MovieChat Forums > Prozac Nation (2003) Discussion > Worst movie...

Worst movie...

posted 12 years ago by barber2626
2 replies | jump to latest

You know just because there is depression doesnt mean you have to make some sad movie like this. It is just an awful movie. I watched it only because I sat down and it was on, not that I looked for it to watch. Most people watch movies for entertainment but seriously why watch something that is about depression and gets you depressed watching it. Fact is 95% of the population has depression at some point in there lives and some stay depressed more then others. Life can suck, life is hard but seriously its like with anything when you have had enough your ready to fix it. This character in the movie( and I take it this is from real life experience) is to me more bi polar and she loves drama and wants everyone to fix her and put all there attention on her. What did people do before drugs like Prozac was made? They either killed themselves ( sad but true) or they learned to deal with there own depression., change a path for themselves and get over what they are dwelling on. I am so tired of the world we live in now allowing this, the movie said there are 300 million people prescribed pills for depression. Its like WHAT!!!! I see the pharmaceutical company's making out like a banchee and we are letting them get away with this. We are letting them drug the world. I just think you go to the Dr and you say I am depressed and they are so glad to say "Here take these you will feel better". Thats what really happens. But this movie was awful, and it didnt need to be made for us all to know to many pills are prescribed and that we just have some word like depression to use as an excuse to take a bunch of pills that if people would just get over themselves and stop this Pity Party that maybe we wouldnt have to hear about this or watch stupid movies like this.

[–] semicharmed_life 12 years ago

I respect your opinion, and even agree with some of the things you pointed out about the film, the flaws in our medical fields and the pharmaceutical companies. But there ARE scientific studies that have proven that depression is caused by (to be very broad) certain chemicals lacking in the brain. And if medication like prozac, celexa, zoloft, or whatever it may be helps people with that chemical imbalance I am all for it. I'm actually on an anti-depressant and it helps me. The reason I watched this movie was to help make more understanding out of being "depressed". And, after reading peoples' opinions about this movie, it is very clear to me that not many people can relate to Liz's character, which is why a lot of people don't like her/the movie. People need to realize that you as a viewer are not exactly supposed to LIKE Liz's character, or even understand some of her behaviors. It's not meant to be taken as a fun movie; you're watching part of a young woman's life slip deeper and deeper into a black hole of depression in a raw outlook.. and it's a scary thing. But, what I don't think people are getting is that part of the REASON why she was so depressed was because NOBODY could relate to her. And your post and a lot of reviews I have read back this up. Do you remember the scene when she was talking to Rubie and how she was trying to explain to her about being depressed, how she faked having fun, and tried to explain why she behaved the way she did sometimes? Rubie tried to understand by saying something like "Oh well everyone has their bad days" or something and Liz thought "that's what people say when they don't know what to say." Or the scene when her grandparents came over for her birthday party and her grandmother goes "What's wrong with her? Is she on drugs? People don't behave this way unless they are on drugs!" and Lizzie replies "I f ucking do." Wouldn't that frustrate you if you were going through a problem you were born with but couldn't exactly figure out why and had no one to relate to? Sure, she could vent to people, but she just wanted someone to understand the pain she was going through. Now, I'm not justifying any of her actions and claiming that having depression is a free access pass to treating people however you wish. I just can sympathize more with the character after knowing it wasn't just her personality; it had a lot to do with the mental illness she was battling. Would some people treat their friends and family different even after battling depression? Sure. But not everybody deals with their problems the same way. And I don't think people should judge Liz unless they know what she was dealing with first hand. It's so easy to look at something on an outside perspective without living through it.

[–] semicharmed_life 12 years ago

As for the quality of the film itself, I actually didn't think it was that good either. It has very memorable scenes and outstanding performances IMO from the leading actors and actresses, but it was a bit hard to "enjoy" because of how serious it was about Liz' depression. Even though the ending is supposed to be sort of happy, it still didn't leave me feeling satisfied. I read somewhere that the real life Elizabeth Wurtzel hates this film. Call me crazy, but they should have included some type of comedy into it. In real life, comedy happens even in sad situations. Kind of like that new movie "Smashed" that came out about an alcoholic couple. Although this film isn't perfect, it has its good and bad aspects.