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Amazon.co.uk Review
Based on Susanna Kaysen's acclaimed journal-memoir, Girl, Interrupted bears inevitable resemblance to One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and pale comparison to that earlier classic is impossible to avoid. The mental institution settings of both films guarantee a certain degree of déjà vu and at least one Oscar winner (in this case, Angelina Jolie), since playing a loony is any actor's dream gig. Unfortunately, director James Mangold seems to have misplaced the depth and delicacy of his underrated debut, Heavy, despite a great deal of earnest effort by everyone involved. It's easy to see why Winona Ryder chose to star in (and executive-produce) this nearly worthy adaptation of Kaysen's book, since it's a strong vehicle for female casting and potent drama. Mangold certainly got the former; whether he succeeded with the latter is not so clear. To be sure, Ryder conveys the confusion and chaos that signified Kaysen's life during nearly 18 months of voluntary institutionalisation beginning in 1967. But the film seems too eager to embrace the cliché that the "crazies" of the Claymoore women's ward are saner than the war-torn world outside, and lack of narrative focus gives way to semipredictable character study.
Susanna (Ryder) is labeled with "borderline personality disorder," a diagnosis as ambiguous as her own emotions, and while Jolie chews the scenery as the resident bad-girl sociopath, Ryder effectively conveys an odyssey from vulnerable fear to self-awareness and, finally, to healing. The ensemble cast is uniformly superb, making this drama well worthwhile, even as it treads familiar territory. If it ultimately lacks dramatic impact, Girl, Interrupted makes it painfully clear that the boundaries of dysfunction are hazy in a world where everyone's crazy once in a while. --Jeff Shannon
Susanna (Ryder) is labeled with "borderline personality disorder," a diagnosis as ambiguous as her own emotions, and while Jolie chews the scenery as the resident bad-girl sociopath, Ryder effectively conveys an odyssey from vulnerable fear to self-awareness and, finally, to healing. The ensemble cast is uniformly superb, making this drama well worthwhile, even as it treads familiar territory. If it ultimately lacks dramatic impact, Girl, Interrupted makes it painfully clear that the boundaries of dysfunction are hazy in a world where everyone's crazy once in a while. --Jeff Shannon
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
A wonderful film with brilliant acting from the whole cast.
Winona Ryder plays the main character who narrates a tale of being admitted into a mental institute after trying to kill herself. Jaded with life and without a long term plan for the future that involves marrying and reproducing Susanna Kaysen is considered unstable. Diagnosis - borderline personality disorder.
In the institute she meets people the general public would consider the 'real crazies'.... As the story unfolds however we learn to see each of them as individuals and the stories behind why they are who they are...
Angelina Jolie's performance as a sociopath is unbelievable. The first thing that crossed my mind when I saw this was 'she absolutely and totally deserved that oscar.' If you've written her off as an actress give her one more shot with this movie and I guarantee you will change your mind.
Based on the book by Susanna Kaysen this is a true life story about self discovery and a must see movie... You may well laugh or cry. Maybe even both.
Winona Ryder plays the main character who narrates a tale of being admitted into a mental institute after trying to kill herself. Jaded with life and without a long term plan for the future that involves marrying and reproducing Susanna Kaysen is considered unstable. Diagnosis - borderline personality disorder.
In the institute she meets people the general public would consider the 'real crazies'.... As the story unfolds however we learn to see each of them as individuals and the stories behind why they are who they are...
Angelina Jolie's performance as a sociopath is unbelievable. The first thing that crossed my mind when I saw this was 'she absolutely and totally deserved that oscar.' If you've written her off as an actress give her one more shot with this movie and I guarantee you will change your mind.
Based on the book by Susanna Kaysen this is a true life story about self discovery and a must see movie... You may well laugh or cry. Maybe even both.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
'Crazy isn't being broken, or swallowing a dark secret. It's you, or me, amplified...'
Girl, Interrupted is an incredible film, insightful and memorable. Winona Ryder identifies in one of the DVD interviews that the book appears impossible to adapt, but all involved with the film have done a terrific job here. The film manages to stick very closely to the book and yet still tell a coherent story; anyone who's read Kaysen's biography will know that this is no small achievement! The characters' relationships with themselves and each other are at turns heartwarming and heartbreaking. Angelina Jolie does a particularly excellent job playing the magnetic Lisa, but all the cast give great performances.
The DVD extras are very good, and it's particularly interesting to see the deleted scenes offer a little bit more insight into some of the characters. The film's music is also worth a mention, with some really great song choices.
This film is resonating and beautiful, and in short, I can't recommend it highly enough. Go watch it already.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I suffer from BPD like Susannah Kaysen, and it is such a relief to have a film to really relate to. I'm grateful to her for writing the book, and a film being made out of it, as it is a very accurate portrayal of having a personality disorder. I watched it at the worst of my depression, and though while I watched it, it made me feel even more depressed and bleak, afterwards, it made me think hard about my life. I showed the film to my parents and some friends, and it gave them more of an insight into what I have been through.Obviously other people wouldn't be watching it for the same reasons as me, but they cannot fail to be affected by the emotions portayed in this film. Jolie is as ever brilliant, as too are Winona Ryder and Brittany Murphy. As I said, it made me feel very down while watching it, but that just shows how powerful the film is, it will make you think, and hopefully change your perception of the mentally ill.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A perfectly written and acted psychological insight into mental...
This review is coming from a person who has not read the book. A lot of things are different from the book which is a factual account of a real person. Read more
Published 1 month ago by lwk94
Girl, Interrupted
I first saw this film when it came out in the cinema and loved it so much I went back for a 2nd viewing. Since owning the DVD, I have probably seen it about another 10 times. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Pokergrrl
Girl, Interrupted
I loved the film and I'm surprised at how good the price is too. It came brand new and was packaged sufficiently. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Beth
Girl, Interrupted
Quite a weak story line. To me the actors were miscasted and unbelievable. It was watchable but I'd rather have spent my time and money on something else.
Published 7 months ago by Ms. Amanda Munro
DVD Order
Girl, Interrupted [DVD]
This DVD film was recommended to me by a friend and I saw it was available on Amazon at an amazingly low price with opportunity of the purchase... Read more
This DVD film was recommended to me by a friend and I saw it was available on Amazon at an amazingly low price with opportunity of the purchase... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Joe
One Flew Over the Cockoo's nest with an edge.
Without doubt Jolie's best performance before she sold out to Hollywood and stopped doing any real real acting (now she just poses). Read more
Published 14 months ago by C. ARNOLD
Fantastic!
i absolutly love this film, have done for many years.
a powerful way of showing just what does go on behind closed doors!
a powerful way of showing just what does go on behind closed doors!
Published 15 months ago by Su
Mental illness
This film made some true observations about mental illness and how life can seem to some people.
Life to the main character seemed like something you just endure. Read more
Life to the main character seemed like something you just endure. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Peter
Girl, Interrupted.
Such an incredible movie, It really shows the struggles that women can go through and also what it's like to be in a mental hospital when there isn't actually anything wrong with... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Zknight
Film vs. Book
The film as an entity is brilliant, a good strong cast and a strong story. However, why just a four star rating I hear you ask and you'd be right for doing so. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Feste
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