PROZAC NATION (2001)

Directed By: Erik Skjoldbjaerg 
Based On The Book By: Elizabeth Wurtzel 
Adaptation By: Galt Niederhoffer 
Written By: Larry Gross & Frank Deasy 
Cinematography By: Erling Thurmann-Andersen 
Editor: James Lyons 
Music By: Nathan Larson 

 Cast: Christina Ricci, Michelle Williams, Jason Biggs, Anne Heche, Jessica Lange, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Lou Reed

Elizabeth "Lizzie" Wurtzel is a teenager accepted into Harvard with a scholarship in journalism. She has been raised by her divorced mother Mrs. Wurtzel since she was two years old, but she misses her father and feels needy and depressive. When she joins the university, she lives with a roommate Ruby and has her sexual initiation with Noah. Her article for the local column in Crimson newspaper is awarded by Rolling Stone magazine. Lizzie becomes abusive in sex and drugs, and her existential crisis and depression increases and she hurts her friends and her mother that love her, while dating Rafe. Mrs. Wurtzel sends her to an expensive psychiatric treatment with Dr. Sterling, in spite of having difficulties paying for her medical bills and therapy sessions. After a long period of treatment under medication, and suicide attempt, Lizzie stabilizes and adjusts to the real world.

I was a huge fan of the book and once I found out they were finally making it into a movie after years of failed attempts by star like Sandra Bullock, Drew Barrymore and Ricki lake. I was excited when finding out the film would star Christina Ricci. The actress who played Wednesday Addams in the Addams family movie now all grown up seemed perfect fit for the role. Plus with her at the time getting so much work that she seemed like the indie queen actress of the moment and she had more of a creative control with this movie as a producer. As she seemed to have dark sensibilities judging from her interviews, demeanor and choice of projects at the time. This was also the last real highlight of that time as after this film She seemed to begin to have a lower profile. Not wok quite as much. She also seemed to finally get a major lead in the film SLEEPY HOLLOW.

This book had an impact on me as I was reading it as a young adult in my early 20's it was gripping, comedic, sad and manic.

Once I saw the film I was greatly disappointed as it seemed all those qualities of the book were absent from the film. Which I will give credit for sticking with one tone throughout which was depressing. Dress hangs over this film no matter what happens. At times when the Character is manic it stays low energy, the same I. Supposed comedic situations. There are one liner quips, but that is about as close to funny as the film ever ventures. This film should have been more of a dramedy. Here it stays a drama of suffering.

Filmed in 2000, Miramax films planned on releasing the film in late 2001, but shelved it indefinitely in the US. A number of reasons were given for the delay, from the unlikeable nature of the central heroine to writer Elizabeth Wurtzel's offensive comments about 9/11, to the fact that Wurtzel noted that the movie was "horrible." The movie finally debuted on the Starz! network in 2005 when, following the exit of Harvey Weinstein and Bob Weinstein from Miramax, all pending films were released, in one form or another.

I should have known there were problems for the film when it was held on a shelf for two years and then when it was finally released it premiered on cable. Not In Theaters not DVD. So releasing an anticipated title with a whimper is never a good sign.

I am guessing the director meant for is never I see the events through the Characters eyes instead, we always have the overview and see the mistakes she is constantly making as she digs herself deeper into depression. Which can work though makes the film feel more judgmental. As it is based off of her book it might have been more powerful like in the book to follow her adventures see it through her eyes until she realizes her mistakes and is confronted and then like her we feel the power of wrong judgments and assessments. So we can feel the exact damage she has done to others and most importantly her.

As the film plays now. It is a major disappointment for material that could have been a powerful film looking at mental illness in a young woman. As well as an inner look into a generation that was being prescribed Prozac as some wonder drug to cure what ails you and the effect it had.

Instead we get a lifeless drama about a character we never care about who just seems vapid and selfish and then we find out she has mental problems and keeps making the same mistakes. Somewhere along in the film there are unresolved issues with her mother. It just feels morose instead of episodic and full of life and different emotions. That set ups side stories and adventures. Maybe if it had more of a powerful direction and not a single minded structure.

There are a few scenes of note her fantasy of Lou Reed performing for her with an actual cameo by him. When she is first taken into mental health services and she non-chalantly reveals to her roommate she has been sleeping with her boyfriend.

The scene where she competes with her boyfriend’s sister for his affections as they are both mentally disturbed and want his attention. Which to me is when the film is at it's most powerful.

I can see some audiences really digging the film who haven't read the book. Though here I can understand the director wanting to present the story more matter of fact, To not let the lead get off and show the depths of her mistakes and problems. Though it would have helped if he would have added some style or at least livened up the scenes. As they sand it feels like thy just so there and don't move. So that you are glad whenever the story moves along. This might be a case of me taking the movie and the fact it didn’t live up to my expectations too personally. I was left utterly and greatly disappointed by this film. Though it might actually be decent to others

Skip it

GRADE: D+