Movies, Drugs and Psychiatry

I found your distinction between BPD I and BPD II ...

2012-03-24T00:52:23.869-07:00

I found your distinction between BPD I and BPD II a useful one. It helped me with the account of my opwn experience at: Ron Price BPD.

Anon: Becca ironically pushed away all those who l...

2012-03-09T22:05:38.144-08:00

Anon: Becca ironically pushed away all those who loved her and moved toward the boy she might have blamed for her son's death. Did she see Jason as the young man her son might have become, still alive? I wanted more of the comic. Jason was an extraordinary artist. You write a great review!

Stream of consciousness on Rabbit Hole, movie made...

2012-03-07T21:14:40.379-08:00

Stream of consciousness on Rabbit Hole, movie made from a Pulitzer prize winning play.

I love Nicole Kidman, she is a wonderful actress and although at first she seemed a rather unsympathetic character, as time went on she became more interesting and very surprising. The best part of the movie for me was the connection she made with the boy driving the car that struck her son. I thought he (Miles Teller) was a really good actor too -- and the relaxation and understanding that occurred between them was very beautiful. The comic book and the parallel universe motif that he introduced was quite amazing. I did not understand what had happened to his father, except that he died? or left? But whatever had happened ,it allowed him to share with Nicole their common grief and common understanding. I loved the way his use of comic book art, starting from the beginning of the movie before we knew who was drawing, illustrating the parallel universe theme, became by the end, the way of healing.

I thought the chemistry between Nicole and the boy was what really made the film. I imagine in the play this would have been more elaborated. In a sense the boy seemed more mature and thoughtful than the more prosaic although faithful husband.

All the reviews said that Aaron Eckhart was so good, and perhaps you liked him too, but I thought he was wooden. Maybe it was just because in the film he and Nicole were so separate that he appeared like a stereotype, while she can express emotion effortlessly, even when seen from the back, jogging on her treadmill.

I loved her sister and the sister's boyfriend hiding out in the shower. The therapy group was a riot too. It was great to have some humor in this film. What I did not especially like were the settings -- the huge beautiful houses, the immaculate lobby at Sotheby's, their lawn overlooking the bay .. but I guess showing the tragedy in the midst of this elegant setting was supposed to indicate something. Maybe how hard it is to get in touch with emotions while shielded with such manicured perfection. I liked the bowling alley scene and the grocery store with the mother refusing to buy a fruit roll for her kid.

As far as the theme of the death of a child, I refused to empathize with that. I refuse to wrap my mind around how I would feel with such a tragedy, so I liked to pay attention to everything else but.

And, as far as parallel universes and rabbit holes go the mystery of that is not something that I think about much -- but maybe it is the enormity of universes and the belief in science, if it is science, shared by Nicole and Miles, that can in fact bring the relief and even meaning to tragedy that religion and therapy, in this movie, cannot.

So those are a few of my impressions -- thanks for recommending the film, and giving me a chance to share some of my reactions.

Isn't it a matter of degree? Imagine if NOLA r...

2012-03-06T15:01:49.780-08:00

Isn't it a matter of degree? Imagine if NOLA residents had just filled a few discarded plastic water bottles with tap water before the storm.

Liked this book and film. I thought the film did ...

2012-03-05T22:24:15.872-08:00

Liked this book and film. I thought the film did a good job of capturing the grim and sparse nature of the book. It also seemed like a survivalist and anti survivalist movie at the same time with the man and the boy character capturing the survivalist ethos and the Old Man (Robert Duvall) character as the counterpoint to the Man (Viggo Mortensen) :

The Man: "Did you try to get ready for it?"

Old Man: "What would you do? Even if you knew what to do, you wouldn't know what to do. .."

It explodes the myth that you can prepare for a disaster caused by man - even if you are the part of the population that does everything possible to survive.

This movie is at it's heart a romance movie. G...

2012-02-22T19:10:03.547-08:00

This movie is at it's heart a romance movie. GUYS don't run away!!! This also has plenty of comedy. It's subtle but very belivable and clever with moments that openly make you chuckle. If you're a country music fan or a music fan period buy it. If you still have doubts watch the previews.

