Slightly sentimental towards the end but well controlled and involving

Rating: Null/10 (5 May 2003)

After an apparent suicide attempt, Susanna meets with a physiatrist friend of the family who tells her she should go to the local mental institution. She signs herself in but soon after realises the enormity of what she has done  however she cannot leave until they let her go. An outsider at first she soon befriends the aggressive Lisa and tries to come to terms with the institute around her.
Despite being an Oscar winner I felt no great compulsion to check this film out at the time of it's release  I'm not sure why, perhaps I was put off by the (unfair) claim of it being a `female Cuckoo's Nest'. However by and large it was my loss as much of this film is good. The plot's central message that these people are just `normal' people exaggerated is OK and not too sentimentally delivered. The film is not quite as moving as I felt it should be though  it went just where you expected it to and feel into too many clichéd moments and moments that do touch on the syrupy. However it is interesting enough to overcome these obstacles and makes for a good watch.
The cast is the main reason for watching. Ryder is a little too wide eyed for my liking but still does a very good job (and her opening lines about stealing are very funny in retrospect!). However the real scene-stealer is Jolie who brings a realistic energy to the film. When she is off screen you really feel her loss as the film does dip a little into sentiment. Goldberg's character is the weak link as much of the sentimentality comes from her direction, she walks around with her assured smug air and you just know she's going to bond and hug with somebody. Murphy, DuVall and Moss all do well in support (although I found Moss a little too sing-songy). Redgrave, Tamborand and Leto give small roles but good support as well.
Overall this is not as good a film as Cuckoo's Nest but I think the comparisons are perhaps a little simplistic and unfair. As it is this is a good film that only loses it a little at the end where it tips into a bit of preaching and sentimentality. I think it bothered me more than it should because I know Mangold can control this aspect well as he did excellently in Heavy. But these are minor complaints and it is involving and has a two strong performances in the lead.