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A Dangerous Method

Name: A Dangerous Method
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Released: November 23, 2011
Duration: 99 min
Rating: 76

2011

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 41 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 159 Ratings

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6.4

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6.4	Your Score
6.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 159 Ratings

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A DANGEROUS METHOD

Movie Details & Credits

Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: November 23, 2011 | R

Summary: On the eve of World War I, Zurich and Vienna are the setting for a dark tale of sexual and intellectual discovery. Drawn from true-life events, A Dangerous Method takes a glimpse into the turbulent relationships between fledgling psychiatrist Carl Jung, his mentor Sigmund Freud and Sabina Spielrein, the troubled but beautiful young womanOn the eve of World War I, Zurich and Vienna are the setting for a dark tale of sexual and intellectual discovery. Drawn from true-life events, A Dangerous Method takes a glimpse into the turbulent relationships between fledgling psychiatrist Carl Jung, his mentor Sigmund Freud and Sabina Spielrein, the troubled but beautiful young woman who comes between them. Into the mix comes Otto Gross, a debauched patient who is determined to push the boundaries.
In this exploration of sensuality, ambition and deceit set the scene for the pivotal moment when Jung, Freud and Sabina come together and split apart, forever changing the face of modern thought. (Sony Classics)… Expand

Director: David Cronenberg

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller

Rating: R

Runtime: 99 min

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Awards & Rankings

64	#64 Best Movie of 2011
89	#89 Most Shared Movie of 2011

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Liam Lacey

Jan 12, 2012

Mostly, though, A Dangerous Method is a suave chamber piece: a series of glimpses of two 20th-century intellectual titans, in friendship and separation, and the story of a remarkable woman who history had swallowed up, brought into the light again. Read full review

Eric Kohn

Nov 23, 2011

In the movie's final shot, Jung's confidence crumbles and he looks supremely troubled, still uncertain of a world he once believed could be explained with textual prowess. Better than any analysis, his expression sums up the dangerous method at the heart of every Cronenberg movie. Read full review

Peter Travers

Nov 21, 2011

The actors give it their all, especially Knightley, whose jaw- jutting, heavily accented and unfairly criticized portrayal gives the film its fighting spirit. Read full review

James Berardinelli

Jan 9, 2012

Ultimately, however, A Dangerous Method is less about the formative years of psychotherapy and two of its progenitors than it is about a rule-breaking extramarital affair. Read full review

David Edelstein

Dec 27, 2011

That wordiness coupled with Cronenberg's classical restraint is part of the splendid Freudian joke at the movie's center. Read full review

Peter Rainer

Nov 23, 2011

Low point would be Knightley's hysterical opening sequences in which she appears to be trying to trying to contort herself into a Moebius strip. Overacting this gross can only have been enabled by a director. Didn't Cronenberg look at the rushes? Or did he think he was back in "Dead Ringers" territory? Read full review

Rene Rodriguez

Oct 27, 2011

Even a supporting turn by Vincent Cassell as Otto Gross, a fellow psychiatrist, cocaine addict and unapologetic adulterer, fails to enliven the movie: A Dangerous Method makes even a cokehead hedonist boring. Read full review

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User Reviews

Eleni

Jan 14, 2012

www.unsungfilms.com
by Georgia Xanthopoulou
Based on a stage play which was based, in its turn, on a book by John Kerr, A Dangerous Method is about the relationship a young Carl Jung develops with a troubled patient as well as the beginning and break-up of his friendship with Sigmundwww.unsungfilms.com
by Georgia Xanthopoulou
Based on a stage play which was based, in its turn, on a book by John Kerr, A Dangerous Method is about the relationship a young Carl Jung develops with a troubled patient as well as the beginning and break-up of his friendship with Sigmund Freud. Most importantly, the film concerns itself with the events that probably caused the breakdown he suffered during World War I and the battle within himself as his values as a responsible physician clashed with his carnal desires. The film starts off quite rough. For those who may be frightened by the beginning of the film, I assure you it gets better. Keira Knightley doesnâ… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ishouldbeking

