This independent film is a great one with an engaging cast and intriguing storyline. Its a sure bet that any film Kevin Spacey (one of my favorite actors) is in is good, simply because he is a brilliant actor and tends to choose good material to star in. The story involves L.A.’s top celebrity shrink Dr. Henry Carter who finds his life intolerable as he falls further into depression and disintegrates into pothead status. When he realizes he is becoming ineffective with his clients he gives up caring about his himself or his work. The doctor seems unable to find himself until he takes on a patient his father refers him to. The young patient’s problems are so similar to the doctor’s problems they end up teaching each other how to get better.

The relationships between the characters are real, the interactions touching and the dialogue inventive. It is refreshing to see a story that intertwines its characters so well. The cast is uniformly excellent with Spacey giving a brilliant and subtle performance. Robin Williams has a small but interesting role as an alchoholic patient of Doctor Carter.

With great direction, solid performances, an excellent screenplay and expertly filmed, “Shrink” will invade your space, make you think, make you uncomfortable and then make you glad you saw this movie. This is a film you need to add to your must see movie list.

2009. Directed by Jonas Pate. Starring Kevin Spacey, Robert Loggia, Saffron Burrows, Mark Webber, Dallas Roberts, Jack Huston, Keke Palmer and Robin Williams.

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