Stonehearst Asylum

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Stonehearst Asylum
Starring Kate Beckinsale, Jim Sturgess, Ben Kingsley, Michael Caine
Directed by Brad Anderson

Synopsis:
In 1899, psychological medicine had still a long way to go.  In a medical class at Oxford, Eliza Graves (Kate Beckinsale) is put on display for medical students as someone suffering from "female hysteria" after biting her husband's ear off.  She is brought back to Stonehearst Asylum under the care of Dr. Lamb (Ben Kingsley), when new doctor Edward Newgate (Jim Sturgess) arrives, eager to work with the mentally handicapped.

Upon arriving at the Asylum, Newgate discovers that Dr. Lamb's methods are, simply, unorthodox.  Instead of subduing patients with overloads of medicine and isolation, he lets them roam free, associating with the doctors and nurses, and taking them off their medication.  As Dr. Newgate investigates, he learns a troubling truth about the Asylum, and the people supposedly assigned to run it.

Review:
Based off Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether," Brad Anderson's "Stonehearst Asylum" has all the benchmarks associated with a classic Poe tale - the Gothic style, the twists and turns, and the highly developed characters.  The film is a lush visual wonder, mostly because I absolutely love the old Gothic architecture style, and the Asylum looks like an old castle with a life of its own.

The story is a basic one, but filled with rich imagery, surprising turns and intellectual dialogue.  Bringing in two Oscar winning actors (Ben Kingsley and Michael Caine) showcases their tit for tat performances as they're pitted against each other in a battle of wills and wits, while the budding romance between Kate Beckinsale's troubled Eliza and Jim Sturgess's honorable Newgate is one that - as everyone knows - is a much better romance than "Twilight."

The supporting characters all bring life to the film, and leaves you feeling bad for people who suffered from mental disorders during that time, because the only solutions presented included electroshock therapy, overdosing them with mind-numbing drugs, and keeping them confined and away from civilized society.  That never happens anymore (include sarcasm).  It does give an insightful look into medicine and how far we've come from those days, when things such as homosexuality, female problems and even one's desire to not follow in their family's footsteps were considered grounds for being declared legally insane. 

Summary:
Filled with lavish scenery, impeccable performances and a compelling story, "Stonehearst Asylum" is a great film for people who are fans of period pieces.

My Rating: A-

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