Dec 7, 2011

This is an interesting film for Cronenberg in that it never gets as weird or intense as most folks would expect from him. Rather, what we're given is essentially a very mannered comedy that, at first blush, looks like a Merchant Ivory drama... though the humor is SO dry that most folks inThis is an interesting film for Cronenberg in that it never gets as weird or intense as most folks would expect from him. Rather, what we're given is essentially a very mannered comedy that, at first blush, looks like a Merchant Ivory drama... though the humor is SO dry that most folks in the theater I was in simply mistook it for drama anyway. If you're intimately familiar with Cronenberg's work, though, you realize that underlying a lot of his films, even his most serious pieces, there is a hyper-intelligent, active sense of humor at play. Here it takes center stage, though he operates with such nuance and wit that a good portion of the audience will inevitably miss the joke entirely. It's also worth mentioning that each of the lead cast members are fantastic, in particular Keira Knightley. I wouldn't recommend this film to just anyone, but as a fan of Cronenberg's entire career, I greatly enjoyed the film.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

Lyn

Jan 5, 2014

Like a good volume of biography or history, this is the type of movie that will send interested viewers in search of more information about these intriguing characters. Not the biggest fan of Keira Knightley, but thought she was believably hysterical in this and it's hard to go wrong withLike a good volume of biography or history, this is the type of movie that will send interested viewers in search of more information about these intriguing characters. Not the biggest fan of Keira Knightley, but thought she was believably hysterical in this and it's hard to go wrong with Fassbender and Mortensen. Definitely on the dry & talky side and of particular interest to psychology minors. I like talky films and WAS a psych minor, so I was fine with it!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Gene

Dec 30, 2011

Movie had some incredibly memorable lines and great dialogue between Jung and Freud, and a downright brilliant 20 minutes with Vincent Cassel as Otto Gross. Unfortunately, Jung just wasn't a particularly interesting main character. The only time he's engaging is when he's debating with FreudMovie had some incredibly memorable lines and great dialogue between Jung and Freud, and a downright brilliant 20 minutes with Vincent Cassel as Otto Gross. Unfortunately, Jung just wasn't a particularly interesting main character. The only time he's engaging is when he's debating with Freud or having sex with Keira Knightly. Unfortunately those segments only really last 2/3rds of the movie, the last 3rd that details a minor mental breakdown or has him living with his personality devoid wife feel boring and pointless, I was just waiting for the credits to roll.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

khan2705

Feb 14, 2012

I liked it for the most part but just wasn't impressed by the overall movie, this really wasn't a good character study of a well known historic figure or a human being in general. Cronenberg played very safe and the movie felt too much of a Holding Back case to me and to me this is one ofI liked it for the most part but just wasn't impressed by the overall movie, this really wasn't a good character study of a well known historic figure or a human being in general. Cronenberg played very safe and the movie felt too much of a Holding Back case to me and to me this is one of the weaker Cronenberg movies. A big fan of Fassbender, he was nice in the movie but the best thing about it was Mortenson who stole the show while Keira Knightely was too childish and amateur in the movie. Good art direction and stuff but not a very good movie still a nice watch.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

nutterjr

Dec 31, 2012

Despite the excellent cast performing splendidly and boldly in the case of Knightley, this is a stern, somewhat repressed movie. And even when Vincent Cassell in a supporting role as a cocaine addict and hedonist fellow psychiatrist Otto Gross appears dull, only one thing is left to sayDespite the excellent cast performing splendidly and boldly in the case of Knightley, this is a stern, somewhat repressed movie. And even when Vincent Cassell in a supporting role as a cocaine addict and hedonist fellow psychiatrist Otto Gross appears dull, only one thing is left to say about the movie: A Dangerous Method is plainly boring.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

poopdepoop3

Dec 3, 2011

just terrible, terrible,terrible,terrible,terrible,terrible,terrible,terrible,terrible,terrible,terrible,terrible,terrible,just terrible, terrible,terrible,terrible,terrible,terrible,terrible,terrible,terrible,terrible,terrible,terrible.

0 of 6 users found this helpful06

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