Madness at the Movies: Understanding Mental Illness through Film

by James Charney

A unique exploration of how mental illness is portrayed in classic and contemporary films.

The study of classic and contemporary films can provide a powerful avenue to understand the experience of mental illness. In Madness at the Movies, James Charney, MD, a practicing psychiatrist and long-time cinephile, examines films that delve deeply into characters' inner worlds, and he analyzes moments that help define their particular mental illness.

Based on the highly popular course that Charney taught at Yale University and the American University of Rome, Madness at the Movies introduces readers to films that may be new to them and encourages them to view these films in an entirely new way. Through films such as Psycho, Taxi Driver, Through a Glass Darkly, Night of the Hunter, A Woman Under the Influence, Ordinary People, and As Good As It Gets, Charney covers an array of disorders, including psychosis, paranoia, psychopathy, depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anxiety. He examines how these films work to convey the essence of each illness. He also looks at how each film reflects the understanding of mental illness at the time it was released as well as the culture that shaped that understanding.

Charney explains how to observe the behaviors displayed by characters in the films, paying close attention to signs of mental illness. He demonstrates that learning to read a film can be as absorbing as watching one. By viewing these films through the lens of mental health, readers can hone their observational skills and learn to assess the accuracy of depictions of mental illness in popular media.

Genres: Psychology, Audiobook, Nonfiction, Film

448 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 31, 2023

Reviews

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's rare to find film criticism that's smoothly readable rather than didactic, that summarizes plot without becoming plodding, and that covers so many aspects of the films under discussion--characterization, story, lighting and music, even taking into account the director's tendencies and the times they were made in. And Dr. Charney does all this while discussing mental illness and its portrayal in film, again while being readable and kind, something a lot of writing on the topic never manages. You can tell he loves both movies and being a doctor. He has no compunctions about saying "This is a good portrayal" vs. "This is a good portrayal except for this one element" vs. "This is flawed and here's why". High points for me include:

--A really, really in-depth analysis of "Repulsion", which cements that I will never watch it, but I can appreciate the development of the story and the protagonist's descent into insanity.

--A similarly in-depth analysis of "Taxi Driver" and how Travis Bickle's behaviors don't correspond to any one specific condition.

--The pointed statement that the protagonist of "As Good As It Gets" may have OCD and anxiety, but his asshole behavior for most of the film is an entirely separate thing.

--More than one comment that love and logic cannot cure a mental illness, it would be nice if they could and it makes for a better movie, but that's not how this works.

--A review and study of "Ordinary People" that makes me want to watch the movie, re-read the book, and emotionally compromise myself utterly.

Noted that he includes Polanski's "Repulsion" and Allen's "Hannah and Her Sisters", stating that he's separating the art from the artist and that the directors' personal sagas don't keep the movies from being sterling examples of their subjects. I don't agree, but I appreciate him acknowledging those particular elephants.

[Crystal]

DNF @ 11%. What I gather from another review is that I gave up after the author began discussing Woody Allen but before his acknowledgement that Polanski and Allen are both problematic figures and his personal decision to separate art from the artist.

[J Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Madness at the Movies is a great read. As the book closes with its final words, when the good professor dismisses you without, thank goodness, final exam, you will have devoured a compelling, entertaining and enlightening university level course in film studies and clinical psychiatry.

For me, however, the book was more than that. You know when you read a book you wonder about who the author is or was, what were his intentions and so forth? Well, Dr. Charney reveals he is a learned, rational, insightful, ethical and gifted practitioner worth getting to know. This is refreshing. Hearing him as the voice-in-the-text, you will find also a gifted writer, engaging teacher, film aficionado and, not arguably, conscientious clinical coach. He will elevate you from making offhand remarks about directors, movies, actors, performance and peculiar, to say the least, personalities. You will have a deeper understanding and appreciation of what specific mental and emotional challenges people have, what we (might) have. He does this through whether and how well selected movies, really the characters portrayed in them, convey these.

Experiencing this scholarly but entirely accessible book deserves even a second go; it is that rich for the curious as well as the reader who wants more. It will reward you as much as the first screening, er reading. Have at it. And don't be a chicken like me, squeamish. See the films Dr. Charney has chosen to examine and those he refers to with the analyses and spoilers you already have at hand. You will experience the movies differently because you have changed.

Finally, beware, even if you don't see the films or read this gem a second time, Dr. Charney and/or films/analyses he includes in his book may well touch you personally, viscerally. But you are in a professional's hands, one who demonstrates compassionate understanding but is clear and direct with how he sees fictional as non-fictional characters and their challenges.

[Ian Morley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Few of us are Psychiatrists or understand the range and nuances of mental illness when depicted in a movie . Dr Charney’s book (Madness at the Movies) explains all and more. He is not only an eminent Psychiatrist but also a huge movie buff.
He brings classic movies of madness back to us with an insightful and entertaining review of the movie and a professional but non-technical analysis of the mental conditions of the players and often the role played by the Psychiatrist.
The book is both fun and informative as well as being an eye opener inside the mind of the troubled persons ,the actors and the directors interpretations. It provides an insider’s view of what a professional psychiatrist looks for and the Dos and Don’ts of the profession. Highly recommended!

[Scott Delgado · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this more than I thought I would. While I started it because I love movies, I ended up learning a bit more about mental health while also learning a bit more about movies. It was a two-fer!

[Yoruichi · Rating 2 out of 5]

A serious lack of analysis. I don't believe that it helps understanding mental illness.

[Daniel Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book more than I thought I would. I learned a lot about mental health and rediscovered my love of cinema. I'd like to see some of the movies mentioned in this insightful book.