In the 1950s, paranoid schizophrenics and others with mental afflictions were treated much more harshly by today’s standards, often being locked away in institutions and subjected to electroshock and other debilitating treatments.
In the film “Three Christs,” Richard Gere plays Dr. Alan Stone, a character based on real life social psychologist Milton Rokeach who during that time championed a more humane and empathetic approach to treatment.
“The thing that interests me is not the mental illness, it’s actually ‘How does one create community? How do we trust each other?’ That seems to be the crux of [Rokeach’s] approach which was ‘I’m not gonna warehouse these guys,'” Gere said on Thursday at the “Three Christs” premiere in New York, adding that the doctor refused to let patients undergo dangerous practices. Instead, he listened to and observed and approached the patients with a compassionate eye.
“For me, it was...
In the film “Three Christs,” Richard Gere plays Dr. Alan Stone, a character based on real life social psychologist Milton Rokeach who during that time championed a more humane and empathetic approach to treatment.
“The thing that interests me is not the mental illness, it’s actually ‘How does one create community? How do we trust each other?’ That seems to be the crux of [Rokeach’s] approach which was ‘I’m not gonna warehouse these guys,'” Gere said on Thursday at the “Three Christs” premiere in New York, adding that the doctor refused to let patients undergo dangerous practices. Instead, he listened to and observed and approached the patients with a compassionate eye.
“For me, it was...
- 1/10/2020
- by Mackenzie Nichols
- Variety Film + TV
Sixty years ago, a psychologist named Milton Rokeach hatched an unconventional experiment, in which he gathered together at Ypsilanti State Hospital three mental patients who’d been diagnosed with grandiose delusions — each was thoroughly convinced that he and only he was Jesus Christ — to test whether confronting them with “the ultimate contradiction” of their claims might impact their beliefs. “While I had failed to cure the three Christs of their delusions, they had succeeded in curing me of mine — of my God-like delusion that I could change them by omnipotently and omnisciently arranging and rearranging their daily lives,” Rokeach wrote decades later in the 1981 reprint of his book, “The Three Christs of Ypsilanti.”
There’s a wonderful irony to that line upon which a fascinating film might be based, perhaps even a rowdy weekly sitcom. Instead, director Jon Avnet (whose terrific adaptation of “Fried Green Tomatoes” gives hope that perhaps...
There’s a wonderful irony to that line upon which a fascinating film might be based, perhaps even a rowdy weekly sitcom. Instead, director Jon Avnet (whose terrific adaptation of “Fried Green Tomatoes” gives hope that perhaps...
- 1/10/2020
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Amazon is set to open Les Misérables in limited release this week, but if you’re expecting a musical based on the Victor Hugo novel, you’ll have to look elsewhere. Directed by Ladj Ly, the film only shares a name with the popular Broadway musical. The drama tackles the issue of police brutality in France, showing that this is a super relevant issue not only in the United State but all over the world.
Based on Ly’s 2017 short film, Les Misérables is inspired by the riots that occurred in the suburbs of Paris in 2005. The story hits close to home for Ly as these riots had a long-lasting effect on his neighborhood, Montfermeil. The film follows Stephane (Damien Bonnard) who joins an anti-crime squad in Montfermeil after relocating. As he works with Chris (Alexis Manenti) and Gwada (Djebril Zonga), Stephane struggles with defusing the tense relationships between the resident gangs.
Based on Ly’s 2017 short film, Les Misérables is inspired by the riots that occurred in the suburbs of Paris in 2005. The story hits close to home for Ly as these riots had a long-lasting effect on his neighborhood, Montfermeil. The film follows Stephane (Damien Bonnard) who joins an anti-crime squad in Montfermeil after relocating. As he works with Chris (Alexis Manenti) and Gwada (Djebril Zonga), Stephane struggles with defusing the tense relationships between the resident gangs.
