MovieChat Forums > The Informant! (2009) Discussion > Some questions *spoiler*

Some questions spoiler

posted 11 years ago by IMDBFreeek
4 replies | jump to latest

So all the lying, is that just his character, or is it due to his bipolar disorder?

My basica understanding of Bipolar Disorder is only that, a person is suddenly happy and suddenly sad, but Mark doesnt seem to suffer from that. He seems to constantly lie, make confessions at a really terrible time and then apologize for it, then make even more lies. He seems more like a compulsive liar. Could anybody educate me on which of Mark's actions are caused by the bipolar disorder?

...a little fantastic, and fleeting, and out of reach.

[–] TheManInOil 11 years ago

I'm not an expert, but the judge even says it has nothing to do with his crimes. It's more evident from the fact that he seems to swing from feeling persecuted and lashing out at people, to feeling confident and believing he'll end up running the company. Unrealistic in both his hopes and his dispair, he's emotionally unstable. BUT, he knows when he's lying and he does it for profit/advantage, and stealing the money isn't 'caused' by an emotional condition.

"I'll book you. I'll book you on something. I'll find something in the book to book you on."

[–] IMDB_Vits 10 years ago

You're right: Bipolar Disorder has to do mostly with mood swings. Being a pathological liar has nothing to do with it. I'm sure that his disorder causes him to think that he's lying for the greater good or something like that.

[–] spookyrat1 9 years ago

I'm sure that his disorder causes him to think that he's lying for the greater good or something like that.

He literally appears to suffer from delusions of grandeur/self-importance (an affliction unfortunately affecting some IMDB posters on occasion). 🐭

[–] asylum23-93-851467 8 years ago

I have Bipolar Disorder, it does not generally make you lie in this grandiose fashion, for years on end. They did not mention the obvious of him having Narcissistic Personality Disorder as well. Now that is an ingrained, untreatable disorder, it would make him lie and even believe the lies.

You can really see it at the end where he is reading the supposed letter from the dr. and Bakula keeps giving him evidence that the letter is a forgery. But he back peddles, argues, makes up more lies, until he runs out of steam. Even in the face of evidence to the contrary. That is Narcissism.