My favorite psychotic protagonist is Jim Thompson's Nick
Corey of Pop. 1280, but I am also very fond of the character
of Jim Grayam from the movie Brainstorm (1965), unpublished
story by Larry Marcus, screenplay by Mann Rubin.
I so want to believe in Jim Grayam, his sanity and his role
as hero to the troubled Lorrie Benson. When he explains to
Lorrie how he can get away with murder by not concealing it
and then pleading guilty, I believe him because he says it
with such conviction. As the story progresses, it becomes
clear that something is not right -- Jim's behavior with Dr.
Larstadt -- his unwillingness to touch the other patients at
the institution. Still, I find myself hoping that Jim will
escape with Lorrie, even after it is clear that it is not
possible.
I love the economy of the story telling in Brainstorm. It
reminds me of Lionel White. The writers and director William
Conrad waste little in dialog or action, and in the last half
of the story, the segues between scenes are removed, leaving
just a series of scenes with no padding, just total economy,
no wasted words or images. If you ever find a video tape of
this movie, remember that there are two ways to watch it: the
traditional way (from begin to end) or from the middle
(the scene following Cort Benson murder) to the end, then
begin
(Lorrie Benson's suicide attempt on the railroad tracks) to
middle
(the murder - controlling, smug Cort Benson who realizes he
is facing something that can't be controlled)
Question: No doubt, psychosis is a great story devise in noir
fiction, but how true is it to real behavior? Has there ever
been a critical analysis of Nick Corey and other
representations of psychotic behavior from a psychologist's
point of view? Does this type of fiction capture the symptoms
and traits? Having no training in the area, I am
curious.
George the Librarian
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