- 1/10/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
There’s a moment in Jon Avnet’s “Three Christs” when the movie’s central psychiatrist Dr. Stone (Richard Gere) suffers a Freudian slip so on-the-nose, you could tell it would happen before he says it: In defending his unorthodox treatment of three men who referred to themselves as Jesus Christ, Dr. Stone accidentally refers to four men, not three, to his supervisors.
This prompts some awkward discussion, but the purpose of the scene is clear: The good doctor also suffers from some godlike illusions of grandeur himself.
However great Gere or his co-stars are, none of them can soothe all that ails “Three Christs,” a milquetoast January release. The movie has that one terribly obvious moment of clarity, but the rest of it seems to stand by Dr. Stone’s crusade unquestionably. Only he recognizes the cruelty of mental institutions in 1959. Only he knows what he’s doing, and...
This prompts some awkward discussion, but the purpose of the scene is clear: The good doctor also suffers from some godlike illusions of grandeur himself.
However great Gere or his co-stars are, none of them can soothe all that ails “Three Christs,” a milquetoast January release. The movie has that one terribly obvious moment of clarity, but the rest of it seems to stand by Dr. Stone’s crusade unquestionably. Only he recognizes the cruelty of mental institutions in 1959. Only he knows what he’s doing, and...
- 1/9/2020
- by Monica Castillo
- The Wrap
Two decades after publishing his study The Three Christs of Ypsilanti, Milton Rokeach came to the realization that his methods were both manipulative and unethical. He included an afterword in a re-release of the book to that effect—something surely helped by the supposed fact his research assistants questioned his morality while it was still being conducted. Rokeach’s goal was to cure three patients who independently believed themselves the one-and-only reincarnation of Jesus by placing them together in a controlled environment to confront the absurdity of their claims. Because there was precedent where reason snapping at least one of them out from their schizophrenic delusions was concerned, he pushed forward by any means necessary. He lied to influence their actions and thus played God to prove they weren’t.
It’s a fascinating real-life ordeal that begs someone to delve deeper into the motivations not only of the three men,...
It’s a fascinating real-life ordeal that begs someone to delve deeper into the motivations not only of the three men,...
- 1/8/2020
- by Jared Mobarak
- The Film Stage
In today’s film news roundup, “Three Christs” finds a home, Participant chief David Linde will be honored and “Let It Snow” is set for sale at Afm.
Acquisition
IFC Films is acquiring U.S. rights to “Three Christs,” starring Peter Dinklage, Richard Gere, Walton Goggins and Bradley Whitford.
The film is directed by Jon Avnet and co-written by Avnet and Eric Nazarian, based on Milton Rokeach’s book, “The Three Christs of Ypsilanti.” The film was produced by Daniel Levin, Molly Hassel, Avnet and Dr. Aaron Stern. IFC Films will be releasing the film theatrically in January.
The story is based on a 1959 experiment at Michigan’s Ypsilanti State Hospital, with Gere portraying a doctor whose paranoid schizophrenic patient (Dinklage) believes he is Jesus Christ. Unwilling to use electroshock therapy, he begins a risky, unprecedented experiment by transferring his patient to live together with two other paranoid schizophrenics (portrayed...
Acquisition
IFC Films is acquiring U.S. rights to “Three Christs,” starring Peter Dinklage, Richard Gere, Walton Goggins and Bradley Whitford.
The film is directed by Jon Avnet and co-written by Avnet and Eric Nazarian, based on Milton Rokeach’s book, “The Three Christs of Ypsilanti.” The film was produced by Daniel Levin, Molly Hassel, Avnet and Dr. Aaron Stern. IFC Films will be releasing the film theatrically in January.
The story is based on a 1959 experiment at Michigan’s Ypsilanti State Hospital, with Gere portraying a doctor whose paranoid schizophrenic patient (Dinklage) believes he is Jesus Christ. Unwilling to use electroshock therapy, he begins a risky, unprecedented experiment by transferring his patient to live together with two other paranoid schizophrenics (portrayed...
- 10/30/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: IFC Films has bought U.S. rights on Jon Avnet’s Three Christs, which stars Richard Gere and Peter Dinklage, and is planning a theatrical release in January 2020.
