“A FILM THAT GROWS ON YOU”
Starring: Kevin Spacey, Mark Webber, Robert Loggia, Robin Williams, Keke Palmer, Griffin Dunne, Saffron Burrows, Dallas Roberts and Jesse Plemons
Directed by: Jonas Pate
MPAA Rating: R for drug content throughout and pervasive language including some sexual references.
Genre: Drama/with comical overtones
By John Delia
Take a great cast, add an interesting script, throw in a very competent director and you have the makings of an excellent film. Shrink has all these qualities and more. Spacey hits a new high, Palmer provides some sterling youthfulness, and director Pate puts it all together in a neat little package worth seeing. If you like a good drama that will keep you engrossed till the satisfying end, then this fine flick should entrance your psyche.
The film centers on Henry Carter (Spacey) a psychiatrist who is haunted by the loss of his wife. Having a highflying Hollywood clientele doesn’t help his
situation much; in fact there demands are getting in the way of his own problems. His patients include a has been actress (Burrows) who’s having troubles at home with her celebrity husband, a writer (Webber) who would do anything to sell his script, an agent (Roberts) who has developed a number of phobias, and Jack (Williams) a man possessed by an addiction to women who uses other forms of release not to cheat on his wife. He works in the shadow of his father (Loggia) who once ran the business and is about to take on a case (Palmer) he could not have imagined he ever would and it’s pro bono with a problem that mirror’s his own to boot.
This is probably Kevin Spacey’s best work in a dramatic role, even better than the roles of Lester Burnham in American Beauty and the Oscar winning Verbal Kint in The Usual Suspects, which up to now were my all time favorite performances by the actor. His nonchalant demeanor as a shrink who could have everything, yet can’t get he daemons out of his own head much less those of his current clients, makes the film work.
Of course most all actors today have to have a good supporting cast and in Shrink the chemistry is so amazing that the ensemble is nothing short of brilliant. Even Williams controls his comic side making his character a winner. Playing Jack he shows the character’s sad dilemma of trying to control his wanton desires and another addiction that could damage his fame.
Direction in the film by Pate is incredible. Keeping the actors in character, setting the tone for each of the many scenes and intertwining the stories so that every one of the central figures comes in contact with each other shows his commendable ability.
The film has been rated R by the MPAA for drug content throughout and pervasive language including some sexual references, so let that be your guide when choosing to take minors to see the film.
FINAL ANALYSIS: Shrink is an excellent film for adults that take their drama seriously. (5 of 5 Palm Trees)