Of Two Minds (2012 TV Movie) User Reviews

Rich, Realistic and Recommended

[wes-connors · 7/10 · 12 April 2014]

After their mother suffers a massive coronary, working mom Kristin Davis (as "Billie" Clark) takes over as caregiver for her mentally ill sister Tammy Blanchard (as Elizabeth "Baby" Davis). The smart schizophrenic woman moves in with Ms. Davis, handsome husband Joel Gretsch (as Rick), cute teen son Alexander "Alex" Le Bas (as Davis) and outspoken pre-teen daughter Mackenzie Aladjem (as Mollie). At first, the family manages to get along with only a few problems. Smoking is only allowed on the porch, for example. However, some increasingly bizarre outbursts from Ms. Blanchard take their toll on big sister Davis and others. The sisters have unresolved problems to deal with, and new issues threaten and disrupt the family in unexpected ways...

There are so many movies wherein mentally challenged people are portrayed as either lovable pets or homicidal maniacs, it's nice to see something more realistic. Carefully directed by Jim O'Hanlon and nicely written by Richard Friedenberg, this "Lifetime" TV Movie is one of their best. The key performance is delivered sensitively by Ms. Blanchard, who surprisingly did not receive an Emmy Award nomination. There is a small role for lovable Louise Fletcher and everyone is fine, with young Le Bas quite a surprise as the loner son who identifies with Blanchard. If there is one regret, it's that this family is unusually wealthy. Their jaw-dropping estate and ranch look like a show-places and it's difficult to believe they don't have the money to hire some professional help.

******* Of Two Minds (3/10/12) Jim O'Hanlon ~ Tammy Blanchard, Kristin Davis, Alexander Le Bas, Joel Gretsch

gets you thinking, modest for Lifetime

[edenroxyoursox · 7/10 · 10 March 2012]

Though I believe Tammy Blanchard is more attractive than Kristin Davis (Billie) in real life, Tammy (Baby) was clearly in the shadows compared to her sister. Like all Lifetime movies, "Of Two Minds" followed the usual sadness, happiness, back to disaster, somewhat of a solution cycle. Tammy's performance was, due to my ignorance regarding schizophrenia, okay for what I do know about the illness. She didn't claim to hear 'the voices' too often, which was appropriate. I didn't quite understand the cause of her insecurity until it came to Billie. The outbursts she had helped me understand some; however, the film didn't quite show any of Billie's childhood or mention unfortunate events, leading me to believe that Billie was an unfit sister. It wasn't until Baby mentioned Billie screaming at her and telling her to get out along with her friends that I saw how effective it obviously was on her. She was sensitive to begin with, and I think that Billie knew she was the more appealing sister. In my opinion, I truly don't see how Billie could be so blind to how she hurt her sister; she is obviously ashamed of her otherwise she would be more open about her. It shouldn't have taken the woman up until the two hour point to realize some of this was her fault. As for whatshisname Alexander's (Davis) performance, he did decent. I don't know if it was me or what, but at first I swore he looked like an extremely scrawny version of Leonardo Dicaprio even when he was younger. Ahem, anyways, the whole aunt and nephew thing is all different, but I don't see it happening in Lifetime like that. There is probably a bunch of changes I would have made to this movie scripture, but it's Lifetime, so I'm not complaining. Something else negative would be the whole scene where she had her huge outburst near the end (I thought her love for horses was a nice touch, though). She looked like a drunk grandma stumbling around the room like that. Almost humorous as she waved her knife around up until the cops took her down. The ending could have better, but the goodbyes were accurate for Davis and the aggravating Mollie who I just believe is a brat. But then again, I'm someone who believes that children under the age of 10 just shouldn't freaking act, with maybe a few exceptions. They can't, they just can't. I may be misinterpreting some things, but please, feel free to say something. All in all, alright movie. A little extended (I got so confused whenever I was watching this because of Daylight Savings. I absolutely was NOT sitting there until 3am waiting for this movie to overdo itself), but entertaining while it lasted and it didn't have me looking at the clock every five minutes to check when it ended.

Honest and heart wrenching.