I don't think it was the OD that got him in fr...

2012-01-24T11:49:39.936-08:00

I don't think it was the OD that got him in front of the judge. More likely possession. The cop told Buddy the doc had a duty to report the OD. I'm not sure that's true, either, but it probably varies from state to state.

Good movie except for the whole BS about having to...

2012-01-24T11:19:26.741-08:00

Good movie except for the whole BS about having to go to court if you OD. As long as you don't have any on you when the medics show up, there's nothing they can do to you legally.

A sign of anxiety or panic attack occurs within a ...

2012-01-23T21:36:49.727-08:00

A sign of anxiety or panic attack occurs within a wide spectrum of symptoms, ranging from a simple albeit embarrassing blush to egregious chest pains

In answer to your question, about whether I would ...

2011-09-21T16:05:21.460-07:00

In answer to your question, about whether I would recommend this movie to someone with body dysmorphic disorder, I would say no, because there is actually something abnormal with CD's physical appearance and he has to come to grips with that. He is not delusional in his belief that he has bizarre features, so I would no more recommend this film for a client with BDD than I would recommend someone with a jealous delusion watch Indecent Proposal.

I never pay attention as much detail as you. I jus...

2011-08-23T20:17:47.181-07:00

I never pay attention as much detail as you. I just realized in the social networks movie there are many elements of drugs.

These are interesting questions. I just watched t...

2011-07-08T06:54:11.328-07:00

These are interesting questions. I just watched the movie Color of Night and loved it.

I think Bill and Rose should continue their relationship as they certainly seem to be in love, but he shouldn't continue treating her as it would possibly be a conflict of interest, I think.

As for the surviving members of the group - Buck, Sondra and Clark, I think Bill should continue treating them as a group and also tell them the truth about Rose/Richie as they seem to have connected with each other somewhat and it would benefit them to be in a group. It would also benefit them to talk about everything that has happened as they went through all of it together.

I think Rose should be allowed to participate in the group, but only if she wants to.

Not sure about Bill's license as the movie didn't mention what he did exactly when he started practising somewhere else. I think Bill could effectively treat the group as he understands what they have been through and he could possibly be the best person to help them.

Such a good film! i saw it just yesterday..!

2011-05-22T11:06:42.207-07:00

Such a good film! i saw it just yesterday..!

Thanks. I have updated the original post incorpora...

2011-04-24T10:11:04.111-07:00

Thanks. I have updated the original post incorporating material from Anon's comment above. I confirmed both the reference to ECT and the prescription for methaqualone, however it would appear that FDA did not approve oxazepam until 1987.

Zach with PTSD? The even certainly meets the criteria, and the symptoms are suggestive. Maybe I don't see him as ill to the point of seeking treatment, or that his functioning is really impaired, so I'm leaving it out for now anyway.

You missed Gabriel's reference to medication a...

2011-04-20T14:30:00.422-07:00

You missed Gabriel's reference to medication and ECT - "You can torture me with your poison pills and your electric shock, you've done it before, but I will never surrender!" - quote might not be exact. Occurs when he's barricaded himself in his room.
Gabriel exhibits paranoia IMO.
Thomas died in 1979. One of his pill bottles says "Methaqualone". The red pills spilled on his desk look similar to oxazepam.
Any thoughts on giving Zach a PTSD diagnosis? Trauma of finding his father's body, flashbacks and dreams, avoidance of reminiscing, avoidance of his father's book, insomnia, irritability, interfering with his work, a history of similar problems alluded to by his mother - "I haven't seen you like this since before you left for college!"

Excellent summation of the most poignant part of t...

2011-03-17T15:26:00.585-07:00

Excellent summation of the most poignant part of the film: Lars knows what he needs. Thanks for the excellent breakdown of scenes.

Thanks Sarebear. Top of my queue but "very lo...

2011-02-10T22:15:46.501-08:00

Thanks Sarebear. Top of my queue but "very long wait." So hard to find a non-R, and I like Hilary (and sci-fi). She's from near here. Will look for that fish.

