself either in terms of food (with Freud’s family at the table) or in terms of sex (he clearly feels no remorse for his infidelity). More than for himself, this egoism is thus destructive for the other two crucial people in his life, i.e. for Sabina, who undergoes a convincing transformation from a patient to a doctor (see the first and last shots of the film), which is critical for the plot, as well as for Freud. We peculiarly see Jung with them only on the boat that his wife gives him. For viewers who are familiar with basic psychoanalytical concepts, the comprehensibly composed Freudian symbolism provides a guide for finding one’s bearings in the labyrinth of desires that the characters allow themselves to be controlled by (Otto Gross, libido personified, could be Jung's unbridled id, whereas the authoritative Freud represents his restrictive superego). The Dangerous Method is a drama that is thoroughly well thought out on at least two levels, where the upper level – understanding – reveals the director’s mastery of the classic narrative style. No editing goes to waste, the composition of the shots is impressively economical thanks to the great depth of field, the placement of the characters in space reflects the relationships of voluntary and forced subordination and dominance between them, the narrative is fluid and focused, and the intertwining of the romantic and professional storylines is almost perfect. With this film, I believe the Canadian eccentric has advanced to the category of great directors. 85%
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