Simply Brilliant: 'A Dangerous Method' Educates & Entertains

Fueled by superb acting, sets and costumes that give the feeling of Europe at the cusp of World War I, David Cronenberg's "A Dangerous Method" is a phenomenal glimpse into the birth of psychoanalysis as we know it today. The film centers around a bright, intelligent Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender), who is a disciple of the Sigmund Freud school of psychoanalysis. Using sex as the focal point, the film explores the nature of humans and their ability to fend off or succumb to their desires and how those abilities shape the human psyche.

Freud (Viggo Mortensen) is fixated on proving his theories on the level of influence our subconscious sexual desires have on our every idea, thought, and action. He hopes to use Jung, whom Freud views as his worthy successor, as the way to finally see his theories accepted in the inner circles of the psychology field. The film spans a few years in the lives of the three: Jung, Freud and Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley) during arguably the most important era in the evolution of psychoanalysis. Scores of modern ideas about sex are invented, explored, and exemplified in this dramatic story of love, lust, and power. 

Sabina Spielrein, the newest of Dr. Jung's patients, is without a doubt his most interesting case yet. With her he decides, at the suggestion of Freud, to use their most modern, untested technique, "the talking cure." As Jung uses this innovative technique of psychoanalysis, he begins to delve deeper into the psyche of Sabina who is deeply disturbed and shows it. Knightley is a convincing manic and disturbed Russian Jew, complete with an interesting imitation of a Russian accent. Though her accent is slightly off-putting at first, it progresses much like her mental health.  Knightley's jaw-jutting performance is gritty and her progression and subsequent transition into society exhibits a side of Knightley's acting abilities that is rarely seen. The doctor-patient relationship between Jung and Sabina, which is the centerpiece of this movie feast, is pushed to its absolute limits, possibly even shattering the previously accepted boundaries much like the controversial ideas Freud and Jung are selling to the psychology elite. 

Shaping the twists and turns of the tumultuous relationship that Jung and Sabina are Freud and patient, Otto Gross (Vincent Cassel). Otto, a patient and example of giving in to your every desire serves as the tempting and captivating devil on the shoulder Jung. Their vexing doctor-patient relationship seems to have more influence on the psyche of Jung than Otto. Taking the advice of Otto, Jung enters and area that his usually reserved mind and body have never gone before. He embarks on a relationship with Sabina that sends waves rippling through his theories about sex and psychotherapy as well as his relationships with his wife and Freud. If Jung could only see, he might realize that his own life could be the prime example of his years of studying the mind's appetite for sex. The professor-student, almost father-son like relationship between Freud and Jung is strained to its breaking point as Jung's affair with Sabina's mind and body begins to change his views on the theories that united him with Freud. Their lives and the field of psychotherapy are forever changed as they attempt to traverse the previously unexplored terrain of the human mind. 

Final Thoughts:

Watching Jung, played perfectly by Fassbender, fall victim to the very thing he spends his energy to analyze is enthralling. Mortensen is the perfect Freud, with all the cigar-smoking alpha male qualities to evoke both disdain and respect. Cassel, due to his small role, will probably have the most underrated performance. Though it seems to keep building towards something that never actually comes, this film is definitely worth the price of admission. 

See it starting this Friday at the Chatham Cinema.

See the trailer here: Trailer

Review by Luke Ruckel