Shrink

Coincidenceville would have been a better title for Shrink, the film in which psychiatrist Henry Carter (Kevin Spacey) and a handful of Los Angelinos crisscross past credulity but for the convenience of showing our interrelatedness.

I came for the Kevin Spacey, but I stayed for the ensemble of great actors/characters (including an unexpected Robin Williams). I quite enjoyed this movie. I thought it would focus mostly on Spacey's character, but he was just one of many. It's one of those films where each character is connected with each other and you slowly find out how throughout. They're increasingly popular, but I still dig 'em.

A Hollywood movie about loss. As a result of that it has all the flaws you'd expect. Easy resolutions, unlikely character interactions, etc.

Aimless drama has fine performances (especially Spacey and Palmer), but a lack of a sturdy narrative spine makes the film scattered and unwieldy; whittling the focus to just Spacey would have made this work much better and perhaps made the emotional finale more touching - as it is the film just feels like a group of actors working their way through superficial personality traits. Left-field cameo from Williams (straining at the leash) almost threatens to overwhelm and derail the film entirely.

Niezly.

http://gorgview.com/shrink

It starts very slow, then nothing much happens, and after what seemed much longer than 100 minutes it was over. It had some parts that make you chuckle, and in the end everything ties neatly together, but I found it too slow. Oh yeah, and Spacey's face really did look like "a truck driver's nutsack" throughout the movie...

So apparently Spacy is supposed to be the world's worst psychiatrist, but I can give it that it does have some interesting side plots.

Wanted to like it but I just didn't "get" it. It was kind of all over the place, and it kept introducing more and more characters. If it had been much longer (like an hour longer) it could have been much better. Characters made rash decisions and we didn't really know much about anyone or their reasons. Interesting story though and I could definitely see where it was going, it just needed more time.

I thought this was ok, but it uses an overused style, overused cinematography, vapid characters who are not explored in sufficient depth (particularly Robin Williams' character) and goes too far in trying to make the stories intertwine. Also makes Los Angeles look very unappealing, physicall, socially and culturally. (maybe it is? I've never been)

Surprisingly good

Once you get beyond the somewhat narcissistic and superficially self-serving hollywood aspect of the film (kind of like 'stars have problems just like real people too' kind of bullshit) there is still a meaty movie underneath. Explores relationships, depression, anxiety, and all that other good stuff. Good characters and quite good acting from all parties.

Technically decent, but pretty underwhelming most of the time. Some ridiculous coincidences have to force the glacial plot along. I find it hilarious how the movie tries to make me feel bad for a character that's a handsome actor with a huge schlong who gets ze hot wommenz and stars in action movies, but who feels like a frowny clowny. Fuck you, movie.

I felt some of the characters should have had more of their stories unfolded (like Robin Williams). I have liked R. Williams in most all of his serious roles. Supporting actors were good. It was a pretty good movie. Laughed a bit. I never saw any trailers for this movie, or had even heard of it before I rented it; I just happened to see it at the video store and thought...Kevin Spacey, I think he's a great actor. So I got it...Woolah, it was pretty good!

Not so bad, but also not a comedy at all. kinda depressive, actually

"Though it never rains frogs in Shrink, the influence of Magnolia on this sprawling portrait of West L.A.'s rich-and-miserable couldn't be more pronounced." - Ryan Stewart

This movie takes a while to get going but if you stick with the story it pays off in the end. Kevin Spacey is excellent in the lead role. There is also some good supporting work from the rest of the cast.

Spacey is aight in a subpar dramedy about a shrink who's trying to make a living by helping others, when it is he who most desperately needs support. The remarks about the hollywoodian mentality are cheap and clichéd, even if the helmer's heart is in the right place.