A Dangerous Method

That Cronenberg is in there. It lies concealed in Keira Knightley's nipple crawling out of her corset, Vincet Cassel's face, the subversive dialogue, and especially the character of Jung (who has a lot of points of contact with James Woods' character from Videodrome), but it's littered with tons of costumes and understated studio work, and somehow lacks a significant personal investment. Otherwise, Viggo Mortensen is incredible! PS: Keira Knightley is cast brilliantly and Cronenberg takes advantage of all her physical imperfections (breasts, British-sharp physiognomy, arched forehead, prominent chin, a figure that generally begs for professional help) and makes the actress accentuate them (2012-01-30)

A superb Cronenberg exercise in conversation. The onerous theme of psychology and sexuality is supported by excellent acting performances. Keira’s transformations are brilliant and both Fassbender and Mortensen (constantly chewing that cigar) enjoy their dialog sequences. Detachment and cold comments on the issue is appropriate for scientific research and the even the very smallest expression of emotion is punished by the destruction of the afflicted characters. (2012-02-26)

Art Nouveau pure filmmaking about dirty things inside a person. A comprehensive network of relationships man vs. woman, father vs. son, Freudianism vs. Jungianism - yet very simple and accessible... Masterful direction, the breathtaking Mortensen, precise Fassbender and surprisingly demonic Keira Knightley (probably in the role of her life). And a script with dialogues so brisk, funny and intelligent that I consider this film to be one of the top experiences of recent months. (2012-01-13)

I would gladly play with Miss Spielrein and smoke a cigar with Freud, but I’d rather sit down by Lake Zurich than take a part in his long-winded dialogues with the malleable and indecisive Jung. Viggo Mortensen is great and the visual esthetics delicious, but there are no emotions. A film where mainstream stars recite phrases only a few viewers will understand. Compared to this, Polanski’s Bitter Moon was far more poetic and passionate in its testimony about the dark corners of human sexuality. (2012-02-26)

David Cronenberg is known for delving into human sexuality in his films, but here he takes a more intellectual approach, focusing on the psychological aspects rather than the explicit details seen in his earlier works. I’ve never been particularly interested in Freud or Jung, so I’m not deeply familiar with their work or legacy. Thus, I have to trust Cronenberg’s portrayal of these two iconic figures. The subject matter is fascinating, but it required my full attention to avoid missing anything. The film is dialogue-heavy, and the conversations are often conducted in complex, technical language, making it easy to get a bit lost at times. I was absolutely captivated by the directorial precision, beautiful interiors, and the stunning settings. Visually, the film is incredibly impressive, showcasing Cronenberg’s top-tier craftsmanship. The acting is also top-notch. Michael Fassbender proves once again that he’s one of the best actors of his generation, and Keira Knightley and Viggo Mortensen deliver brilliant performances as well. Despite all these positives, A Dangerous Method remains a somewhat challenging film for me. If I had a deeper interest in psychoanalysis and analytical psychology, I’m sure I’d appreciate it much more. As it stands, it’s a high-quality film that broadened my knowledge, but it didn’t profoundly impact or resonate with me. (2018-05-18)