Shrink (2009)

Director:

Jonas Pate

Writer:

Thomas Moffett (screenplay)

Release Date:

6 August 2009 (Greece)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

The doctor is out.

Plot:

Unable to cope with a recent personal tragedy, LA's top celebrity shrink turns into a pothead with no concern for his appearance and a creeping sense of his inability to help his patients.

Plot Keywords:

Shrink | Drug Dealer | Script | Dead Dog | One Word Title

Cast

Kevin Spacey	...	Henry Carter
Joe Nunez	...	Recording Supervisor (as Joseph A. Nuñez)
Mark Webber	...	Jeremy
Keke Palmer	...	Jemma
Sierra Aylina McClain	...	Carina
Ada Luz Pla	...	Teacher
Saffron Burrows	...	Kate Amberson
Jack Huston	...	Shamus
Pell James	...	Daisy
Mei Melançon	...	Miyu
Dallas Roberts	...	Patrick
Andrew Sibner	...	Richie
Troy Metcalf	...	O.T.
Kendall Clement	...	Uncle Jim
Jesse Plemons	...	Jesus

MPAA:

Rated R for drug content throughout, and pervasive language including some sexual references.

Runtime:

104 min | Germany:110 min (European Film Market)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #45374) | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Netherlands:6 | Singapore:M18 (cut)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Ignite Entertainment

Goofs:

Continuity: When Jeremy throws his laptop on the floor, what appears to be the battery flies out and lands on the floor next to the laptop, and the cover is completely closed. The scene cuts to a closeup of him looking down at what he had just done, then it cuts to him bending down to pick it up. The laptop is now partly open, the screen is lit, and the battery is no longer anywhere to be seen on the floor.

Quotes:

Henry Carter: Happiness. Happiness is a word for a feeling. Feelings are rarely understood; in a moment they are quickly forgotten and misremembered.

Movie Connections:

References The Graduate (1967)

Soundtrack:

Shiny Girl

Underrated. Brilliant, Simple, Real.

If you are an IMDb addict like myself who has set himself or herself strict guidelines as to the minimum score and/or number of votes, then this movie is one of those films that are underrated. Personally, I broke my rule of a minimum of 7.0 rating due to the fact that Kevin Spacey was in the picture. Very glad I did so. In fact, I am going to cancel all rulings based on this movie alone.

Before I go on, I must say that it is understandable why the movie is underrated. The movie develops at a slower pace than what the average movie fan is used to and it definitely lacks the suspense moments, action, thrills and so on. However it has so much more to compensate for it. Intricate character development, superb acting, deep and very well though through screenplay and dialogues, makes this movie a brilliant and yet simple unique creation.

It makes you think about your own lives, the lives of those around you. Everybody has got problems, everyone has got issues, its not just on the big screen. Often, the stories of those around you are far more profound than what you see on the screen. The screenplays and movies have tried nearly every possible scenario, every possible plot. Directors and screenwriters, alike, try to deliver ever more complicated and twisted plots that the movie watchers would be surprised by. This movie strikes all that, it forgets Hollywood and delivers something unique and true to humanity. It brings you down to earth and sheds light into the lives of those around you, on something that happens to a lot of us, everyday.

As always, Kevin Spacey delivers a top notch performance. This is the movie that you would want to see more than once, maybe it is one of those movies that you would be willing to watch twice… in a row. I believe that there is something to be found in this movie upon each new time that you watch it. It is definitely one of the best movies in the past year or so. Simply brilliant.