Films About Mad Men
The term “mad men” can evoke a variety of interpretations, often referring to individuals who are eccentric, unhinged, or deeply flawed, reflecting the complexities of the human psyche. These films explore themes of madness, obsession, and the darker aspects of ambition, often delving into the lives of protagonists who grapple with their inner demons. From psychological thrillers to biographical dramas, these films provide insight into the minds of characters who exist on the fringes of sanity.
“A Beautiful Mind”, 2001
Director: Ron Howard
This biographical drama tells the story of John Nash, a brilliant mathematician who struggles with schizophrenia. The film explores his journey through mental illness and the impact it has on his relationships and career.
Starring: Russell Crowe, Ed Harris, Jennifer Connelly, Christopher Plummer, Paul Bettany, Adam Goldberg, Josh Lucas, Anthony Rapp, Jason Gray-Stanford, Judd Hirsch, Austin Pendleton, Vivien Cardone, Jill Marie Simon, Victor Steinbach, Tanya Clarke, Thomas F. Walsh, Jesse Doran, Kent Cassella, Patrick Blindauer, John Blaylock, Roy Thinnes, Anthony Easton, Cheryl Howard, Rance Howard, Jane Jenkins, Darius Stone, Josh Pais, Alex Toma, Valentina Cardinalli, Teagle F. Bougere, David B. Allen, Michael Esper, Eva Burkley, Amy Walz, Tracey Toomey, Jennifer Weedon, Yvonne Thomas, Holly Pitrago, Isadore Rosenfeld, Tommy Allen, Dave Bayer, Brian Keith Lewis, Tom McNutt, Will Dunham, Glenn Roberts, Ed Jupp Jr., Christopher Stockton, Gregory Dress, Carla Occhiogrosso, Matt Samson;
Production year: 2001;
Genre: biography, drama, melodrama;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 135 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,2;
More information about the film “A Beautiful Mind” on the website imdb.com
“One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest”, 1975
Director: Milos Forman
Based on Ken Kesey's novel, this classic film follows Randle McMurphy, a man who fakes insanity to serve his sentence in a mental institution. The story highlights the oppressive nature of the institution and the rebellion of its patients.
Starring: Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher, Will Sampson, Brad Dourif, William Redfield, Danny DeVito, Christopher Lloyd, Sydney Lassick, Nathan George, Vincent Schiavelli, Michael Berryman, Peter Brocco, Dean R. Brooks, Alonzo Brown, Scatman Crothers, Mwako Cumbuka, William Duell, Josip Elic, Lan Fendors, Ken Kenny, Mel Lambert, Kay Lee, Dwight Marfield, Ted Markland, Louisa Moritz, Philip Roth, Mimi Sarkisian, Mews Small, Delos V. Smith Jr., Tin Welch, Aurore Clément, Mary Costa, Bill Gratton, Anjelica Huston, Ingeborg Kjeldsen, Audrey Landers, Tom McCall, Prasanna K. Pati, James V. Shore, Saul Zaentz;
Production year: 1975;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 133 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,7;
More information about the film “One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest” on the website imdb.com
“Fight Club”, 1999
Director: David Fincher
A darkly comedic exploration of consumerism and identity, this film follows an unnamed protagonist who forms an underground fight club as a form of escapism. The narrative delves into themes of masculinity and mental health.
Starring: Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, Helena Bonham Carter, Meat Loaf, Zach Grenier, Holt McCallany, Jared Leto, Eion Bailey, Richmond Arquette, David Andrews, George Maguire, Eugenie Bondurant, Christina Cabot, Sydney «Big Dawg» Colston, Rachel Singer, Christie Cronenweth, Tim DeZarn, Ezra Buzzington, Dierdre Downing-Jackson, Bob Stephenson, Charlie Dell, Rob Lanza, David Lee Smith, Joel Bissonnette, Evan Mirand, Robby Robinson, Lou Beatty Jr., Thom Gossom Jr., Valerie Bickford, Peter Iacangelo, Carl Ciarfalio, Stuart Blumberg, Todd Peirce, Mark Fite, Matt Winston, Joon B. Kim, Bennie Moore, Lauren Sanchez, Pat McNamara, Tyrone R. Livingston, Owen Masterson, David Jean Thomas, Paul Carafotes, Christopher John Fields, Anderson Bourell, Scotch Ellis Loring, Michael Shamus Wiles, Andi Carnick, Edward Kowalczyk, Leonard Termo;
Production year: 1999;
Genre: thriller, drama, crime;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 139 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,8;
“Shutter Island”, 2009
Director: Martin Scorsese
Directed by Martin Scorsese, this psychological thriller follows U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels as he investigates a psychiatric facility for the criminally insane. The film's twisty plot unravels the complexities of the mind and the nature of reality.
