Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

This is a difficult film to watch.Hats off to Ms. Ricci for her performance and to Jessica Lange.Perhaps because the film concentrates on her first year of College at Harvard the viewer has a difficult time sympathizing with main character - as we are only given a character far too full of herself and far too sure that the entire world is composed only of supporting actors to her Oscar, Emmy and Tony award winning life and desperate to only say brilliant lines all the time.It would have helped if the film had made us feel how manic/depression can be relentless in driving the person to do or not do what any sane person would do without question - before Ms. Ricci character savages those around her and her life.I could not decide if Ms. Ricci's character was in need of immediate good therapy or good therapeutic drugs or a Good Slap or a positive combination of all three. I have to admit a Good Slap and a Summer spent doing good hard farm work - which exhausts the body and thus rests the mind - might have done her the best good.

Yes, you will see the beautiful and barely 20 yo Christina Ricci topless in this depressing movie about depression and anti-depressants. I don't care what kind of pills she's on when the lights go off and those roundy rounds come out to play. Cheer up buttercup, you have a kickin' body, and you've made sure that everyone in America knows it. The movie is a little bit of a downer though, so take my advice and turn the sound off, see those big beautiful breasts floppin' around over that skinny, taught stomach of hers, and see where the night takes ya. Let it do what it do...let tha flow go, and us ladies may find out a little more about ourselves than we ever wanted to know.

I had no idea this is based on real life. But Christina Ricci is terrific in her role again. Even if she isn't the most likable person and her "better than everybody" persona does do little to make you sympathize with her.But that's not what the movie is after. It tries to get us into the mindset of this character (person) and it kinda succeeds in doing so. It is a drama and therefor won't really be the movie Ricci fans might seek out to see her in her Eva costume. It's still a testament to her commitment going all that way and only emphasizes the "nakedness" of her character (and vulnerability).Not an easy movie by a long shot, but who said you wanted an easy movie to watch? (unless you wanted to, but then you shouldn't watch this one)

I haven't read the book, but I certainly will since in my experience book is always much better than the following film.The only criticism I have for this film is that the ending is somehow sudden. I was so into the film and when it'd finished I felt like someone had cut the film's last 10 minutes.I'm the 4th year student of psychology and psychotherapy and in my opinion the story showed depression like it really is with some people suffering from it. That's why I want to read the book too.The film concentrates at the present crisis of the main character Elizabeth with a few glimpses into her childhood. She just started university. Going to college alone is considered stressful event and one of the normal crisis in life (as is for example pregnancy, retirement etc.) and can be a trigger for depressive episodes (combined with other factors).I was really impressed with how the film presented mother-daughter and daughter-boyfriend relationship and the state of mind of a depressed person. The relationship with her father, her emotions for him and vice versa are less developed. But all important psychological elements were covered. The usual behavior of parents who have children with similar illnesses is there. The powerful desire depressed people have for someone to save them is also showed in the film. Also the hardness of being friends or in some other way close to depressed person.And acting - I'll just say bravo! I also like the following point in the film - if you're suffering from depression, seek help, from family, friends, but especially professional help! And if you really feel that professional help is not good enough for you seek further. It's treatable! (Btw, don't use just drugs) It's not that depressed people don't have power to deal with it alone when they seek help - no one else can win that fight for them. It's about support and guidance through the black clouds of their mind and Pan's labyrinth but the real steps and decisions are made by them.