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Shrink
It initially comes off as another exploration of the theory that most of the movers and shakers of Hollywood are really screwed up people, but 2009's Shrink is an indie sleeper that does broach other subjects, even though the digging is a little shallow. The film does remain watchable though thanks to a really interesting cast.
Two time Oscar winner Kevin Spacey plays Dr. Henry Carter, a Hollywood shrink to the stars who is dealing with the suicide of his wife by smoking way too much marijuana. While watching Dr. Henry deal with his own demons, we are introduced to some of his patients as well: Jack Holden (Robin Williams) is an alcoholic actor who thinks he's a sex maniac; Kate Amberson (Saffron Burrows) is a sensitive actress who's worried about getting old; Patrick (Dallas Roberts) is a high powered Hollywood agent and germa-phobe whose pregnant assistant (Pell James) really wants to be a producer; A troubled high school student named Jemma (KeKe Palmer) who's been acting out in school since her mother committed suicide; Jeremy (Mark Webber) is a seemingly geeky screenwriter with an agenda; and Shamus (Jack Huston) is a drugged out action star. We also meet Jesus (Jessie Plemmons), Henry's laid back drug dealer.
Screenwriter Thomas Moffet has constricted a sophisticated Hollywood soap opera that attempts to address some serious subjects like the validity of suicide but barely scratches the surface. What Moffet does right is creating some really interesting characters that the viewer will have no trouble investing in and provides some viable connections between some the characters that we don't see coming. There are a couple of dangling plot participles, specifically the relationship between Jemma and Jeremy which really doesn't make sense and is never really explained, not to mention an apparent connection to Patrick that doesn't make sense either, but I let them go the same way Moffet did.
It's the acting that kept me interested in this one. It goes without saying that Spacey is incapable of giving a bad performance and Williams made the most of his limited screentime as well. Palmer, Webber, Plemmons, James, and especially Roberts also have their moments in the cinematic sun. Jonas Pate's directorial eye is sharp and seems to have a real talent with actors and provides solid entertainment despite some holes in the story and an occasional dip into melodrama.
It initially comes off as another exploration of the theory that most of the movers and shakers of Hollywood are really screwed up people, but 2009's Shrink is an indie sleeper that does broach other subjects, even though the digging is a little shallow. The film does remain watchable though thanks to a really interesting cast.
Two time Oscar winner Kevin Spacey plays Dr. Henry Carter, a Hollywood shrink to the stars who is dealing with the suicide of his wife by smoking way too much marijuana. While watching Dr. Henry deal with his own demons, we are introduced to some of his patients as well: Jack Holden (Robin Williams) is an alcoholic actor who thinks he's a sex maniac; Kate Amberson (Saffron Burrows) is a sensitive actress who's worried about getting old; Patrick (Dallas Roberts) is a high powered Hollywood agent and germa-phobe whose pregnant assistant (Pell James) really wants to be a producer; A troubled high school student named Jemma (KeKe Palmer) who's been acting out in school since her mother committed suicide; Jeremy (Mark Webber) is a seemingly geeky screenwriter with an agenda; and Shamus (Jack Huston) is a drugged out action star. We also meet Jesus (Jessie Plemmons), Henry's laid back drug dealer.
Screenwriter Thomas Moffet has constricted a sophisticated Hollywood soap opera that attempts to address some serious subjects like the validity of suicide but barely scratches the surface. What Moffet does right is creating some really interesting characters that the viewer will have no trouble investing in and provides some viable connections between some the characters that we don't see coming. There are a couple of dangling plot participles, specifically the relationship between Jemma and Jeremy which really doesn't make sense and is never really explained, not to mention an apparent connection to Patrick that doesn't make sense either, but I let them go the same way Moffet did.
It's the acting that kept me interested in this one. It goes without saying that Spacey is incapable of giving a bad performance and Williams made the most of his limited screentime as well. Palmer, Webber, Plemmons, James, and especially Roberts also have their moments in the cinematic sun. Jonas Pate's directorial eye is sharp and seems to have a real talent with actors and provides solid entertainment despite some holes in the story and an occasional dip into melodrama.