‘A Dangerous Method’ Review: A Glimpse Into The Psyche Of Psychoanalysts

A Dangerous Method marks the third collaboration between director David Cronenberg and Viggo Mortensen (the previous two being A History of Violence and the outstanding Eastern Promises). This is perhaps Cronenberg’s tamest movie, but its sometimes slow pacing is made up by riveting performances from the cast. Having said that, Cronenberg’s subtle direction helps the film emanate intelligence and makes for a fascinating portrait of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung that chronicles their intense relationship and rivalry.

The majority of the film follows Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender), beginning in 1904 Zurich when he tests one of Freud’s methods on his manic patient, Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley). Not only does the cure work but it also reveals Sabina’s own potential as a psychoanalyst. Two years later, Jung meets Freud (Viggo Mortensen) in Vienna and establishes a working friendship with him. The beginning of the end of their relationship is when Freud refers Dr. Otto Gross (Vincent Cassel) to Jung. When Gross starts to test Jung about his morality, his relationship with Freud begins with disintegrate over their clashes on the role of religion in their work. As this is happening, Jung also starts an affair with Spielrein, which further strains his relationship with his wife, Emma (Sarah Gadon).

Poster Courtesy of Universal Pictures

There is a lot of talking and detailed correspondences within the film, and some viewers may soon find the pacing of the film slow. At times, it feels as though there is no forward momentum – there are some scenes that drag on a little too long with too little going on. The screenplay (based on a play written by Christopher Hampton which in turn is based on John Kerr’s book A Most Dangerous Method) however, is able to provocatively explore the roots of psychoanalysis and the two men who made it happen. Like the play the film is based on, A Dangerous Method often feels like a stage production, taking time in establishing the Jung-Freud relationship, as well as exploring the breakthroughs and the flaws in their theories, and the danger of scientific ambition.

For a movie about three psychological figures that are obsessed with sex, there is a distinct lack of it in the film. That does not seem to matter, however, as the idea of sex permeates the whole film and is continuously in the background. It is always on the tip of all the character’s tongues and in the back of their minds. Jung and Spielrein engage in an S&M relationship that Speilrein fully embraces as Jung continually feels repulsed and guilt-ridden. Freud insists repeatedly that sex is the crux of all mental dysfunctions. Otto Gross, the one person in the film to truly embrace his sexual desires says he is incapable of “passing by an oasis without stopping to drink.” Everyone in this film sees the importance of sex but also sees how cataclysmically destructive it can be. In this way, A Dangerous Method is just as disquieting as Cronenberg’s other films.

The performances of the cast are what make the film, which is important since it is essentially a character driven piece. Fassbender puts on an admirable interpretation of Jung and is very watchable as he debates suppressing his mounting attraction towards Speilrein and his duties as a husband to his wife and a father to his family. Within his character, we see the Freud’s theories working in action – the inner struggle of the human psyche to repress our innate primitive desires. Eventually, Jung’s desires win out, and he embarks on a rocky and turbulent relationship with Speilrein that makes him feel guilty and ecstatic at the same time. Fassbender has the emotional sensitivity to pull of Jung’s conflict without resorting to overacting.

Keira Knightley however, does overact in her portrayal of Speilrein, the woman that drives a wedge between the two men. This does not mean that it was cringe-worthy to watch – a certain degree of hysteria was needed to portray Speilrein as Jung’s tortured patient who can’t get a handle on what is wrong with her. Just how unbalanced she is is established in the first scene of the film. Against her will, she is carted off to Jung’s sanatorium. She’s kicking, writhing and twitching, alternating between screaming matches and bouts of hysterical laughter.  Eventually though, her wild insanity gives way to a delicate intelligence as she comes to terms with her fascination for pain and pleasure, but the journey is long and arduous.

Viggo Mortensen fully immerses himself into yet another role as he plays the famed Sigmund Freud. Mortensen gives him a rather witty side that makes his character much more rounded. Some films that use well-known historical figures do so badly, but Mortensen has such authority and swagger as Freud that it is hard to question the authenticity of his portrayal. Whether he’s puffing away on a cigar or interpreting Jung’s dreams, Mortensen gives the viewer a glimpse into how Freud was really like, giving a three-dimensional performance that transcends anything we can read about in a book.

Ultimately, A Dangerous Method is an excellent character study of two of psychology’s seminal figures. There is a lot of talk, but the characters are lively enough to continually engage the audience. While it is Cronenberg’s most straight-laced film to date, he continues to quietly unsettle his audience with his fearlessness towards sexuality – and lets hope he continues to do so in the future.

A intelligent and satisfying portrait of Freud, Jung and the woman who came in between them, A Dangerous Method will have you leaving the theater examining your own psyche as well: A-

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