Passable

Rating: 6/10 (24 January 2000)

OK movie based on a true story about a young woman who spent two years in an exclusive mental ward in MA. Sounds interesting and should be harrowing, but it isn't. All the characters are the same types we've seen in other movies like this in the past (The Bell Jar, I Never Promised You a Rose Garden). The plot makes escaping the ward laughably easy and makes a mental ward look kind of fun (and boring). All the characters talk in clichés and by the last hour of the movie I was ahead of the plot constantly. It gets dull when you know exactly what's going to happen. The acting is no help--Ryder used to be good. What's happened to her? She has basically one expression that she uses the whole movie. Whoppi Goldberg is VERY toned down and miserable (at least she looks it). Redgrave barely makes an impression as the head of the hospital. Only Jolie shows any spark of life. She's enjoying every second of her role and it shows. Unfortunately, she can't carry the whole movie. So it's OK but predictable. Worth a video rental (maybe). Great soundtrack though.