I can fly!

Have you ever felt like you could fly? Have you ever thought that you could do anything? Have you ever felt so bad you wanted to die? Really Die?

Bi-polar disorder, along with many other mental disorders, are very hard to understand if you haven't been there. If you haven't felt so depressed that you REALLY couldn't get out of bed, it's hard to understand. I understand. I've been there. I am bi-polar. It was a hard way to grow up. But the worst part about it was trying to explain to my friends and family what it was like and what I was going through. Like I said, unless you've been there, it's hard to really understand. They tried, I know they did. But they just couldn't comprehend the ultimate highs or the desperation of the lows.

Instead they stood back and watched the wild roller coaster I was on and simply tried to treat the symptoms. It wasn't until I was diagnosed and put on medication that the ride came to a stop. Now, I guess you would be wondering what this has to do with the movie. Well, let me tell you.

Mr. Jones is a movie about a man, played by the ever wonderful Richard Gere, who has bi-polar disorder. This movie is the first and only movie I have seen that portrays this disorder with the power and emotion that comes close to truth. For the first time I could show this to my family and say, "There! That's it! That's kinda what it's like". And for the first time they could see a little piece of my world. Of what it was like through my eyes.

The portrayal of the manic highs by Gere are very convincing. His belief that he can fly, his grandious nature, his charisma all shine with believability. His crashing lows are similarly convincing. The movie does well to show the complete bleakness of the world.

Mr. Jones is arrested several times for his manic antics and placed in the metal ward of the hospital where he meets and starts treatment with a doctor who becomes more than a little involved in his world. While I think the role of the doctor was wonderful, I was really disappointed in the fact that they chose to include a love story in the movie. This, I feel, detracted from the story line. However, some would disagree that the love story was a wonderful inclusion.

If you have ever wondered what it is like to fly with the eagles and visit the depths of hell, you have two choices. Develop manic depression/bi-polar disorder, or watch this movie. I suggest the second choice. Having done the first, I wouldn't recommend it.