A Dangerous Method [DVD]

This was Jung's feeling after initial discussions with Freud, and it sets up the major point of dispute between them. A Dangerous Method is based on a play by Christopher Hampton and a book by John Kerr, and tells of the relationship between the two between 1904 and 1913, and of a patient of Jung's, Sabina Spielrein, with whom Jung had an affair which was highly problematic for both. Spielrein went on to become a major analyst and teacher herself. It was she who put forward the idea of a link between the libido and the death drive, posing a challenge to Freud's essentially pleasure-defined view of sexual desire. Jung's problem with Freud started when he wanted to go further than the sexual paradigm Freud proposed, and brought in mystical elements to do with telepathy and seeing into the future, which Freud regarded as quackery that would further reduce the flimsy respect in which their profession was held. Freud then refused to tell a dream to Jung during an Atlantic crossing, saying it would undermine his authority, which Jung then felt symbolised all that was wrong with their relationship, and a total break followed. In terms of the film, Jung seems more right, but Michael Fassbender is arguably better at getting to the heart of the character, whereas Viggo Mortensen gives us a slightly prissy Freud, not helped by the minimal sense of how he was in private. Keira Knightley is very good indeed as the intensely suffering Spielrein, getting her fierce intelligence like a flayed deer. It is the only film I know to deal with the subject and is very useful, given its importance; David Cronenberg has fashioned one of the few films of his that isn't instantly recognisable as being by him, and there are problems with the visual language not really matching the subject of the film, which is all about the unseen. It looks a bit too much like a costume drama with a Death In Venice claim to lakeside grandeur. Nevertheless it is a compelling 95 minutes and is on such a vital subject the shortcomings seem insignificant.

A prettied up version of the relationship between Jung and one of his female patients. Keira Knightley's version of hysteria includes her sticking her jaw out and talking a bit funny whilst doing it.Jung was not a very nice man, very different to the one portrayed by Fassbender; whose rendition reminded me rather of a mild mannered John Le Mesurier. He was bad -tempered, controlling, coercive and when it came down to it, a bit mad himself. He was a serial adulterer despite having a very pleasant, attractive and wealthy wife.I did like Viggo Mortensen as Freud though, pity about the dialogue and the other actors.It was total tosh really.

A very quick snapshot of an intertwining of lives which plays a bit like a romance, but without the actual romance. A strange film and somehow incomplete. A lot of people will say it's all absolute nonsense, and of course while that may be so, it is incredibly difficult to tell a story like this in the time it takes to play a football match.It is well photographed and acted, especially Keira Knightley's portrayal of the troubled Sabina Spielrein, and her interactions with Fassbender's Carl Jung are quite believable. However, it was quite dry and had an overall feeling of removal, despite the lush surroundings. True or not, if it gets anybody interested enough to pick up a book by Freud or Jung then the film will have done its job.

Strongly acted, sometimes brilliantly, especially by Keira Knightley, this biopic of the founding saga and its knitted conflicts — echoes of Wagner's operas that are referenced — is good on Jung's resistance to Freud's narrow materialist version of psychoanalysis and Freud's resistance to Jung's alchemical version. And in the midst the brilliant woman. It's a drama of ideas embodied in three potent personalities.Of course it simplifies the issues (so 4*). What else would you expect? But it also highlights them. And the acting and screenplay and production are all very good.

Interesting, sadly it was the casting choice for Sabrina that let this down. It was very irritating to watch scene after scene of Keira Knightley biting savagely at the air, displaying her teeth much like a horse or a donkey might, this being such an unlikely and ugly affectation for any human to display, that she made it impossible to remain immersed in the story.

This is a historical movie about Carl Jung's relations with Sabina Spielrein, and Freud.There is not big story but one gets a good feeling of development of psychoanalysis at that timeExcellent performance of Jung (Michael Fassbender), and Freud (Viggo Mortensen) characters charming.Also Viennese Cafe scene, Imperial Magnificence, Belvedere, scene takes one to that period.

Was pointed out by a good friend on the subject and bought the DVD to view it a couple of times.Great roleplay and the transformation of Keira Knightly is astonishingly fluent under the wings of Jung. clear danger in the method and the crossing of the line between doctor and patient. It shows the actual transformation of the interaction from patient to friend to non-hierarchical relationships into a lovers relationship and the damage it causes to that same relationship.Great to see the arrogance (or more insecurity) of Freud unable to let his own dreams being analysed (by Jung) and the split between them causing the diversion between analytical psychology (Jung) and psycho analysis (Freud). And with that the fundamental differences between both psychological streams.Loving every time I play it again, finding new details. Great character role play of them all.

Well-made movie and seems fairly accurate historically. I just wish they had cast somebody less annoying and more capable of acting like a 'neurotic' woman. The film's first few minutes are pretty much ruined by Keira's cringey performance.