There is so much to think of in this movie.
First, it is based in a real person. Second it is about science and new concepts. Then it brings your history, the costumes,old beliefs etc.
Alan Rickman is astonishing. His portrayal of Mesmer is perfect.
"It's all about small stuff. You know, small lies, small mistakes."
I'll agree that the movie would have been *really* awful with anyone but Rickman in that role. I also liked the occasional philosophical bits about medicine and science, and find them fascinating in the context of today's unscientific "alternative healing".
"Your history" I would disagree with -- it's not very historically accurate about what his life was like. He had much more wide acceptance than is portrayed in the movie, in my reading of the history anwyay.
[deleted]
[deleted]