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Max von Sydow, Michelle Williams, Emily Mortimer, Patricia Clarkson, Jackie Earle Haley, Ted Levine, John Carroll Lynch, Elias Koteas, Robin Bartlett, Christopher Denham, Nellie Sciutto, Joseph Sikora, Curtiss Cook, Raymond Anthony Thomas, Joseph McKenna, Ruby Jerins, Tom Kemp, Bates Wilder, Lars Gerhard, Matthew Cowles, Jill Larson, Ziad Akl, Dennis Lynch, John Porell, Aidan Cole Mitchell, Drew Beasley, Joseph P. Reidy, Bree Elrod, Thomas B. Duffy, Ken Cheeseman, Steve Witting, Michael E. Chapman, Keith Fluker, Darryl Wooten, Michael Byron, Gary Galone, Gabriel Hansen, Stephen Adler, Cassity Atkins, Devon Avery, Brina Healy, Luke Burnyeat, Todd Byron, Danny Carney, Jeffrey Corazzini, John Franchi, Robert Grant;
Production year: 2009;
Genre: thriller, detective, drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 138 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,2;
“Black Swan”, 2010
Director: Darren Aronofsky
This psychological horror film centers on Nina, a ballet dancer who becomes consumed by her pursuit of perfection. As she prepares for a pivotal role, her mental state deteriorates, leading to a haunting exploration of ambition and madness.
Starring: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Barbara Hershey, Winona Ryder, Sebastian Stan, Toby Hemingway, Benjamin Millepied, Ksenia Solo, Kristina Anapau, Janet Montgomery, Sergio Torrado, Mark Margolis, Tina Sloan, Abraham Aronofsky, Charlotte Aronofsky, Marcia Jean Kurtz, Shaun O'Hagan, Chris Gartin, Deborah Offner, Stanley Herman, Michelle Rodriguez Nouel, Kurt Froman, Marty Krzywonos, Leslie Lyles, John Epperson, Arkadiy Figlin, Tim Fain, Sarah Lane, Liam Flaherty, Patrick Heusinger, Olga Kostritzky, Christine Redpath, Alexandra Damiani, Rebecca Azenberg, Laura Bowman, Holly L. Fusco, Abigail Mentzer, Barette Vance, Lillian di Piazza, Megan Dickinson, Jessy Hendrickson, Geneviève Lebean, Rachel Jambois, Ryoko Sadoshima, Kaia A. Tack, Lauren Fadeley, Sarah Hay, Adrianna de Svastich;
Production year: 2010;
Genre: drama, thriller;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 103 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8;
More information about the film “Black Swan” on the website imdb.com
“The Machinist”, 2003
Director: Brad Anderson
This psychological thriller features Trevor, an industrial worker plagued by insomnia and guilt, leading to a breakdown of his mental state. The film captures the harrowing effects of sleep deprivation and paranoia.
Starring: Christian Bale, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, John Sharian, Michael Ironside, Lawrence Gilliard Jr., Reg E. Cathey, Anna Massey, Matthew Romero Moore, Robert Long, Colin Stinton, Craig Stevenson, Ferran Lahoz, Jeremy Xido, Norman Bell, Nancy Crane, Richard Torrington, Buffy Davis, Reg Wilson, Ramon Camín, Christopher Hood, Marc Aspinall, Guillermo Ayesa, Daniel Ceren, Marta Rubio, Ewan Watson, Chike Johnson, Molly Malcolm, Jaume Mimó, Flora Álvarez, Juan Carlos Guzmán, Ina Liza, James DePaul, Oliver Moon;
Production year: 2003;
Genre: thriller, drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 97 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,6;
More information about the film “The Machinist” on the website imdb.com
“American Psycho”, 2000
Director: Mary Harron
Based on Bret Easton Ellis's novel, this satirical horror film follows Patrick Bateman, a wealthy New York City investment banker who leads a double life as a serial killer. The film critiques materialism while exploring Bateman's psychological unraveling.
Starring: Christian Bale, Willem Dafoe, Josh Lucas, Reese Witherspoon, Cara Seymour, Justin Theroux, Jared Leto, Chloë Sevigny, Samantha Mathis, Matt Ross, Bill Sage, Stephen Bogaert, Monika Meier, Reg E. Cathey, Blair Williams, Marie Dame, Kelley Harron, Patricia Gage, Krista Sutton, Landy Cannon, Park Bench, Catherine Black, Margaret Ma, Peter Tufford Kennedy, Mark Pawson, Jessica Lau, Lilette Wiens, Glen Marc Silot, Charlotte Hunter, Kiki Buttignol, Joyce R. Korbin, Reuben Thompson, Bryan Renfro, Ross Gibby, Christina McKay, Alan McCullough, Anthony Lemke, Connie Chen, Marilyn Burns, Doshia Darmane, Brett Alexander Davidson, Peter Loung, Joseph Oliveira, Leanne Poirier Greenfield, Ronald Reagan, Somaya Reece, Jackson Rothery, Devin Schumacher, Kate Steen;
Production year: 2000;
Genre: drama, crime, thriller;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 102 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,6;
More information about the film “American Psycho” on the website imdb.com
“Silver Linings Playbook”, 2012
Director: David O. Russell
This romantic comedy-drama tells the story of Pat, who returns home from a mental health facility and attempts to rebuild his life. The film addresses themes of mental illness and recovery, highlighting the importance of connection and understanding.
