
A Dangerous Method
2011, Mystery and thriller/Drama, 1h 39m
190 Reviews 25,000+ RatingsWhat to know
critics consensus
A provocative historical fiction about the early days of psychoanalysis, A Dangerous Method is buoyed by terrific performances by Michael Fassbender, Keira Knightley, and Viggo Mortensen. Read critic reviews
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Movie Info
Cast & Crew
Sabina Spielrein
Sigmund Freud
Carl Jung
Emma Jung
Otto Gross

Professor Eugen Bleuler
News & Interviews for A Dangerous Method
Critic Reviews for A Dangerous Method
All Critics (190) | Top Critics (65) | Fresh (148) | Rotten (42)
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But, all in all, the movie is quite good and deserves more than one viewing just to keep up with the enthralling consecutive dialogues and often profound one-liners...
September 8, 2017 | Rating: B+ | Full Review… -
It makes for an absorbing drama and leaves the mustiness of cigars in the theatre.
June 20, 2013 | Full Review… -
Both Michael Fassbender and Viggo Mortensen are impressive, but the film belongs to Keira Knightley, who gives a quite astonishing performance, one modelled closely on existing film of women patients who suffered from this kind of hysteria.
March 28, 2012 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review… -
Keira can act! She really can.
February 10, 2012 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review… -
When you start to feel nostalgic for the late Ken Russell, you know something is wrong . . .
February 9, 2012 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review… -
Cronenberg dissects the early days of psychoanalysis here in a precisely plotted, superficially genteel costume drama, but one in which eruptions of kinky violence are never far off.
February 9, 2012 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
Audience Reviews for A Dangerous Method
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Nov 17, 2013"A Dangerous Method" is a really remarkable film. It tells the tale of the origins of psychoanalysis and the competition between its founder Sigmund Freud (here played by Viggo Mortensen) and Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender), who stood to inherit psychoanalysis and continue to promulgate the ideas, until Freud and Jung had a falling out. The film is quite historically accurate, according to the biographies and letters of both Freud and Jung. Viewers will also be impressed by Kiera Knightley's role as Sabina Spielrein. Highly recommended.Billie P Super Reviewer
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Oct 08, 2013I'm with those who felt indifferent to this. Nothing awful to hate, but nothing to think wow, great movie. One off view was more than enough for me. Keira's acting is maybe slightly overdone at the beginning. I do like her, but not so much in this role. Overall movie is a little dry and dull for my taste the.Nicki M Super Reviewer
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Jun 03, 2013The acting is above average, but not great. Even if the story is true, it's still uninspiring -- and frankly, I was bored. The costumes, hair and lighting were all high-quality.Christian C Super Reviewer
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Jan 02, 2013Taking place in the decade leading up to WWI, this period piece/historical fiction is as standoffish and mannered as the era it represents. Director David Cronenberg does not fail to show us sexual fetishes, and the "madness" of Jung's patient Sabina Spielrein, but somehow it all comes off as sterile as a psychoanalysis session (although a beautifully filmed one). I was originally taken by the intellectual arguments between Jung and his hero/mentor Sigmund Freud, but by the end of the film it all seemed an overblown bit of psycho babble for me - all self important and really coming down to nothing special at all. I blame the script and direction for this, as really the performances, especially that of Vigo Mortenson as Freud, were top notch; even if Kiera Knighly's Spielrein seemed too bi-polar for my tastes and her mad mannerisms didn't seem to fit her illness. Taking into consideration that a fair part of the story involves Jung's dream of feeling trapped by his wife and children, this still didn't give Cronenberg license to rinse and repeat - 2 years later another child is born. Followed by a scene marked as "a year later in Vienna", followed by "a year later another.... You get the idea. I'm truly vexed over what could have been here - and I really wanted this film to shine; but in spite of the fascinating subject matter concerning these two titans of psychoanalysis I'm left feeling that there was so much more to be had here than the story presented, and more so, the way it was presented. I'm also not completely sold in Cronenberg's depiction of Jung as some kind of psychic channelor - able to reach into the great beyond for portents of upcoming events. To me this seemed like an easy way to explore the differences in Freud's practices and the theorums that Jung was to later expouse. Add that the great schism between the two minds held very little drama and the interplay between doctor and patient (who later became a doctor in her own right) lacked any sense of urgency or pathos and you get a film that, while interesting in part, overall suffered from too much navel contemplation.paul s Super Reviewer
A Dangerous Method Quotes
Carl Jung: | My love for you was the most important thing in my life. For better or worse, it made me understand who I am. |
Carl Jung: | [looking at her pregnant belly] He should be mine. |
Carl Jung: | He should be mine. |
Sabina Spielrein: | Yes. |
Carl Jung: | Sometimes you have to do something unforgivable just to be able to go on living. [we see Sabina crying as she leaves in a coach, then we see Jung sitting emotionally withdrawn in his backyard] |
Carl Jung: | Sometimes you have to do something unforgivable just to be able to go on living. |
Sigmund Freud: | [voice over] Your letter cannot be answered. Your claim that I treat my friends like patients is self evidently untrue. As to which of us is the neurotic, I thought on this we agreed that a little neurosis was nothing whatever to be ashamed of. But a man like you, who behaves quite abnormally and then stands there shouting at the top of his voice how normal he is, does give considerable cause for concern. For a long time now, our relationship has been hanging by a thread, and a thread moreover, mostly consisting of past disappointments. We have nothing to lose by cutting it. |
Sigmund Freud: | Your letter cannot be answered. Your claim that I treat my friends like patients is self evidently untrue. As to which of us is the neurotic, I thought on this we agreed that a little neurosis was nothing whatever to be ashamed of. But a man like you, who behaves quite abnormally and then stands there shouting at the top of his voice how normal he is, does give considerable cause for concern. For a long time now, our relationship has been hanging by a thread, and a thread moreover, mostly consisting of past disappointments. We have nothing to lose by cutting it. |
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