Review of A Dangerous Method (2011) by Amanda D — 25 Mar 2012

I've said it before and I'll say it again, excellent performances do not a good movie make. A Dangerous Method is Cronenberg's latest film with Viggo Mortensen after A History of Violence and Eastern Promises respectively. It centers on the relationship between Doctors Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud and how it came to be and how it ended.

The whole movie revolves around the place that sex serves in psychoanalysis and the people that founded those observations. If that sounds like a dry premise for a movie then your movie senses are correct. This movie is only 98 minutes long, but it feels much, much longer. Also harmful is the fact that the whole thing feels rather anticlimactic and pointless altogether.

The truly only saving grace are the three absolutely stunning acting performances at work here. Many people will probably point towards Kiera Knightley's portrayal of a deeply sexually disturbed young lady who becomes Dr. Jung's patient as being the star performance of A Dangerous Method. To me, however, I found her to be a bit hammy and over the top. Still a solid performance, mind you, but still a bit self-aware.

The better acting on display here were the two male leads. Michael Fassbender (Jung) shows great restraint here as a psychologist who is struggling with his sexual desires and how they conflict with his profession and home life. The best role was Freud played amazingly here by Mortensen. Mortensen is so good that he is barely recognizable. I've never seen him act like this even in the slightest. The actor continues to surprise with each additional role.

Acting aside, this is a very boring movie to watch and I can't really recommend it to anyone.