"Seriously, the almost complete lack of award recognition combined with the trash people talk on this board doesn't reflect well for the people involved. If you know anything about acting, Knightley gave up a lot to that role. The opening scenes were gut-wrenching, and we could feel her madness subsiding even while her heartbreak was driving her crazy in a different way. It was intense! I just can't stand it when an actor has crafted this wonderful gift of a performance and audiences throw it back without even realizing that she transformed into a Russian Jew, a sexually abused virginal mental patient, a psychoanalyst, a woman on the side, a woman reborn, a rival, a returner to her bad ways, and a wise but wistful woman. Dude!!! You can't ask more from an actor! There's nothing more to give than that! Ugh!"
Magnetictheory - "I absolutely agree 100%. She gave this role everything. I was fúcking captivated, and not just by her looks this time. Seriously, truly magnificent performance. With her opening scene she reached into my chest like the Grim Reaper, ripped out my soul and pulled me into the movie with brute force, leaving my corpse on the couch. Some people are calling it over-acting but I really don't think they're familiar with the source material or her character. In a wonderful way, Keira's character study of Sabina and her personal take on her is poignant to the subject matter in the film itself.
The opening scenes almost felt like an intimate, private acting lesson with Keira. In that setting and the way it was shot was like watching a professional at their craft in their own environment, like a small actor's studio. Like watching a Venetian glass blower bring to life wonderful creations in their studio. I felt privileged. Then her transformation throughout the film from fragile to strong, while still maintaining that insecurity, was simply amazing. And her chemistry with Fassbender was wonderful to watch. Two brilliant actors at the top of their game.
Fassbender as Jung and Mortensen as Freud was perfect. Mortensen, wow, brilliant as usual. And then Cassel, I felt like I was being spoiled. Couldn't have picked a better cast. Deserved an Oscar for the screenplay, at the very least; so well-written. Script, set design, costumes, cinematography, locations, editing, direction, acting... marvelous. I just can't fault this film. It's been so long since I've thoroughly enjoyed a new movie from beginning to end."
******
I agree with both of you. Very well said.
Keira was phenomenal. I have much appreciation for all she put into this role and I will never look at her the same. Yes, she was indeed painful to watch, but that's the point. She's in pain. She's suffering a condition unlike any we have seen or understand in this day and age. Her mind is broken and diseased from years of abuse and torture. She suffers from the shame she feels about her sexuality, the shame of not being the woman society deems her to be, the suppression of those sexual feelings. Keira's acting portrayed this quite clearly. I'm sure anyone with any amount of intellect and respect for the fragility of the human mind, whether they are aware of it or not, has had some deep-seeded fear of losing one's mind. The only person who is immune to losing one's sanity is the insane. It is normal for this to be painful to watch, but that doesn't mean the acting is to blame. How many of her critics have ever seen an untreated truly hysterical patient? Who are any of us to say how these "hysterical" people should act?
I found this movie because I had seen Fassbender for the first time in XMen First Class and was really impressed with him. I'm a Cronenberg fan and was pleasantly surprised when I stumbled across it when I IMDB-ed Fassbender. But as I watched it, Fassbender and Mortensen were nowhere to be seen. I searched high and low and kept trying to find these beloved actors only to see Jung and Freud. Their portrayals were so awesome and studious I couldn't even imagine the way these men looked outside of costume. I saw no trace of the dangerously exciting man who played a young Magneto or the seductive, dangerous hero of Eastern Promises and A History of Violence. The sheer, raw talent of these men and the other actors, Knightly and Cassel, blew me away. I look forward to seeing Michael's other movies and I have a new respect for Keira. Of course, I love Cronenberg and Mortensen as I always have.
***I apologize as I'm sure I have not "quoted" correctly. I'm new to the IMDB boards and they're quite different from all the others I've used. Still finding my way!
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