How similar the mad man's mind is to the sane!

Rating: Null/10 (25 October 2009)

As I'm listening to the reporter spell the schizophrenic's name to the nurse, I'm thinking, "This is just like Mr. Ayer's spelling his name to the reporter." This was a continuing thought as we progressed through the movie....the similarities between the life of the insane and the sane.
I learned so much about mental illness. The explanation that the schizophrenic's synapses get his thoughts mixed up in his auditory system was quite revealing. But then, what causes the 'voices' that dictate murderous actions? How much poetic license was taken in this excellent movie? The burning car early on in this boy's life made me think that he was hallucinating then. Allowing the homeless to take part in the movie was great. This was a wonderful way to bring insight into the minds of some of the homeless. Each one has his own story. I sometimes volunteer at the ARlington Street church in Boston, serving meals. The conversations I have with their clients are much like the conversations I have at work with my fellow software engineers. "But you're seeing them on their meds", says an old hand. Why wouldn't a sick person take those meds? The homeless lady gave us the reason: "Those voices comfort me. On my meds, I don't hear them." A fantastic movie and a great plug for Los Angeles. To think that someone could be so claustrophobic that being inside a house would freak them out is a revelation to someone (cest moi) who considers herself claustrophobic. The comment by the mental health worker, "There is no such thing as insanity" really jibes with Dr. Laing's opinion that insanity is a culturally defined condition. But how do you deal with the violence-producing convictions brought on by paranoia, as we saw Mr. Ayers turn on both the reporter and the cello teacher at the 'recital'? It's hard to think that an intelligent, sensitive man such as that cello teacher wouldn't know enough NOT to bring in religion, which for many of us has nothing but negative connotations because of the evil effect perversions of Christianity in our early life in Alabama had on us. This just brings out the fact that everyone of us saw a different movie, as we traveled both men's journey, and experienced the sensitivity of the insane soloist and the insensitivity of the sane reporter.
The acting by both Foxx and the actor who played the reporter deserve Oscar nominations, if quality of acting rather than superior publicity machinations is more valued this year. What is so chilling is that for about $16,000 a person, we could get this problem solved, but then we'd have to truly be a compassionate nation, instead of pretending we are, wouldn't we?