2nd. article in our 5 week series on Hollywood & Mental Health
Mental Illness has a large history in film culture. Whether a comedy or taken seriously, you can find a vast library of films ranging from clinical depression to schizophrenia. Today we will take a look at films under the following illnesses: Bi-Polar Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, PTSD, Schizophrenia, and Alzheimer’s Disease.
Bi-Polar
The latest film to delve into mental illness and truly portray it sympathetically is Silver Linings Playbook. This film looks into Bi-Polar Disorder and how it affects the individual and those who are part of his/her life.
Dissociative Identity
Sybil, played by Sally Field, is still an iconic film today as it was in 1976. Sybil is loosely based on Flora Shreiber’s book, and looks into the life of a woman who’s past experiences were so horrific that she developed at least 13 different personalities. An earlier film depicting DI, is The Three Faces of Eve starring Joanne Woodward.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
As Good As it Gets is a serious, but comedic look into the life of an OC who keeps to himself but is forced to associate with the outside world. Black Swan is a darker look at OCD and how it can drive one to a complete mental breakdown and hallucinations.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Reign Over Me focuses on the life of a man who lost his wife and daughters to the 9/11 Twin Towers. He sees them in the faces of those he passes on the street and has become a recluse, barely communicative, and wears headphones to listen to music to drown out the horrifying images. Brothers is another great film looking into PTSD. This focuses on the ravages of war and how it affects the entire family. PTSD has increased greatly over the years and yet it is just beginning to get any ground in the mental health services.
Schizophrenia
Russell Crowe starred in A Beautiful Mind, a film based on the story of Professor John Nash who is a brilliant mathmetician who battles schizophrenia for years.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. It gets worse over time, is not a normal part of aging and can affect people in their 40s and 50s, not just the elderly. Amour is a beautiful film that addresses Alzheimer’s Disease between a man and his wife, who has the disease.
See also: Hollywood’s Plan to Change Minds on Mental Illness
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AWESOME job LB!
I like all the films u selected to illustrate the conditions named. Why do u think HW uses those conditions (u named in your article)the most frequently in films?
I think they are the most common and yet they are rarely discussed. Alzheimer’s isn’t as popular in films but i thought it was important to mention as an estimated 5.2 million people of all ages suffer from it.
http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_facts_and_figures.asp
Extremely informative, I thought I would just bring this over.
Thank you CR. I remember my grandmother’s neighbor developed Alzheimer’s. It was sad to watch. My grandma got a bit of dementia within weeks before she passed. Up until then she had a great mind.
So did my Grandmother.
Can’t wait for the discussion.
Hi Everyone!
Hi OB 🙂
Hi CR!
Did u know there is a OCD film festival?
No, I know very little about this world. What should we know about that festival?
Well it takes place in October. Here is the link.
http://ocdfilmfest.blogspot.com/p/welcome-to-ocd-film-festival.html
At their website, I went to their list of films. That was very impressive and helpful. Other than “The Aviator” and “As Good as it Gets” I am not sure I have seen the others. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen all of “Mommie Dearest.” Here’s their list of feature films.
◦- The Aviator
◦- As Good As It Gets
◦- Dirty Filthy Love
◦- Matchstick Men
◦- Mommie Dearest
◦- OC 87
◦- Julius
◦- Machine Man (trailer)
Haha! You just answered my question!
Mommy Dearest is extremely intense and I’m sure there are a great many men and women who have had parents/guardians that were just like this. I haven’t seen the other films, but do any of these (other than The Aviator) show just how debilitating OCD can be?
I say Black Swan does a great job of it. Here is a research journal that talks about how well they portrayed the condition.
Click to access vol1-no2-1.pdf
FANTASTIC ARTICLE OB! Thank you for bringing that over. Wow, I am really learning a lot because I would never have thought of those other disorders as OCD, and yet that makes complete sense.
Well u are the one to thank for bringing up the topic in your article.
