MONTREAL -- Alan Rickman, who was so mesmerizing in ''Die Hard'' and onstage in ''Les Liaisons Dangereuses, '' is equally powerful in the title role of this film about the man from whom the word is derived. In Roger Spottiswoode's ''Mesmer, '' written by the late Dennis Potter, he plays Franz Anton Mesmer, whose theories about the links between the body and emotions scandalized 18th century Vienna.
Provocative as the subject may seem, the film is curiously inert. The story concentrates on Mesmer's treatment and growing relationship with a beautiful blind pianist (Amanda Ooms), who is being sexually abused by her father. When she goes into convulsions at a recital, the prevailing doctors are too eager to prescribe their favorite solution, bloodletting, but Mesmer leaps into action, and with a form of hypnosis, calms her down.
Mesmer's success quickly leads to dozens of unfortunates breaking down his door, much to the consternation of his wife (Gillian Barge). Naturally, the medical authorities consider him a charlatan and a fraud, and he is ultimately banished from Vienna. He then becomes the toast of pre-revolutionary France, where he cures the minor ailments of the aristocracy.
The film is short on biographical information and character motivation, and one occasionally longs for a more straightforward approach, a la 1930s Warner Bros. Although the screenplay amply displays Potter's dark wit and cynical views on human nature, it doesn't fully succeed in mining the deeper resonances of Mesmer's career. Still, the character is always intriguing, particularly with Rickman's powerful intensity making clear his megalomania as well as his altruism.
The film, a Canadian, British and German co-production, has been handsomely photographed in widescreen by Elemer Ragalyi, and the period has been re-created with all its splendor. Michael Nyman, the composer of the moment since his soundtrack for ''The Piano, '' has contributed another haunting musical score.
MESMER
A Cineplex Odeon Films Release (in Canada)
Presented by Levergreen Ltd.,
Accent Entertainment & Studio Babelsberg
Director Roger Spottiswoode
Screenplay Dennis Potter
Producers Wieland Schulz-Keil, Lance W. Reynolds, Robert D. Goodale
Co--producers Andras Hamori, Susan Cavan
Director of photography Elemer Ragalyi
Composer Michael Nyman
Editor Susan Shipton
Cast:
Franz Anton Mesmer Alan Rickman
Maria Theresa Paradies Amanda Ooms
Frau Mesmer Gillian Barge
Dr. Ingehouz David Hemblen
Professor Stoerk Jan Rubes
Running time -- 102 minutes
(c) The Hollywood Reporter...
Provocative as the subject may seem, the film is curiously inert. The story concentrates on Mesmer's treatment and growing relationship with a beautiful blind pianist (Amanda Ooms), who is being sexually abused by her father. When she goes into convulsions at a recital, the prevailing doctors are too eager to prescribe their favorite solution, bloodletting, but Mesmer leaps into action, and with a form of hypnosis, calms her down.
Mesmer's success quickly leads to dozens of unfortunates breaking down his door, much to the consternation of his wife (Gillian Barge). Naturally, the medical authorities consider him a charlatan and a fraud, and he is ultimately banished from Vienna. He then becomes the toast of pre-revolutionary France, where he cures the minor ailments of the aristocracy.
The film is short on biographical information and character motivation, and one occasionally longs for a more straightforward approach, a la 1930s Warner Bros. Although the screenplay amply displays Potter's dark wit and cynical views on human nature, it doesn't fully succeed in mining the deeper resonances of Mesmer's career. Still, the character is always intriguing, particularly with Rickman's powerful intensity making clear his megalomania as well as his altruism.
The film, a Canadian, British and German co-production, has been handsomely photographed in widescreen by Elemer Ragalyi, and the period has been re-created with all its splendor. Michael Nyman, the composer of the moment since his soundtrack for ''The Piano, '' has contributed another haunting musical score.
MESMER
A Cineplex Odeon Films Release (in Canada)
Presented by Levergreen Ltd.,
Accent Entertainment & Studio Babelsberg
Director Roger Spottiswoode
Screenplay Dennis Potter
Producers Wieland Schulz-Keil, Lance W. Reynolds, Robert D. Goodale
Co--producers Andras Hamori, Susan Cavan
Director of photography Elemer Ragalyi
Composer Michael Nyman
Editor Susan Shipton
Cast:
Franz Anton Mesmer Alan Rickman
Maria Theresa Paradies Amanda Ooms
Frau Mesmer Gillian Barge
Dr. Ingehouz David Hemblen
Professor Stoerk Jan Rubes
Running time -- 102 minutes
(c) The Hollywood Reporter...
- 8/30/1994
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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