Shrink
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Shrink is a 2009 American independent comedy-drama film about a psychiatrist who treats members of the entertainment industry in Los Angeles, California. It was directed by Jonas Pate, written by Thomas Moffett, and stars Kevin Spacey and along with an ensemble cast. The film premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival and includes music by Jackson Browne.

Plot

In Hollywood, Psychiatrist Dr. Henry Carter (Kevin Spacey): most of Carter s patients are luminaries in the film industry, each undergoing their own life crisis. Carter lives in a large, luxurious house overlooking the Hollywood Hills and has published a hugely successful self-help book. However, he is disheveled and lives alone in his large house. He smokes marijuana at home, in his car and behind his office, when not seeing patients. Carter routinely drinks himself to sleep around his house, waking up in his clothes and never enters his bedroom. Despite his own problems, Carter continues psychotherapy with his patients, maintaining his incisiveness, compassion and strong doctor-patient relationships.

Around some of Carter s patients, Patrick (Dallas Roberts) is a high-powered talent agent who is both narcissistic and anxiety- ridden, with a germ phobia, Seamus (Jack Huston) is an actor addicted to various drugs and alcohol, and one of Patrick s biggest clients, Seamus is not one of Carter s patients, but they share a drug-dealer named Jesus (Jesse Plemons). Jack Holden (Robin Williams) is another popular celebrity with a drinking problem, about which he is in denial. He continues therapy, however, because he believes that he has a sex addiction. Kate (Saffron Burrows) is an actress in her thirties, who is intelligent, compassionate and poised, but is facing fewer career opportunities because of Patrick s notion that her age is a limitation. Her rock-star husband, who she says wasn t always like this, is self-centered and cheating on her. Carter s newest patient, Jemma (Keke Palmer) is a troubled high-school student, who is required to see a therapist by her school, after cutting her hand by punching a mirror. She is referred to Carter by his father as a pro bono case because like Carter s wife, Jemma s mother died by suicide. Jemma is an avid moviegoer who aspires to become a filmmaker.

Carter has few friends, and spends time with Jesus, his quirky pot dealer. Carter also socializes with Jeremy (Mark Webber) to whom he is loosely related through Carter s deceased wife, whose mother was Jeremy s godmother. Jeremy is a struggling young screenwriter who finds romantic interest in Patrick s assistant Daisy (Pell James). Jeremy also derives creative inspiration from Jemma. Jeremy secretly steals Jemma s private file from Carter s office and pursues a platonic interest in Jemma. He writes his breakthrough screenplay about Jemma, and with Daisy s help, Jeremy succeeds in gaining Patrick s interest in the screenplay.

Carter suffers a breakdown on a live television talk show, alarming the host (Gore Vidal) and the viewers when he states publicly for the first time that his wife died by suicide. He denounces his book as bullshit and himself as a fraud, and storms off of the set. Jemma, Daisy and Jeremy react to Carter s on-air outburst. Carter decides to stop treating Jemma, though he begins helping Jemma finally come to terms with her mother s suicide.

Jemma discovers the screenplay and feels betrayed by Jeremy. Carter angrily attacks Jeremy for his deception, but accepts his own professional responsibility in the situation, which he unknowingly allowed. Later, Carter and Jeremy are mysteriously invited to a meeting at Patrick s office. Patrick seats them in a conference room, where Jemma is already waiting. To their surprise, Jemma now approves of Jeremy s screenplay. Patrick announces that he will be representing Jemma and making Jeremy s screenplay into a movie. Carter, having disposed of his drug supply, approaches Kate at home. He tells her he doesn t want to see her anymore …professionally, implying his interest in seeing her romantically. She smiles.

That night, Carter enters his bedroom, wearing pajamas. He momentarily regards his former marital bed, before climbing into it and turning off the light.

Cast

  • Kevin Spacey as Dr. Henry Carter
  • Saffron Burrows as Kate Amberson
  • Keke Palmer as Jemma
  • Mark Webber as Jeremy
  • Jack Huston as Shamus
  • Robert Loggia as Dr. Robert Carter, Henry s father
  • Pell James as Daisy
  • Jesse Plemons as Jesus, Carter s pot dealer
  • Sierra Aylina McClain as Carina
  • Dallas Roberts as Patrick
  • Ashley Greene as Missy
  • Laura Ramsey as Kiera
  • Gore Vidal as George Charles
  • Jillian Armenante as writer in Patrick s writer s room
  • Robin Williams as Jack Holden (uncredited)

