It's really sad that PHOEBE IN WONDERLAND ended the way it did, as it was a terrifically acted film that totally fell apart at the end due to poor writing--very poor and very irresponsible writing. Very irresponsible. Very, very irresponsible. Perhaps my reason for feeling this way is that I practiced as a psychotherapist and taught psychology--so I have a pretty good idea about the subject matter being spoken about in the film. They just got it all so wrong--no matter that the film fills parents minds with all the wrong information on how to deal with a child like Phoebe.
Before I talk about the problematic plot, I want to talk about the acting. It was universally wonderful. In particular, young Elle Fanning was simply brilliant--so much so that you can't believe a child is playing the part. Patricia Clarkson was also wonderful--simply magnificent as Miss Dodger. As for Felicity Huffman and Bill Pullman are concerned, they were also very good--as you'd probably expect from them.
Now here is the story. A young girl is showing many very, very problematic psychiatric symptoms. She shows strong evidence of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder--in fact, it's one of the worst cases I've ever seen. She is so obsessed that she simply cannot function at times--it totally overwhelms her and she's miserable. About the only time she isn't miserable is when she's practicing for her school play, "Alice in Wonderland".
However, her problems go way beyond just OCD. She later has suicidal thoughts, is severely depressed and is beginning to hallucinate...a lot. She actually shows signs of depression, OCD and even schizophrenia. When the parents take her to a psychiatrist, the doctor is very detached. In fact, the way his part is written is pretty wretched--very few psychiatrists are that unskilled and wooden---particularly with kids. After a while, the mother takes her out of therapy because she (the mother) feels threatened by the doctor's diagnosis--which, by the way, we never hear! But, afterwords, the child begins acting out worse and worse and worse--culminating in jumping from the rafters in the theater because her imaginary friends tell her to do so!! Oddly, she wasn't even hurt (this might have killed her or should have at least gotten her hospitalized) and the parents DON'T take her back to therapy or have her hospitalized!!! Now I am NOT a big fan of psychiatric hospitals, but isn't a suicide attempt bad?! Now here is the crazy and irritating part, in the end, the mother announces that Phoebe's problem is all due to Tourette's Syndrome! Now SOME of the child's behaviors could be explained by Tourette's, but not all--certainly not the most serious ones. A suicide attempt, difficulty distinguishing reality and fantasy and severe depression are NOT THE SAME AS TOURETTE'S. Yet, oddly, soon after this, Phoebe is shown thriving now that she realizes her illness and it ends on a ridiculously upbeat note. I kept thinking--"is this all?!".
In summation, Elle Fanning and Patricia Clarkson were absolutely brilliant. Elle, in particular, was simply wonderful and amazing. I predict great things for her. HOWEVER, the writers are skilled in their craft but dangerously ignorant, as they provide simplistic answers to a very emotionally disturbed child. And, they give an interpretation of Tourette's that seems....well,...crazy. Did they do much research or were they doing mushrooms to come up with the inspiration for the ending of the film? Rarely have I seen a film so completely wrong when it comes to mental illness.
For information as to what Tourette's REALLY is, try www.tsa-USA.org/Medical/whatists_cov.html. This is the web site for the National Tourette Syndrome Association.
Too bad the film ended so badly...up until then, I had been hooked.
Before I talk about the problematic plot, I want to talk about the acting. It was universally wonderful. In particular, young Elle Fanning was simply brilliant--so much so that you can't believe a child is playing the part. Patricia Clarkson was also wonderful--simply magnificent as Miss Dodger. As for Felicity Huffman and Bill Pullman are concerned, they were also very good--as you'd probably expect from them.
Now here is the story. A young girl is showing many very, very problematic psychiatric symptoms. She shows strong evidence of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder--in fact, it's one of the worst cases I've ever seen. She is so obsessed that she simply cannot function at times--it totally overwhelms her and she's miserable. About the only time she isn't miserable is when she's practicing for her school play, "Alice in Wonderland".
However, her problems go way beyond just OCD. She later has suicidal thoughts, is severely depressed and is beginning to hallucinate...a lot. She actually shows signs of depression, OCD and even schizophrenia. When the parents take her to a psychiatrist, the doctor is very detached. In fact, the way his part is written is pretty wretched--very few psychiatrists are that unskilled and wooden---particularly with kids. After a while, the mother takes her out of therapy because she (the mother) feels threatened by the doctor's diagnosis--which, by the way, we never hear! But, afterwords, the child begins acting out worse and worse and worse--culminating in jumping from the rafters in the theater because her imaginary friends tell her to do so!! Oddly, she wasn't even hurt (this might have killed her or should have at least gotten her hospitalized) and the parents DON'T take her back to therapy or have her hospitalized!!! Now I am NOT a big fan of psychiatric hospitals, but isn't a suicide attempt bad?! Now here is the crazy and irritating part, in the end, the mother announces that Phoebe's problem is all due to Tourette's Syndrome! Now SOME of the child's behaviors could be explained by Tourette's, but not all--certainly not the most serious ones. A suicide attempt, difficulty distinguishing reality and fantasy and severe depression are NOT THE SAME AS TOURETTE'S. Yet, oddly, soon after this, Phoebe is shown thriving now that she realizes her illness and it ends on a ridiculously upbeat note. I kept thinking--"is this all?!".
In summation, Elle Fanning and Patricia Clarkson were absolutely brilliant. Elle, in particular, was simply wonderful and amazing. I predict great things for her. HOWEVER, the writers are skilled in their craft but dangerously ignorant, as they provide simplistic answers to a very emotionally disturbed child. And, they give an interpretation of Tourette's that seems....well,...crazy. Did they do much research or were they doing mushrooms to come up with the inspiration for the ending of the film? Rarely have I seen a film so completely wrong when it comes to mental illness.
For information as to what Tourette's REALLY is, try www.tsa-USA.org/Medical/whatists_cov.html. This is the web site for the National Tourette Syndrome Association.
Too bad the film ended so badly...up until then, I had been hooked.