A Dangerous Method (2011)

There have been a number of very good movies that came from the stage. And in most cases, the movie production is enlarged to fit the big screen. "A Dangerous Method" isn't such a case. It feels like a stage production. But perhaps for good reasons. The subject matter.



"A Dangerous Method" is the story of Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender), Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen) and one of their patients Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightly), and the origin of Psychoanalysis. A revolutionary way to deal with the human behavior. The stage production was titled: The Talking Cure"


Excellent performances from Fassbender and Mortensen. Unfortunately, I couldn't buy into the Knightly character. She comes to Jung's hospital in an uncontrollable stage. Within a few years she's cured by Jung, becomes his mistress and used for sexual experimental probes. Eventually she returns to Russia as a brilliant physiotherapist. Some of her early loony scenes are so over-the-top.


An intriguing and learning experience is listening to the exchange of dialogue between Jung and Freud. And how their friendship turns, due to differences of theory's.


The film will not please all. It is talk, talk and more talk. I even found spots that were long-winded. But over-all it is a beautifully shot historical time piece. As the credits roll-by and you see the post titles of what happens to these individuals you actual feel like you wanted more.



3.5/5 stars

Jack