movie review

Mental health movie reviews; educational films that provide an honest and multifaceted portrayal of psychiatric illness, symptoms and recovery.

My Thoughts on 'Roadrunner', the Anthony Bourdain Documentary
If there’s any word in the English language that would sum up the life of Anthony Bourdain, a ‘Roadrunner’ would be quite fitting to remember the man by. He was also a husband, father, friend, chef, writer, television host, and a cultural ambassador who made the world his oyster after many years as a cook in hot, windowless, stressful New York City kitchens. For some people, travel is a birthright that they have from a young age but for Anthony Bourdain, it was an unexpected gift at middle age after writing the excellent ‘Kitchen Confidential’ book highlighting his years in the underbelly of those same kitchens, which became a New York Times bestseller, and helped lead him into fame, stardom, and notoriety.
By Ben W4 years ago in Psyche
The Best Representation Of Mental Illness Ever Is A Netflix Rom-Com
Every year film studios try to give a wider representation to the most marginalized communities, be it the LGBT community, the black community, or other minorities. Some people are starting to get mad because they feel that these studies are only interested in filling an inclusive agenda as a good PR strategy. Others, on the other hand, believe that it is necessary since the members of these communities did not grow up seeing great characters from the cinema that fully represent them.
By Mindsmatter.5 years ago in Psyche
Movies that are so bad, they’re so good
Have you ever watched a movie and thought, this movie is absolutely bonkers. It’s so hard to suspend your disbelief, because the whole time you’re watching, you think your silly friends somehow found their way into a documentary and are now social actors in this nonsense rather than trained actors. Movies you can’t help but cry at how silly it is and be prompted to make an IMDB profile just to leave a comment on just how much it was a waste of your life. And how you’d do anything to get those hours back. The funny thing about these kinds of movies is, they’ve done their job. Sometimes we watch movies, purely for entertainment purposes, to feel good and watch the villain suffer or die at the end. We want some sort of a resolution and satisfaction that the character we are rooting for must win a lottery or be vindicated. But when it comes to these kinds of movies, they’re so stupid yet they’re so evocative. And the entertainment factor comes from you laughing at how unbelievably annoying it is. It sticks with you longer and you can’t help but just...laugh.
By Damilola5 years ago in Psyche
The System: A cause of sociopathy?
The Joker by Todd Philips sheds light on the many causes, effects, and questions of living in a Neoliberal society. It is a film that has beautifully found ways to describe and explain the inexpressible feelings of constraints, frustrations, and struggles, that are only prevalent in people that were “unfortunate enough” to be born in poverty-ridden, low- and middle-class families, who end up being victims to the definition of a ‘perfect society’ and the ‘American dream’ - two things that are the dressings of capitalistic societies. Todd Philips conforms to Marx’s claims, in “Estranged Labour”, that capitalism estranges us from ourselves and other people (331) when he begins to depict his claims in the film. Joaquin Phoenix, as the main protagonist, has embodied these emotions, struggles and effects of this capitalistic society into Arthur Fleck, a victim - of the society, his family, himself – looking for his recognition and sanity among the insane. In the film he says, ‘Is it just me or is it getting crazier out here?’ (04:54) and in his journal he writes, ‘I don’t want to die with people just stepping over me, I want to be seen’ (06:25). According to Karl Marx, in “Estranged Labour”, ‘[e]very self-estrangement of man from himself and nature is manifested in the relationship he sets up between other men and himself and nature’ (Marx, 1844). Self-estrangement is ‘the alienation of man's essence, man's loss of objectivity and his loss of realness as self-discovery, manifestation of his nature, objectification and realization’ (Marx, 1844). It is when one feels estranged from others and society, when he realizes his deeds have no meaning or worth as a single entity, yet is worth beyond him, as a living entity. This alienation is the root of the development of Arthurs character in the film, where he is slowly losing his mind, trying to find meaning and recognition in a world that is too busy making meaning for itself as it stomps on another, like a hunting ground that preys on its kind to succeed. Arthur is the victim of this alienation (a cause of capitalism) and the film grounds on this Marxist concept to depict the consequences of neoliberalism in a capitalist society, disguised in Arthur fleck as a character that transforms into The Joker.
By Thaniya P. M. Amaravathi5 years ago in Psyche
The Ultimate Bad Boy
Your favourite movie says a lot about who you are. You can glean a lot of information from someone based on the one movie they keep coming back to, that they can watch a hundred times and never tire of.
By Lindsay Rae5 years ago in Psyche
Bliss
While actors like Owen Wilson are considering if he lives in a simulation or not due to the movie ‘Bliss’ I am once again bewildered at the ease that our community feels with perpetuating harmful stereotypes of our community members with disabling mental illnesses as a form of entertainment.
By Stephanie Keesee5 years ago in Psyche
Mental Health and Los Angeles' Homelessness Crisis: Why "Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel" Is One of the Most Important Documentaries on Netflix
Spoiler alert: It may be best to only read on if you have already watched the documentary series. A photo I took of the Cecil Hotel during my visit to California in 2019
By Dee Simone5 years ago in Psyche
'Joker' - A Journey into Mental Illness
My mood was okay. Not brilliant, not awful - I was okay. However, given that I was only 'okay,' I also needed to be careful. Fill my mind with happy, joyous things, I'd remain good. Cram it full of darkness, and I only had myself to blame if I dipped.
By Christopher Donovan5 years ago in Psyche
Review: I'm Thinking of Ending Things
Directorial Vision: Charlie Kaufman's cinematic milieu exists as an abstract characterization of escapism for escapist's; and that's the way we like it.
By S R Gurney5 years ago in Psyche
Netflix Documentary: "The Social Dilemma." Pushes Old Fears into New Tech.. Top Story - September 2020.
“The Social Dilemma” brings together social media app leaders to discuss the unstoppable monster of their own creation. This Netflix Documentary is a bold warning of the unforeseen strength that lies within our technological devices. Some ramifications of tech usage have undeniably negative consequences which are highlighted in the film, but will it truly lead to civilizations' downfall as the documentary suggests?
By Kasey Rae5 years ago in Psyche
My reaction to Tyler Perry’s “Good Deeds” (video)
I really love movies. The right ones help me to process life with mental illness. I admire how writers and filmographers and directors and actors and many others work together to produce emotion. I am particularly a fan of movies by Tyler Perry. He is masterful in his craft. He persevered when no one wanted to help him reach his goals (Been there. Done that.) He overcame tremendous odds and is now living his dreams. Head on over to Biography to learn more about this awesome man.
By Shenica Graham5 years ago in Psyche
Lucid
Lucid is a thriller/drama that revolves around the character of Dr. James Wilson a scientist studying the effects of lucid dreaming, his main goal is to be able to fully control every aspect of his dream with a new sedative drug he and his team have developed.
By Kenny Haugen6 years ago in Psyche