OMGosh! I can’t believe I left out The Aviator? I’m kicking myself because I thought Leo D. did a fantastic job in his portrayal.
I’m sorry, I’m still here.
OB and LB,
If I did not say it before, LB did an excellent job compiling this
review!!! I’m not a psychologist but I agree; without being
judgmental or dismissive, I thought “Silver Linings Playbook” did a
wonderful job of addressing the topic of mental illness. I know not
everyone agrees.
Given a dramatic situation, many movies seem to have a hard time
helping themselves. We usually relax our criticism of comedies yet I
think they are the most likely to be harshest offenders.
• Some lapse into derisive humor (Dumb and Dumber),
• Some get moralistic (Silence of the Lambs),
• Some are not very clear about what their talking about (Girl Interrupted)
This is a really tough topic; I hope we do this topic justice.
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/matter-personality/201307/borderline-personality-disorder-in-the-movies
Thank you CR. 🙂 I agree with you about the comedies. I do love 50 first dates, but for those who truly struggle with amnesia, it’s a very difficult experience for all involved.
LB-
I would have thought Amnesia would be in the top 5. Why didn’t u choose that as one of the most popular. I guess I’m asking what kept it from making the cut.
It was very hard to narrow the illnesses down to 5. Amnesia is a big one, but because Amour is fairly recent out in theaters and in the minds of cinefiles, I wanted to mention Alzheimer’s.
What films do you think do a very respectful job portraying amnesia?
Gosh! IDK! Give me a minute. Actually, I might have to answer that tomorrow.
Ok! My all time favorite movie and u should not be surprised by this answer. Hahaha! It is “Momento”.
Wow! Interesting article CR. Very great in fact.
Everyone-
What I dislike about the article CR posted is the criticism against “Silver Lining Playbook.” The doctor/author of this article is against the film because he dislikes that the character found an alternative to treat his condition besides pills and being co-dependent on doctors/hospitals. Actually, that was the most encouraging part of the film that he found his own way out of his dark place. Now I’m not saying doctors are unnecessary I’m just saying if people are simply swapping one unhealthy addiction for another how is that progress?
Do u think its right for consumers to make HW responsible for depicting these conditions accurately in films?
of the films mentioned, which ones have you enjoyed the most? Also what other films would you recommend in these categories?
Well I like Black Swan the most. I would say Matchstick Men with Nicholas Cage is another. He portrays someone with OCD.
I loved BS. I’m sure there were those who thought it was extreme, but I wouldn’t be surprised to hear of individuals whose OCD puts them in such powerless, hallucinagenic states. I always think of OCD as a physical problem, not just psychological.
Here’s the trailer.
Sorry the link does not work. I will try and find another.
Hi everyone!
i apologize for being late. Let me get caught up. 🙂
Hi LB!
Take your time.
I would like to bring up this thought: I think there are MANY in Hollywood who suffer from these mental illnesses, just like the rest of the world. One of my favorite biopic documentaries is the Karen Carpenter Story. I love her voice and to see her dwindle before our very eyes because of the world’s prejudices against weight AND the pressures of the “industry”.
LB- I have to go as well.
ITA LB It’s a shame what happened to Karen Carpenter. I often wonder how therapeutic it would be for actors to portray a character with a psychological condition they suffer with themselves? Meaning does it help or hurt their condition? Also, if an actor suffers with the same condition a character they are portraying has and the director and writers are wrong in their depiction who should be to blame for the inaccurate depiction the actor or the director etc?
I like just about anything Jack Nicholson does, but thought “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest” didn’t do anything for mental health awareness.
Among other things, if I remember right (and I may not)…
– Nicholson’s character, R.P. McMurphy gets a lobotomy
– Will Sampson’s character, Chief Bromden admits to faking his lllness
I imagine we’ll just have to wait for Hollywood to finally get these movies right. LB, why do think they have such a hard time?
Great article LB, see everyone later.
Goodnight CR!
Goodnight Everyone!
Great article LB!