Hi Moviedoc! Thought I'd check your blog out....

2011-02-10T21:26:46.941-08:00

Hi Moviedoc! Thought I'd check your blog out. I searched your blog for one that looking at these made me think of and it didn't find it. I have a thing for non-rated R non gory disaster movies, anyway, The Core, there's a part where they are in a giant geode inside the mantle (yes, impossible but go with it) and they go out in their suits to cut away a giant amethyst crystal that is blocking their laser thingies that get them through solid stuff (not diamonds tho). Anyway, the lines on the hot torch cutter thing get messed up or the feed goes, and one of the scientist heroes attaches his suit's oxygen feed to the hot torch cutter's feeds so it can keep going. I suppose it's for his ultimate survival but he is risking immediate survival, he risks death to save the situation. So I don't know if this counts. His heart rate goes all iffy and stuff so probably, he passes out, it's all dramatic and stuff. Anyway, you can probably put it more concisely than I can after you watch it, if you bother. It's an entertaining movie, if improbable. Nice easter egg of, when the birds due to magnetic field being messed with have their navigation messed up, are whirling against a storefront, flinging against it, one of them is actually a fish, if you watch close or slow it down, it's right at the end of the bird problem.

sarebear

Thanks, Tracy. Sounds like maybe some content rela...

2010-12-18T08:38:54.116-08:00

Thanks, Tracy. Sounds like maybe some content related to alcoholism, family dynamics as well as suicide. Not quite enuf for a Monday PM Tweetchat, but I'll try to watch it next solo. Should be way better than Devil in the Flesh II.

Moviedoc Thank you for the suggestions! i have ...

2010-12-18T08:06:59.587-08:00

Moviedoc Thank you for the suggestions! i have heard of "The Bands Visit", but have not seen it.

SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!!!!

i am trying to think of "Psychiatric Situations" in "For My Father"...Young Man as Suicide Bomer who "accidently" lives and goes on to make connections with other "outcasts" he would have never met otherwise, a young lady who has left her Orthodox Jewish family and is being sought out, almost violently, by her brother and a cousin, her still positive relationship with her mother, Parents mourning the death of their son in the Israeli Army under very suspicious circumstances, the father of that son who may drink in excess and has a fasination with water...(you will see why) , nightmares, ...i know you said not suicide, however, an attempted suicide.

Ummmm, i apologize, i am not certian what you are looking for and i don't think i am very good at this.

Thank you for putting this film on your list and for writing back,
tracy

I just put For My Father on my Netflix queue, Trac...

2010-12-17T17:00:15.199-08:00

I just put For My Father on my Netflix queue, Tracy. Thanks for the suggestion. Have you seen Walk On Water? Ushpizin? The Band's Visit? Waltz With Bashir?

Please tell me whether there is any content in For My Father (other than suicide) relate to psychiatry/substance abuse.

Hello moviedoc, i love reading you analysis...

2010-12-17T07:24:00.396-08:00

Hello moviedoc,
i love reading you analysis of movies. Have you seen "For My Father"? It is one of my very favorites and i would really like to know what you think of it....thanks!

I enjoyed this movie as I found it touching and fu...

2010-11-03T06:24:25.703-07:00

I enjoyed this movie as I found it touching and funny. It points out how irritating someone with Asperger's can be as well. In hindsight it points out how many aspies we have come in contact with and thought they were just odd or weird which they are. How many times have we had an aspie in our space and they didn't get it? Lack of social graces, understanding nuance etc.

I found the movie thought provoking, somewhat dark...

2010-11-03T06:15:28.570-07:00

I found the movie thought provoking, somewhat dark but believable as I saw many pieces of my aspie patients in this movie. A great piece of work by any measure.

Hi I'm inquiring to get some opinions on the m...

2010-10-23T21:39:47.704-07:00

Hi I'm inquiring to get some opinions on the mother's character in this movie.

I want to come up with diagnosis, possible behavioral characteristics and possible cultural historical trauma that may have led her to act as she has...........

Any ideas and insight would be greatly appreciated

Thank you