Year 2009
ReleaseDate 2009-08-06
RuntimeMins 104
RuntimeStr 1h 44min
Plot Unable to cope with a recent personal tragedy, LA’s top celebrity shrink turns into a pothead with no concern for his appearance and a creeping sense of his inability to help his patients.
Awards Awards, 2 nominations
Directors Jonas Pate
Writers Thomas Moffett, Henry Reardon
Stars Kevin Spacey, Mark Webber, Keke Palmer
Produced by Dana Brunetti,Michael Burns,Kelly Funke,Pell James,Alex Plapinger,Braxton Pope,John Saviano,Kevin Spacey
Music by Ken Andrews,Brian Reitzell
Cinematography by Lukas Ettlin,Isaac Phillips
Film Editing by Luis Carballar
Casting By Sheila Jaffe
Production Design by Mark Hutman
Art Direction by Gerald Lehtola
Set Decoration by Dorit Hurst
Costume Design by Johanna Argan
Makeup Department Adam Brandy,Autumn Butler,Scott Cameron,Linda Choi,Leah Dempsey,Megan Graham,Jennifer Greenberg,Tracey Henton,Jessica Pirkl Lindsay,Cheri Minns,Johnny Rodriguez,James Servera Jr.,Sara Vaughn
Production Management David J. Bowler,Trent Dempsey,Erik Heintz,Garrett Honea,Cassidy Lunnen,John Saviano
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director Lillian Awa,Christian Clarke,Jason Roberts
Art Department Tracy Anda,Jeremy Armstrong,Jaime Beebe,Gary Burkhart,Matthew Cavaliero,Amanda Mendonca,Dennis Ogle,Manuel Rosario,Andre Sowards,Cale Wilbanks
Sound Department Julie Altus,Lee Ascher,Laura Harris Atkinson,Joe Barnett,Kevin Becker,Ron Bedrosian,John Bires,Julio Carmona,Mick Davies,Robert Deschaine,Paul Flinchbaugh,Marshall Garlington,Nerses Gezalyan,Darlene Gorzela,Glynna Grimala,Arda Gulesserian,Jeffory Haddad,Craig S. Jaeger,John Langford,Craig Mann,Diane Marshall,Glenn T. Morgan,Christopher Moriana,James Moriana,Michael Novitch,Juan Nunez,Chris Quilty,Bob Rosenthal,Kyle Seo,Gary L.G. Simpson,Dean St. John,Peter Staubli,Greg Steele,Scott Stolz,Christopher Tiffany,Jon Title,Rich Toenes,Tami Treadwell,Brett Voss,Mathew Waters,Jeffrey Wilhoit,Ben Wilkins,David Young,Greg Zimmerman,Kimberly Jimenez
Visual Effects by Andrew Lewitin,Ken Locsmandi,Tamar Shaham,Michael Joseph Warren
Camera and Electrical Department Jihan Abdalla,Hassan Abdul Wahid,Tod Campbell,Eddie San Chan,Brown Cooper,Eric Damazio,Danny Durr,Derrick Esperanza,Rob Exner,Brandon Flohr,Russell Gearhart,James Ginn,Marc Korgie,Sam Liotta,Greg Lomas,Adam Lozuk,James Madigan,Johan Martinez,Phillip Matarrese,Matthew C. McCarthy,BJ McDonnell,Josh Medak,Michael Merriman,Kate Nixa,Rich Pereksta,Kevin Perry,Jonathan Phail,John Rhode,Michael Sandow,Elliott Schackne,Sonoko Shimoyama,Dwight Elliott Stone,Kirk Sullivan,David Thomas,David Urbina,Zack Wilcox,Satoshi Yamazaki,Jason Zakrzewski,Julien Zeitouni
Casting Department Claire Benjamin,Chris Bustard,Caitlin McKenna,Ruth Salen
Costume and Wardrobe Department Shalima Lyons,Mindy Tiongco,Jessica Wenger
Editorial Department Dan Aguilar,Joseph Butler,Dan Elortegui,Mischa Hedges,Annie Johnson,Mathieu Reid,Lissette Rodriguez,Ron Rosen,Jod Soraci,Matt Cass
Location Management Ronald Antwine,Lisa Hoover,Jennifer Antoinette Kennedy,Hector Tinoco
Music Department Ken Andrews,Gordy Haab,Dave Pelman,Brian Reitzell
Script and Continuity Department Shea E. Butler,Elisa Forni,Danielle Snowdon
Transportation Department Eric Ayers,Kip Fazzone,Billy Kane,Josh La Grotta,Anthony Pascarella
Additional Crew Paul Almond,Bobby Arnot,Monty Bennett,Kristy Campbell,Gregory Cebulski,Sara Cimino,Garrett Honea,Kristen Hopkins,James Jean,Jon Kalkin,Jay McPhaul,Heidi Brook Myers,Don Napoli,Patrick E. Padilla,Julie Schultz,Heather Sconyers,Megan Shaffer,Rob Spence,Rebecca Erwin Spencer,Laura Warner
Thanks Jonathan Bell,Kevin Donovan
Genres Comedy, Drama
Companies Roadside Attractions, Ignite Entertainment, Ithaka Entertainment
Countries USA
Languages English
ContentRating R
ImDbRating 6.6
ImDbRatingVotes 18862
MetacriticRating 40
Keywords shrink,drug dealer,widower,depression,cheeseburger