David O. Russell: Film Analysis

David O. Russell's 2017 drama was a hit across the boards. Most critics gave this film exceptionally high ratings and it accumulated a large amount of money in the box office. Despite the prominent feature of mental illness and its treatments in the beginning of the film, the ending essentially negates the existence of a disorder. The main character to suddenly shows a significant and unrealistic improvement despite not progressing much during treatment. This movie starts out with the main character Pat (Bradley Cooper) in an inpatient facility. His mother has him discharged against doctor recommendation and takes him home. He believes that his ex-wife is still in love with him and he will do anything to get her back. He causes many disruptions because of this and the police get involved frequently. He meets a woman who is also suffering from mental health issues and they …show more content…
They do not believe that they have an issue so they would not seek treatment. Pat only enters treatment by demand of the law after he initiates a large fight at a sporting event. While in treatment he is prescribed a combination of mood stabilizers (lithium, abilify, tegretol) and antipsychotics (seroquel). These medications cause him to feel foggy and bloated so he discontinues use. They also employ group therapy sessions where they are encouraged to share their journey. Pat is in this inpatient facility for eight months, but his mother has him discharged early against doctor recommendation. While living at home again his parents require him to see an outpatient therapist on a seemingly weekly basis. This therapist employs some of the features of cognitive behavioral therapy. He tries to encourage Pat to start taking his medication again, tries to help him find ways of coping with future manic episodes, and tries to help him find a purpose outside of trying to reconnect with his former