Canadian director David Cronenberg has long been a filmmaker who has challenged his audience with a body of work that spans the bizarre (The Fly), the violent (A History of Violence, Eastern Promises) and the controversial (Crash). Adapting a play which details the relationship between the father and son of psychoanalysis then would seem long an odd choice for him. However continuing his fruitful relationship with Viggo Mortensen proves to be a wise move. Today's flick of the day is A Dangerous Method.
Michael Fassbender stars as the brilliant but deeply self involved Carl Jung and gives another quality performance in a year full of them. The film opens in 1904 as Jung is developing the theories of his colleague Sigmund Freud into a new method for treating patients by practising on the damaged and obsessive Sabina, a career best performance from Keira Knightley. As he begins to cure Sabina of her psychosis, their relationship deepens to the detriment of his friendship with his mentor Freud played by the always excellent Viggo Mortensen. Crossing the line between close care and taking advantage of his patient, Jung loses focus on what he is supposed to be doing for his own ends. Into this maelstrom of emotion steps the equally troubled Otto Gross played by Vincent Cassel in a measure performance..
As noted at first glance this does not seem an obvious project for Cronenberg's talents however once viewed it becomes apparent it is a perfect match. Concentrating on the dawn of sexual dysfunction diagnosis, he is on familiar territory as he documents its effect on the relationships of those involved. All of the leads giver excellent performances with Knightley and Fassbender a particular highlight. Fassbender manages to make an engaging character out of Jung who initially appears too self absorbed to be interesting.
Carl Jung: Sometimes you have to do something unforgivable... just to be able to go on living.
Knightley shows hitherto unknown depth as Sabina, engaging her whole body in a performance which is terrifyingly good and captures the bizarre sexual impulses perfectly. The sex scenes are not filmed for gratuity but are rather dark joyless affairs which tell more about the characters then you might imagine.
Cronenberg has actually created quite a beautiful movie, the sun dappled shots of Vienna and Geneva are a joy to behold while the turn of the century style and architecture are captured with aplomb. This allegiance to the details of what was a very interesting period in time help to keep the viewer interested while this cast of inward looking characters play out their neuroses. It becomes apparent that Jung and Freud have as many hangups as their patients.
This is period drama of the highest order combined with an interesting examination of sexual dysfunction and a n another fine film from Cronenberg. An entertaining script is given full voice by a superb cast. All in all a fine literate drama worthy of your interest.
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