Post-Film Girl, Interrupted.

Angelina Jolie received an Academy Award for her role as Lisa in this film. Describe why you think she merited this acting achievement.

Its obvious enough that Angelina would be the perfect actress to play the crazy/wild girl in a movie. I feel that she uses method acting, where you become your character. Even though Winona Ryder's character was the main person in this story, the supporting role of Lisa would out beat Kayson any day.

How does Kaysen's memoir differ from the tone and personality of the movie's Kaysen?

Well, the memoir itself seems darker than the movie just by a tad bit. But I can see how the narration in the movie can compare to tone in the memoir. In my opinion, I feel that reading shows more personality than a movie overall. Its just how it works.

What characters form the memoir were fleshed out in the film? How were they developed or changed? Please select two characters:

Lisa; In the book, she seemed a bit more toned down. They portrayed her in the movie as some ridiculously insane, wild child. Which is what she is, in the least bit. But they just over exaggerated her character to probably get the audiences feed off it.

Jim Watson; Is Jim suppose to be Toby? I didn't really understand this. Jim is set up to be a grand ol' Nobel Prize winner smartass. And Toby is enlisted in the arm. The only reason why I connected to the two characters to begin with was because of the whole "lets get Kayson and get the hell out of here". Toby wants to go to Canada, and Jim wants to go to Europe. For both, however, Kayson rejects them and feels that shes better off staying at the institution.

The memoir, to me, reads like Susanna still lives her life very much in isolation. In the film, the girls bond and create friendships, however tenuous. Which situation is more realistic or likely? Why do you think the film developed these relationships for us to view.

Well this depends on the what exactly do you mean by situation. I do feel that a relationship developing between Lisa and Susanna can happen. Opposites attract, and they in fact are complete opposites. But at the same time, they are very similar. Now in the film, Susanna developed a sexual/physical attraction towards one of the guards at the institution. This shows her promiscuity, which can be related to her attraction to the English teacher. Now this I'm not really too sure of its likeliness of happening. I mean we all hear about relationships between teachers and students. But in a everyday matter, I believe the chances of this happening is very slim.

The film contextualizes Daisy's death very differently from the memoir. Why do you think this was done? Is there ever someone to "blame" when it comes to suicide?

The reason why Daisy's death was different from the memoir was mainly due to movie action. It was a dramatic scene, and its easy to blame someone for someone else's action. But in my opinion I feel that there usually is no one to blame. Blaming someone isn't going to bring them back. Now people surrounding the person committing suicide can be a contributing factor, although it isn't like someone put a gun to their head and told them to commit suicide.