In the 19th century, persons suffering from mental illness were thought to be alienated from their own true natures.
In the 19th century, people with mental illnesses were seen as being separated from their true nature.
Experts who studied them were therefore known as alienists.
Experts who study such people are called psychiatrists.
American drama "The Alienist" (silent angel)
Type of work: Crime
Main actors: Daniel Brühl (as Dr. Kreizler), Luke Evans (illustrator Moore), Dakota Fanning (as Miss Howard), Douglas Smith (as agent Marcus), Matthew Shear (as agent Lucius), Brian Geraghty (as a commissioner) Roosevelt)
Story summary: In New York in 1896, a series of child homicides (the brutal killing of boy prostitutes) attracted the attention of the local police station. At the same time, a five-member team led by a psychiatrist also launched a secret investigation.
Broadcasting time: It will start broadcasting on January 22, 2018. There are 10 episodes in total, which have been completed.
Quite a worthy movie (with outstanding advantages and disadvantages).
Advantages: actor performance, plot structure, atmosphere, inner thinking, quite playful;
Disadvantages: it is a pity that you first look back and then slow down, anticlimactic.
Next, let us walk into the story and talk while watching.
I, the three main protagonists, shining brightly
The perfect combination of golden boy and jade girl-German handsome man Daniel Brühl + British gentleman Luke Evans + American beauty Dakota Fanning
Daniel plays the role of Dr. Kreizler, who was traumatized in his childhood and turned into a psychopathologist in adulthood.
Luke plays Moore, a wealthy, introverted, and melancholic newspaper illustrator.
Dakota plays the ambitious and clever Roosevelt commissioner's secretary, Miss Howard.
The three of them did their best in their own scenes, and their performance was remarkable. The only thing that made the author not satisfied was the "chemical reaction" between the three (Kreizler↔Howard, Moore↔Howard, Kreizler↔Moore). ), unsatisfactory. Regarding the lack of this point, I personally feel that the screenwriter has certain problems with the role setting, which virtually weakens the connection between the roles.
II, narrative development, step by step
It is undeniable that the first few episodes of this series have caught the audience's appetite.
Successive child homicide cases, tragic male prostitutes who were tortured to death, open and secret fighting within the police station, the current state of corruption between officials and businessmen, a just five-person investigation team, and various criminals suffering from mental illnesses. This is New York in the late 19th century, where crimes spread. , Loss of justice, this opening layout is really attractive.
Subsequently, the closely linked and step-by-step story pave the way, and further firmly locked the focus of the audience.
Why dismember these boy prostitutes?
Why hide their corpses in a high place?
Was the murderer a mentally ill patient?
Who will be the next target?
...
As the unsolved mysteries are thrown out, the direction of the story becomes more and more confusing.
Unfortunately, the director made a mistake at the last minute. The hastily finishing method makes the work drop a grade. The murderer's motive? Mental state? They have all become "mysteries of the ages." It wasted the paving ground that was so neat, so confusing, and so intentional.
III, atmosphere creation, meticulous
Dark tones (wandering between black and gray for a long time), low soundtrack (dark tide flavor), and horrifying pictures (dismembered child, mutilated body, broken face) , these dark elements are combined to form The lens language of this work is simply unstoppable.
IV, inner thinking, looking at the past and the present
a, explore the causes of mental illness
Is it made by nature? Or is it caused by the day after tomorrow?
b. What effect will the shadow of childhood play on a person's future growth?
Polarization
1. Abandon yourself and fall arbitrarily
2. Get out of the silt without staining, and clear the ripples without being demonized
c, the root of corruption, depravity
Giving and accepting bribes blinded the eyes of greedy people and allowed crime to run wild and unscrupulous.
d, under the sky, men and women are equal
From the centralization of power by men, to the rise of women, to seeking common ground while reserving differences, and equality between men and women, this evolution process is not simple and not easy. The director cleverly used two roles (a female and a male. Miss Howard and Captain Connor), and easily achieved his goal-calling for "equality between men and women" and refuting "male superiority to female inferiority."
e, the vast world, equal beliefs
In the doctor's team, there are two Jews, the brothers Marcus and Lucius. In the police station, they rarely have the opportunity to show their faces. Why? ①Religious belief ②Minorities. However, the doctor accepted them. What's the meaning of this? Freedom of belief and equality of belief.
V, plot context, first look back and then fall
As mentioned below, the first few episodes of the show are impeccable and of high standards in all aspects. Perhaps it is precisely because of this high-profile opening that the audience's expectations for the play are too high, so when the follow-up plot tends to be flat, the reputation of the work will take a turn for the worse. Especially in the final scene (at the end, Kreizler looked at the murderer’s brain and found that he did not have any symptoms of mental illness). What is the meaning of this segment? The author is slightly puzzled.
The book is not exhaustive, so put it aside. see you later.
Director ★★★☆☆ (The adaptation of the original work is considered a success. As for the grasp of the narrative rhythm, it is relatively ordinary)
Actors ★★★☆☆ (The protagonists are all pretty good, they are very deeply involved in the drama, but unfortunately they are not passionate enough, and the opponent's drama is zero)
Plot ★★★☆☆ (The plot is slightly procrastinated, the opening experience is inexplicable, and the ending is inexplicable)
Visual effects ★★★★★ (dark, cold, lens language is too beautiful)
Sound effect ★★★★☆ (Tightening and stimulating, with a high degree of tacit understanding with the screen)
Recommendation ★★★☆☆ (one of the American dramas worth watching last quarter)
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