[ww7872-572-188638 · 9/10 · 11 March 2012]

My niece has schizophrenia and, at times, I felt like I was seeing her on my screen. The acting in this was perfect, from the flat affect when the medication is causing that sluggish, underwater feeling to the terror and confusion when a psychotic episode hits. My niece also sits and smokes during most of her days but we are thankful she is no longer tormented by voices or terrifying hallucinations.

Other fine points from the film are that Baby's mother was shown as caring and loving. The old, false, belief that schizophrenia is caused by bad parenting, or traumatic events, still lurks in some minds and it's good when a movie helps people learn that it is, in fact, a brain disease, like Alzheimers or Parkinsons and no one is to blame.

The well sister, Billie, is also realistically portrayed and points out the problems when young family members have to deal with the ill person.

My only wish would have been to place more emphasis on the costs. Medication can easily cost a thousand dollars per month and private residential care can be over $200,000 a year. Only the very wealthy can afford the nice ones.

This is a terrible disease, the number one disabler of young people and something that strikes the young and lasts for fifty years or more. That's a long time to be trapped in a nightmare, unsure about what is real and what isn't. We need to find a cure.

Real and touching - fine acting all round

[phd_travel · 9/10 · 17 December 2012]

This is a realistic moving and well written movie about schizophrenia anchored by two fine performances. Tammy Blanchard is totally convincing as a mentally ill person in an illuminating follow up to her more sensational "Sybil" performance. Kristin Davis is sympathetic as her sister who cares for her after the death of their mother. She is good in her dramatic role and shows she can take on more serious movies.

The characters are well rounded and refreshing in their caring and limitations especially the financially pressed husband and sympathetic son.

It is worthwhile to watch this for the portrayal of the emotional, financial and practical hardships of looking after a family member with mental issues.

about family

[Kirpianuscus · 9 August 2018]

A delicate subject. And a decent manner to use it. Good performances. Moving plot. The basic obstacle - schizophrenya . If it is not only a word for the viewer, he knows and understands more. If not, it remains a dramatic family story , about two sisters and a profound hard fight . and, maybe, this is the best part - to be a convincing film about family.

A long and lonely road to travel...

[ssuper1 · 10/10 · 3 November 2013]

I watched this film with great interest as my family has had to endure the ups and downs that this illness entails. It's now 20 odd years later for us and we still struggle with the issues.

The one person in this film I identify strongly with is Baby's mother, through the line: "How did Mom do it all the years?" or words to that effect. Thanks Lifetime for trying to highlight the issues faced by all persons affected by this sad and debilitating illness.

We live in a different part of the world to the US but the emotions, situations, decisions, etc. are all frighteningly the same. My heart goes out to those affected; but even if you are not affected, still watch this movie because odds are you probably already know someone who is and you can help by showing empathy.

well written and performed

[f_hashimi · 9/10 · 26 October 2013]

I have been touched by this movie; it's well written and well performed and showed the deep feeling of each person of the family specially baby and Davis. I believe many many people have some degree of schizophrenia even they don't know! I have it in under controlled degree; and I believe I understand very well the disease when I magnify my symptoms.so you can say that I am an insider! I know exactly what happening inside the sufferer mind; it's terrible and horrible and contentious nightmare; so I can say from direct experience that the movie is well written and well performed and surely it was written or directed from an insider mind!

Understanding what goes on behind the Schizophrenic Veil

[tvadala-678-746536 · 8/10 · 2 July 2014]

One of my best friends had a daughter with early onset Schizophrenia. I remember the crazed acts of violence, the burning down of the apt building two days after Christmas, the screaming and yelling, and then, the calm, happy, rational, beautiful child. That could be all in one day. Back then, I knew very little of this illness, and while I loved my God Daughter, I was not comfortable having her stay for long periods at my home with my kids. I was afraid and uninformed. Yes, it can be dangerous if you are not prepared, or you don't know what to expect.

This movie was created to help give the audience some pinch of understanding. There are so many things the general populace just doesn't have a clue about. Mental Illness of any kind is life altering for not just the person, but everyone around them. KUDOS for the making of this film and KUDOS for the actors. Everyone did an amazing job of getting this story out there.