Co-written by Eric Nazarian and Jon Avnet, the movie is based on Milton Rokeach’s ground breaking and controversial experiment chronicled in his book The Three Christs Of Ypsilanti. Walton Goggins, Bradley Whitford, Julianna Margulies and Charlotte Hope round out the cast.
Set in 1959, the story follows psychiatrist Dr. Alan Stone (Gere), whose paranoid schizophrenic patient (Dinklage) believes he is Jesus Christ. Unwilling to use electroshock therapy, Dr. Stone instead begins a risky, unprecedented experiment by transferring his patient to live together with two other paranoid schizophrenics who also believe they are Jesus.
Producers were Daniel Levin, Molly Hassel, Jon Avnet and Dr. Aaron Stern. The movie first played at Toronto back in 2017.
Three Christs was financed by Narrative Capital’s media fund.
Co-written by Eric Nazarian and Jon Avnet, the movie is based on Milton Rokeach’s ground breaking and controversial experiment chronicled in his book The Three Christs Of Ypsilanti. Walton Goggins, Bradley Whitford, Julianna Margulies and Charlotte Hope round out the cast.
Set in 1959, the story follows psychiatrist Dr. Alan Stone (Gere), whose paranoid schizophrenic patient (Dinklage) believes he is Jesus Christ. Unwilling to use electroshock therapy, Dr. Stone instead begins a risky, unprecedented experiment by transferring his patient to live together with two other paranoid schizophrenics who also believe they are Jesus.
Producers were Daniel Levin, Molly Hassel, Jon Avnet and Dr. Aaron Stern. The movie first played at Toronto back in 2017.
Three Christs was financed by Narrative Capital’s media fund.
- 10/30/2019
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Golden Globe winners Richard Gere and Peter Dinklage star in the dark comedy “Three Christs”. Based on psychologist Milton Rokeach’s 1964 book The Three Christs of Ypsilanti, the film tells the story of Dr. Alan Stone and his groundbreaking treatment of the mentally ill through an experiment on three paranoid schizophrenic patients. Related: Richard Gere […]...
- 9/14/2017
- by kmorawetz
- ET Canada
Transformers: The Last Knight: Director Michael Bay revealed the first look at two costars in Transformers: The Last Knight. Bay is pictured with actress Isabela Moner and a new character, a robot known as Squeeks. Mark Wahlberg, Josh Duhamel, Jerrod Carmichael and Anthony Hopkins star in the movie, set for release on June 23, 2017. [Twitter] Three Christs: Julianna Margulies, who recently concluded a long run as star of TV's The Good Wife, is in final negotiations to star opposite Richard Gere in Three Christs. Based on a book by Milton Rokeach, the movie will follow a psychiatrist (Gere) in 1959 who uses new methods to treat three patients who all claim to be Jesus Christ. Margulies would play the psychiatrist's wife. The cast includes Walton Goggins, Peter...
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- 6/24/2016
- by Peter Martin
- Movies.com
Exclusive: Julianna Margulies is in final negotiations for her first job after wrapping a distinguished run as the title character in The Good Wife. She will join Richard Gere, Walton Goggins, Peter Dinklage and Bradley Whitford in the indie film Three Christs, the Jon Avnet-directed adaptation of the Milton Rokeach book The Three Christs Of Ypsilanti. Eric Nazarian and Avnet adapted the novel, and filming begins July 19 in New York. Pic is set in 1959 at a Michigan state…...
- 6/23/2016
- Deadline TV
Exclusive: Julianna Margulies is in final negotiations for her first job after wrapping a distinguished run as the title character in The Good Wife. She will join Richard Gere, Walton Goggins, Peter Dinklage and Bradley Whitford in the indie film Three Christs, the Jon Avnet-directed adaptation of the Milton Rokeach book The Three Christs Of Ypsilanti. Eric Nazarian and Avnet adapted the novel, and filming begins July 19 in New York. Pic is set in 1959 at a Michigan state…...
- 6/23/2016
- Deadline
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