What 2012 Films Would Win If Psychologists Gave Out Academy Awards?

The decision to add selected psychologically relevant films to PsycCRITIQUES (a practice introduced by E. G. Boring, the first editor of Contemporary Psychology) has been widely applauded, and many readers report they read the film reviews before turning to the more pedestrian reviews of books.

Some of the 2012 films that have been (or will be) reviewed in PsycCRITIQUES include Brave, Les Misérables, The Hunger Games, The Dark Knight Rises, Argo, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Amour, The Central Park Five, Silver Linings Playbook, and Lincoln.

If you were organizing awards for psychologically relevant films, which movies would you nominate?

Read the Reviews

A Ray of Hope in a World of Darkness
By Jeremy Clyman
      PsycCRITIQUES, 2012 Vol 57(35)

• A review of the film The Dark Knight Rises

Appetite for Destruction
By Christopher J. Ferguson
      PsycCRITIQUES, 2012 Vol 57(23)

• A review of the film The Hunger Games

Facing Our Monsters
By Jacqueline Remondet Wall
      and David G. Wall
      PsycCRITIQUES, 2012 Vol 57(45)

• A review of the film Beasts of the Southern Wild

The Amazing Spider-Man: Growth
Over Grief
      By Jeremy Clyman
      PsycCRITIQUES, 2012 Vol 57(36)

• A review of the film The Amazing Spider-Man

Selves and Others
By Keith Oatley
      PsycCRITIQUES, 2013 Vol 58(3)

• A review of the film Anna Karenina

Coming Closer
By Keith Oatley
      PsycCRITIQUES, 2013 Vol 58(1)

• A review of the film The Sessions

Draw and Release: Tension and Independence in the
Mother–Daughter Dyad
      By Leafar F. Espinoza
      PsycCRITIQUES, 2013 Vol 58(8)

• A review of the film Brave

"Just Call Me Hitch . . .": The Enigma of Alfred Hitchcock
      By Marlene M. Eisenberg
      and Michael B. Blank
      PsycCRITIQUES, 2013 Vol 58(6)

• A review of the film Hitchcock

Comments

[Greg Zerovnik]

Having Michelle Obama announce the best picture award was a mistake.

It cheapened the office of the Presidency, creating the impression that popular culture is the new standard for world leadership.

Frankly, as an American, I was embarrassed.

[Dr. Judith Schlesinger]

I agree that it was a mistake, but for a different reason: it implied White House approval of these particular descriptions of hostage rescue and terrorist death.

Much like the increasingly-wobbly distinction between public and private, the lines between celebrity and government seem to get blurrier all the time. I don't know about you, but that doesn't seem like progress to me!

[CBG]

Was it also embarrassing when Laura Bush did the same thing during the last presidency? How about when Ronald Reagan did it?

In terms of celebrities and politicians having lines blurred, that's going to keep happening as long as it keeps being positively reinforced at the ballot box.

[June Wilson]

The Invisible War (documentary) was nominated for best documentary. It is a heart-breaking yet honest film about rape in the military and then betrayal. The film highlights PTSD in survivors of rape as well as addresses the high percentage of women veterans who end up homeless

Amour- I was really hoping for a best picture but knew that was unlikely when FLOTUS appeared to announce the winner

I am sure most have seen Silver lining playbook by now

[Paul Donnelly]

I believe it is well within the purview of U.S. government officials to recognize and promote American industry.

[Jim Korn]

Whoa, Mr. Editor, your book reviews, at least those that lead the list every week, are usually stimulating, well written, but not "pedestrian." The books, I would argue, are much more important for psychology than "films."

[Danny Wedding]

I agree with Associate Editor Jim Korn . . . and I was merely "tossing a bone" to those readers who are film aficionados.

I LOVE our book reviews, and always start with them first!