Michelle SweeneyGirl Interrupted – Movie Review
May 20th 2008 00:23
Adapted from the memoir ‘Girl, Interrupted’ by Susanna Kaysen.
"Have you ever confused a dream with life? Or stolen something when you have the cash? Have you ever been blue? Or thought your train moving while sitting still? Maybe I was just crazy. Maybe it was the 60's. Or maybe I was just a girl... interrupted."
The film Girl Interrupted was directed by James Mangold (Walk the Line) and stars Winona Ryder (Reality Bites, Heather), Angelina Jolie (Wanted, Beyond Borders), Clea DuVall, Brittany Murphy, Jared Leto, Vanessa Redgrave and Whoopi Goldberg.
The film centres on Susanna Kaysen (Ryder) after attempting suicide, she is admitted to the Claymoore hospital, there she is diagnosed with Multiple Personality Disorder. She befriends the troubled women in her ward, namely Lisa (Jolie) who is quite simply a sociopath. Susanna is enchanted by Lisa, who encourages her to stop taking her medication and to resist therapy.
I enjoyed this film immensely, I first saw it when it came out in 2000, being about 13 I didn’t understand all the deeper underlying issues presented in the film, so I bought the DVD and since then have seen it numerous times.
Ryder was magnificent as the main protagonist Kaysen, a confused high school graduate, but I have to agree with almost everybody in stating that Jolie steals the show, the vulnerability and malice she incorporates into her character Lisa is phenomenal. Girl Interrupted earned Jolie an Academy Award, Golden Globe and a SAG.
For the most part, the film is told linearly, but in the first half hour, the film shows various flashbacks, which is wonderful way to illustrate Kaysens mental state before and immediately after being admitted to Claymoore hospital.
The films original score was created beautifully by Mychael Danna (Little Miss Sunshine, Capote).
Some may find the movie extremely dull and painful to watch, but I didn’t…
3 ½ /5
"Not a day goes by that my heart doesn't find them..."
TRIVIA - The author, Susanna Kaysen, was among the detractors of the film, angered by the "melodramatic drivel" Mangold used with the script by conjuring up many stories that never happened in the book (such as Lisa and Susanna running away together).
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Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
And I agree, Mychael Danna's score is a heart-breaking gem, one of the best things he's ever done, including his work for Atom Egoyan.