David Cronenberg
A Dangerous Method

THE REVIEW

Difficult subjects are tackled in this film. Difficult, but tremendously fascinating. And if I had to bet on a director capable of handling themes like sexual desires, depravity, betrayal, the pleasure of the flesh, well, I would certainly have opted for David Cronenberg.

"A Dangerous Method" is a good work, with a paradoxical flaw: too weak in addressing such strong themes. A work, entirely spoken, which through the encounters/clashes between Jung and Freud, but especially between Jung and his patient/lover Sabina Spielrein, stages a story about guilt and regret.

So much at stake that, on balance, it never hits the target completely, possibly due to a screenplay too focused on dialogue rather than the psychology of the characters.

From the Canadian director, given his poetics and obsessions, I would have expected a more "carnal" film, more centered on transgressions, on the fragile, yet explosive, sexuality of the human being.

A film that never scratches, not even in the hardest moments.

"A Dangerous Method" is somewhat reminiscent of "Spider", in how it tries to look inside the (distorted) human mind, without, however, the sick effectiveness of the latter.

In short, a Cronenberg that tries to juggle multiple themes without making any truly interesting (there are a couple of memorable scenes).

The male actors are spot-on, especially Vincent Cassel in the role of the "tempting devil" Otto Gross. Completely miscast Keira Knightley, always excessive and absolutely unsuitable for the role.

A wasted opportunity.