Hysteria and The Sessions: Hard to Explain Yet Totally Enjoyable
Explaining Hysteria and The Sessions to people would be an interesting prospect. One is about the invention of the vibrator and the other is about a paralyzed polio survivor forced to live most of his life in an iron lung looking to have sex before it is too late. Both films are optimistic and feature charming characters who get into some interesting things (pardon the pun).
The two films differ completely and were on opposite ends of the Rotten Tomato spectrums. Hysteria received a 58% rating and The Sessions lived up to it’s “festival film of the year” moniker by gathering a 94% rating. Hysteria tells a more familiar tale about something never talked about while The Sessions is based on the autobiographical writings of journalist and poet Mark O’Brien (who has a wonderful collection of shirts).
Hysteria is a period piece about a bunch of well mannered people who also happen to cure “hysteria” via their hands. Of course there is no such thing as “hysteria” and the women simply needed a break from unloving husbands or thankless lives. Medicine was at a crossroads in the 1880s and Hysteria capitalizes on that. New doctors were pushing logical things like sanitation and cleanliness. The older doctors believed in leeching and old world medicines that lead to infection and funky stuff. This all leads to a kind new wave doctor who gets a job curing hysteria at a well known physicians medical practice The work goes well and he becomes engaged to Felicity Jones. However, massive hand cramps get him fired and with the help of Rupert Everett he invents the world’s first vibrator. The plot never goes beyond kiddie pool deep yet it has a likable charm and the ensemble all seem to enjoy working together.
The movie has a cheeky feel, and live wire performances from Maggie Gyllenhaal and Rupert Everett that carry it through the interesting and odd choice of subject matter. There is a conundrum to this film though. Do you recommend it to your mom? Who would watch this film? Who did they intend for the audience to be? What were the actors thinking when a woman starts singing opera whilst testing out the vibrator?
Regardless of all the questions Hysteria is a fun little film that says nothing about the human condition but manages to charm whilst telling a cheeky story.
The next up is the superbly acted film The Sessions. It took the 2012 Sundance film festival by storm winning the Audience and Best Ensemble awards. Helen Hunt also received a best actress Oscar nomination for her work as a kindly sex surrogate. The Sessions is likable, kind and smart. The motives are pure and John Hawkes is wonderful as Mark O’Brien. The entire cast is fantastic. Helen Hunt is graceful, tough and brave (watch the film) as Hawke’s sex surrogate.
William H. Macy is funny and charming at O’Brien’s priest who navigates him through the ordeal. I loved their scenes together as O’Brien takes his religion seriously and the priest understands what he is going through. Their confession scenes are highlights of the picture.
The biggest surprise is seeing Moon Bloodgood sneak away from Street Fighter’s Nash and finally being able to act in something other than Pathfinder and Terminator Salvation. I dug how she stayed by her bosses side and helped in a nonjudgmental manner while still realizing the peculiarity of the situation.
The Sessions was written with care and gives us an acting showcase and mature story telling. It takes us to an interesting world and gives us a disabled figure who is rolling with life the best he can. There were some complaints about John Hawkes playing the disabled character because he never suffered from polio or disability. However, after many casting sessions the director realized he needed a committed actor to pull off the part. Hawkes would find himself in excruciating pain as he curved his body but realized it was nothing compared to what other people have to go through.
The Sessions is a nice film. Watch it, enjoy the niceness and appreciate the shirts.
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