The movie chronicles Kaysen's 18-month stay at a mental institution after being diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, an affliction with symptoms so ambiguous almost any adolescent girl might qualify.
A muddled production that misses the jarring tone of the autobiographical book by Susanna Kaysen on which it is based. The film is entertaining, but not very powerful.
Does it matter that every time Jolie's offscreen the film wilts a little? Ryder should be perfect as the bright spark; her lines are sharp as a knife. There's a gap, however, between what we hear and what we see.
