Here is your first impressive look at Viggo Mortensen and Michael Fassbender as influential psychology thinkers Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung in David Cronenberg’s currently lensing psychosexual drama, “A Dangerous Method.”
Based on Christopher Hampton’s acclaimed 2002 play “The Talking Cure,” the film will center on the relationship between Jung and Russian-Jewish patient Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley), who ultimately causes a rift between Jung and mentor Freud but also catalyses strong findings in regards to Jungian psychoanalysis. Vincent Cassell and Sarah Gadon also co-star in what is proving to be a quasi-“Eastern Promises” reunion.
The physical transformations of Mortensen and Fassbender into their respective real-life characters is pretty remarkable with the former almost unrecognizable sporting a greying beard and shorter hair — though we can’t help but notice there was a great resemblance between Christoph Waltz (who departed the project but was cast early on) and Freud. Still no idea why he left this exciting film for Francis Lawrence’s “Water For Elephants;” let’s hope it’s not just money, though this and the “The Green Hornet”have seemingly got his Hollywood transition off to a rough start.
Shooting on “A Dangerous Method” began in May for a ten week shoot spanning Vienna, Zurich and Munich with the production surely winding up at this point. Suffice to say, this is shaping up as one of our most anticipated features for 2011 and a potential awards season contender.
After this, Cronenberg has his planned teaming with Colin Farrell and Marion Cotillard for the limo-set drama “Cosmopolis,” an adaptation of Don DeLilllo’s novel of the same name, and a sequel to “Eastern Promises” which was announced earlier this year for a winter shoot — though it’s not known if the Farrell-Cotillard project has pushed the crime-drama sequel back. [TT/Heute]