Beth, you might remember that I am also a fan of "Mr. Jones", and agree that the romance was unnecessary and could have been eliminated with a different and better focus. Nevertheless, I think Richard Gere (and the screen writers) nailed classic bipolar disorder type 1. I sort of liked that the movie also showed how a man with incredible potential had his curbed by the disorder. I think there could have been a way to give the movie an even happier ending without the love and sex. Or if they insisted on some form of love, it should have been a transference and/or countertransference that was appropriate and utilized correctly.

I've seen a number of documentaries over the years. Some are a bit fuzzy in my brain. One that I think people may appreciate is "Stephen Fry: The Secret Life of a Manic Depressive". Fry is a British actor/comedian, but put together this most respectable documentary. It does portray actors and actresses, which can get old, but it also includes interviews with others, including psychiatrists. Even the actors/actresses do a good job of describing their illnesses and difficulties/successes. It's two parts. Part one is at

Though not exactly "bipolar movies", a few very good movies many may not have seen, that include characters with the disorder (or likely) are "Splendor in the Grass" starring Natalie Wood, "Camille Claudel" starring Isabel Adjani, "Michael Clayton" with Tom Wilkinson as the bipolar character, and "Frances" starring Jessica Lange. Natalie Wood and Jessica Lange are outstanding in their respective movies! Anyone who has had a mixed episode may relate to this [Trigger Warning]: All but "Michael Clayton" are set well into the past.These movies really emphasize how superficial "Silver Linings Playbook" portrayal was.

I attended a talk by the psychiatrist in the video . He discussed (and played) composer Robert Schumann's works composed when manic. Another bit of music likely composed partially during mania was Beethoven's "Grosse Fuge". You can hear the music at These clearly reflect flight of ideas (racing thoughts). The Beethoven video is particularly powerful in that you see the written music's intensity, too.