Yale University, 1961. Stanley Milgram (Peter Sarsgaard) designs a psychology experiment that remains relevant to this day, in which people think they’re delivering painful electric shocks to an affable stranger (Jim Gaffigan) strapped into a chair in another room. Disregarding his pleas for mercy, the majority of subjects do not stop the experiment, administering what they think are near-fatal electric shots, simply because they’ve been told to. Milgram’s exploration of authority and conformity strikes a nerve in popular culture and the scientific community. Celebrated in some circles, he is also accused of being a deceptive, manipulative monster. His wife Sasha (Winona Ryder) anchors him through it all.
Yale University, 1961. Stanley Milgram designs a psychology experiment that still resonates to this day, in which people think they’re delivering painful electric shocks to an affable stranger strapped into a chair in another room. Despite his pleads for mercy, the majority of subjects don’t stop the experiment, administering what they think is a near-fatal electric shock, simply because they’ve been told to do so. With Nazi Adolf Eichmann’s trial airing in living rooms across America, Milgram strikes a nerve in popular culture and the scientific community with his exploration into people’s tendency to comply with authority. Celebrated in some circles, he is also accused of being a deceptive, manipulative monster, but his wife Sasha stands by him through it all.
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FascinatingI’ll admit, I’m biased. I’m a Psychology student, so I naturally gravitated towards the film. That said, it is still captivating. The controversy of the study in question is so vividly portrayed. “I would never do that” is always easier said than done. The film does a great job at arguing both sides. Great film!.Score: 4/5
MesmerizingYou’ll find that the film has worked its way underneath your skin while burrowing into your subconscious. Don’t be surprised if it stays there for a while. Sarsgaard gives one of his finest performances..Score: 5/5
Unforgettable film. Excellent, simple, & profoundThis film is about human "nature." It'll make you wonder. It'll give you plenty of reasons to pause and think about personal ethics and social conditioning. The human spirit is complex, and this film exploits that fact. But amidst its complexity, the film manifests how it can also be uniquely, and perplexingly simple in a handful of ways--particularly with regard to our obedience and response to authority structures..Score: 5/5
Well DoneTremendously interesting, a humanitarian discussion of undying importance. And, remember, Milgram’s electric experiments did not physically shock anyone except for the gentle demo this-is-what-it-feels-like shock for the participant in control of the switchboard. I thought the script could’ve had Milgram emphasize this most important point more often in his replayed interviews. Yes, Milgram played tricks on the switchboarders causing them to think they were hurting someone, but no one physically hurt anyone. I think it’s unfair to strongly criticize him for mental duress, especially, if it’s true, that strong majorities of post-experiment participant questionnaires showed a lot of appreciation for the experience, and that the minority negative complaints received were relatively light fare, diffuse, or ambivalent, but not mentally damaged or impaired. But I’d never heard of Milgram before this movie. So I don’t really know. Anyway, great script, very interesting stuff, a joy to see as a movie that is subtly well built as a period piece with mildly surreal notes of the media production values of the period, as well. If that makes any sense?! Saarsgard (sp?) is fantastic. And in a movie of this overall high quality, everyone in it is always good. A good story tells itself, can carry everyone along with it in a well executed production, allows the actors to really get into something good. I really appreciate these sorts of movies, well done portrayals of real stuff. Too few and far between..Score: 5/5
Luke WarmAs the film states near the end that Milligram can be found in every introductory psychology book in the country, and subsequently is the beginning to a hilly discussion on the consequences of social conformity. Because of that, I learned nothing new from this film. Moments of home and family life seemed tossed in and somewhat dispatched, making it confusing. I’m not sure if this was the directors way of humanizing an otherwise callous Milligram as his critics described him. The film feels more like your viewing a play. It seemed the character's moods embodied less zeal than a typical drama, perhaps they were experimenting with anti-anxiety medication as well. Nothing seemed to spark their passions and I felt bored watching them. I prefer watching the real footage, which seems to tell the tale more directly. This is a film I will definitely forget about watching..Score: 3/5
SlowInteresting concept but very slow movie. Tried to watch it twice..Score: 3/5
SuperbAn amazingly charming and cinematic film about a complex and potentially off-putting subject. One of the best of the year..Score: 5/5
Great film!I like how it’s interestingly minimal..Score: 5/5
SlooooooowHonestly I wanted to like this movie but it is like being put through an experiment by the filmmakers to see how long you are willing to watch this before you collapse in fatigue. Performances are solid but the story is just bland..Score: 2/5
Brilliant!As a person who very much enjoys the study of psychology, sociology, social science, ect., I found this film very intriguing. It was thought provoking, and I would recommend everyone watch this film. There was not one thing I did not enjoy about this film, and I can’t get it out of my head!.Score: 5/5
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