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver, Chris Tucker, Anupam Kher, John Ortiz, Shea Whigham, Julia Stiles, Paul Herman, Dash Mihok, Matthew Russell, Cheryl Williams, Patrick McDade, Brea Bee, Mary Regency Boies, Phillip Chorba, Anthony Lawton, Patsy Meck, Maureen Torsney-Weir, Jeff Reim, Fritz Blanchette, Rick Foster, Bonnie Aarons, Ted Barba, Elias Birnbaum, Matthew Michels, Pete Postiglione, Dicky Eklund Jr., Sanjay Shende, Mihir Pathak, Ibrahim Syed, Madhu Narula, Samantha Gelnaw, Tiffany E. Green, Tal Livshitz, Vlada Semenova, Zhan Paulovich, Lana Rossi, Richard Adams, Todd Anthony, Erica Lynne Arden, Robert Bizik, Joe Cappelletti, Louis Centanni, Pat Chambers, David Collihan, Michael Connolly, Jessica Czop, Alan Davis;
Production year: 2012;
Genre: drama, melodrama, comedy;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 120 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,7;
“Donnie Darko”, 2001
Director: Richard Kelly
A cult classic, this film follows troubled teenager Donnie, who experiences visions of a mysterious figure in a rabbit suit. The film blends elements of science fiction and psychological drama, exploring themes of time travel and mental illness.
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Mary McDonnell, Holmes Osborne, Patrick Swayze, Noah Wyle, Drew Barrymore, James Duval, Katharine Ross, Beth Grant, Seth Rogen, Jolene Purdy, David Moreland, Patience Cleveland, Daveigh Chase, Arthur Taxier, Mark Hoffman, David St. James, Tom Tangen, Jazzie Mahannah, Stuart Stone, Gary Lundy, Alex Greenwald, Kristina Malota, Marina Malota Darling, Carly Naples, Tiler Peck, Lisa K. Wyatt, Rachel Winfree, Jack Salvatore Jr., Lee Weaver, Phyllis Lyons, Ashley Tisdale, Alison Jones, Jerry Trainor, Joan M. Blair, Sarah Hudson, Fran Kranz, Scotty Leavenworth, Conrad Angel Corral, Michael Dukakis, Phil Hawn, Spencer Kayden, Christie McNew, Margaret Kontra Palmer, Dee Austin Robertson, Jack Truman;
Production year: 2001;
Genre: science fiction, thriller, drama, detective;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 113 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8;
“Girl, Interrupted”, 1999
Director: James Mangold
Based on Susanna Kaysen's memoir, this film depicts her experiences in a mental institution during the 1960s. It examines the lives of young women grappling with mental health issues and the societal expectations placed upon them.
Starring: Winona Ryder, Angelina Jolie, Clea DuVall, Brittany Murphy, Elisabeth Moss, Jared Leto, Jeffrey Tambor, Vanessa Redgrave, Whoopi Goldberg, Angela Bettis, Jillian Armenante, Drucie McDaniel, Alison Claire, Christina Myers, Joanna Kerns, Travis Fine, Gloria Barnhart, Josie Gammell, Bruce Altman, Mary Kay Place, Ray Baker, KaDee Strickland, Christian Monroe, Kurtwood Smith, David Scott Taylor, Janet Greer, C. Scott Grimaldi, Ginny Graham, Richard Domeier, John Kirkman, Sally Bowman, Misha Collins, John Lumia, Marilyn Brett, Henry Alex Rubin, Marilyn Spanier, Linda Gilvear, Allen Strange, Spencer Gates, Rebecca Derrick, Anne Connors, Steve Altes, Joe Gerety, Anne Lewis, Donny Martino Jr., John Levin, Irene Longshore, Katie Rimmer, Jonathan Martin Spirk, John Bobby;
Production year: 1999;
Genre: drama, biography;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 127 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,3;
More information about the film “Girl, Interrupted” on the website imdb.com
These films not only entertain but also provoke thought, inviting viewers to reflect on the complexities of the human mind and the societal perceptions of madness.
In the realm of cinema, films about mad men have captivated audiences with their exploration of the complexities of the human mind. These films delve into the depths of madness, offering profound insights into the fragility of sanity and the blurred line between reality and illusion. With their intense performances and thought-provoking narratives, these movies challenge our perceptions and force us to confront our own fears and insecurities. From the haunting portrayals of iconic characters to the mesmerizing cinematography that mirrors their unraveling psyche, films about mad men leave an indelible mark on our collective consciousness, reminding us of the fragile nature of the human condition.
